After years of decline, many American cities are experiencing growth and renewal. In the first decades of the new century a host of U.S. cities saw increases in urban employment and population along with decreased rates of poverty and crime (McDonald, 2008). For the last three years, data show American cities growing faster than their surrounding suburbs (Voith & Wachter, 2014).
Still, the urban resurgence is not happening everywhere (Ehrenhalt, 2012). This is especially true for the country’s traditional manufacturing centers, or “legacy” cities such as Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo (Mallach, 2012). A similar situation can be seen in Massachusetts where the state’s so-called “Gateway Cities,” the former manufacturing centers that once provided a “gateway to the middle class,” lag behind more prosperous areas such as Boston and its suburbs (Forman, 2009). For this study, the term “legacy city” is used to describe former manufacturing centers, in general. The term “Gateway City” is used to describe former manufacturing centers located in Massachusetts.
Like many former manufacturing centers, Springfield faces serious challenges. In several neighborhoods adjacent to downtown, over 50% of families live in poverty (Browne, 2011). Also, Springfield residents tend to be poorer, less educated, and have fewer job opportunities when compared to residents of other parts of the state. The Springfield jobless rate, as of December 2014, was 8 percent, which is higher than Worcester (6.5%) and the state average of 4.8% (Mass Office of Workforce Development). Despite these challenges, Springfield has advantages that set it apart from typical legacy cities. Springfield never suffered the huge population losses that many Midwestern cities did, and Springfield does not have the vast number of vacant buildings and lots that exist in places such as Akron and Detroit (Mallach 2012). In recent years, Springfield’s population has stabilized (153,451 residents based on 2010 census). New downtown development is underway including an MGM resort casino, an intermodal transportation center, and a new factory to build transit cars. Local planners and residents are hopeful these projects are the beginning of a sustained economic resurgence. The UMass Amherst Design Center (The Design Center) opened in 2009 as a collaboration between the City of Springfield and UMass Amherst (UMass Extension, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, Department of Architecture, and Building Construction Technology). The Design Center was created to foster closer ties between the University’s design and planning programs and the Springfield community, and to spur economic development. Like other similar university- community design collaborations, the UMass Design Center carries out a range of functions, serving as research center, design studio, extension center, and community gathering space (Forsyth, 2006) In 2015, UMass Extension and the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning are contributing resources and the academic expertise to reassess and re-imagine the Design Center to better meet the needs of the community while advancing the academic and institutional goals of the University of Massachusetts. This study will provide important information and recommendations to help move this initiative forward.
Report
Title: Citizen Planner Training Collaborative
Project Leader: Michael DiPasquale
Project Overview
The Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) provides local planning and zoning officials with up-to-date learning tools to make effective decisions regarding their communities' current and future land use. The collaborative offers a wide range of activities that address the needs of Massachusetts' older, post-industrial, or "Gateway/Legacy" cities. Work includes, outreach, teaching and research. Participants include residents, stakeholders and UMass students and instructors.
Main activities include:
Activities related to the revitalization of the City of Springfield and other post-industrial cities.
Work is centered at the UMass Extension sponsored "Design Center in Springfield". The Design Center is located in the Tower Square building in downtown Springfield. Activities that take place at the Design Center include, community design workshops, student classes, and seminars and trainings for residents and stakeholders.
Activity Summary – 2015
- Award of $36,000 Hatch Grant funds to study revitalization of Legacy Cities and UMass Design Center in Springfield. Additional $4,000 awarded from UMass Extension for summer 2015.(1)
- Community participation workshops in downtown Springfield. (3)
- DIRECT Umass Design Ctr Outreach to Springfield and Pioneer Valley Cities and Towns (2)
- Serve on Board of Pioneer Valley Land Use Committee (1)
- Outreach to "Develop Springfield" with LARP Graduate student Robert Hummel (1)
- Outreach and committee work with Morgan Drewnlaney, Springfield Cultural District (1)
- Consultant services/outreach to Tracy Woods, Art is Life Gallery (1)
- Consultant services/outreach to Samalid Hogan, Springfield Innovation Center (1)
- Consultant services/outreach to Laura Masulis, Massachusetts Innovation Grant (1)
- Outreach/coordination of events at UMass Center in Springfield, with Will D'Avila (1)
- Participate in development of Springfield “Innovation Center” (1)
- Research on “How to design a Green Roof” for Gateway City Arts building in Holyoke (1)
- Board member of Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (1)
- Serve as member of Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee in Northampton (1)
- Study future move of Design Center to UMass Center in Springfield at Tower Square (1)
- Teach Fall Course: Introduction to Urban Design (1)
Total Educational Contacts
| Youth Contacts | Adult Contacts | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct | 111 | 485 |
| Indirect Contacts (Print, Web, etc…) |
Narrative Summary and Impact
The Project consists of a wide range of activities that address the needs of Massachusetts' older, post-industrial, or "Gateway/Legacy" cities. Work includes, outreach, teaching and research. Participants include residents, stakeholders and UMass students and instructors.
Main activities include: Activities related to the revitalization of City of Springfield and other post-industrial cities. Work is centered at the UMass Extension sponsored "Design Center in Springfield". The Design Center is located in the Tower Square building in downtown Springfield. Activities that take place at the Design Center include, community design workshops, student classes, and seminars and trainings for residents and stakeholders.
Major accomplishments:
- Hatch grant awarded to Michael DiPasquale, Spring 2014 ($12,000/yr for three years = $36,000)
- Creation of Design Center "Mission Statement"
- Grant from "Congress of New Urbanism" for community vision workshop to redesign "Apremont Triangle", and existing park/public space in the Mattoon Street District.
- Design and program work at Springfield "Innovation Center", Bridge Street, Springfield
Collaborating Organizations
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
