According to the national nonprofit organization STAR Communities, a sustainable city has a healthy environment and a strong economy and cultivates well-being for its residents. STAR Communities, which stands for “Sustainability Tools for Assessing and Rating Communities,” is a data-driven system created by local governments to enable them to assess their efforts, track progress, and […]
University Department: Urban and Regional Planning
Transitioning Mobile Home Parks
Mobile housing represents 63% of the City of Apache Junction’s housing stock. At a time when available housing assistance and subsidies do not meet demand, these units represent a valuable source of unsubsidized housing stock for Apache Junction (the City) and the United States as a whole. While their affordability is an asset, the City […]
Webster City Parks and Recreation Plan
Working in collaboration with the City of Webster City Parks & Recreation Department, graduate students in the School of Urban & Regional Planning completed a Parks & Recreation Master Plan for Webster City that promotes appropriate land use, active lifestyles, equity, accessibility, environmental protection, and tourism. Read the final student report delivered to the local […]
Honoring Pflugerville’s History
While the discussions around the ofcial name contnue, the City of Pfugerville tasked students in two courses, Planning History and Visual Design, with researching the history of the Additon and designing a memorial park. Students deployed planning and preservaton techniques to provide optons for a more formal recogniton of the site’s history. They emphasized contributons […]
Economic Impact Study and Frac Sand Mining Industry
Winneshiek County sought to understand the possible economic impacts that the frac sand mining industry could have if it became established in the county. For this project, graduate students in the School of Urban and Regional Planning performed a comprehensive economic impact study that evaluated the short and long-term gains and losses to the county’s […]
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Planning for a New Mobility Future
With advances in technology, new forms of mobility are emerging and entering our cities. These new modes are driving the need for plans and policies that direct how they will operate in cities, where they can operate and park, and who can use them. The cities of Eugene and Gresham would like to prepare for […]
Vision Anamosa
Urban and Regional Planning students studied the current state of the downtown area in Anamosa, Iowa and through research drafted a revitalization plan, Vision Anamosa, for local officials to use as they continue to build upon their current efforts. Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities […]
Housing and Equity
Urban and Regional Planning students examined trends of income inequality in the Iowa City metropolitan area and developed a plan identifying income inequality trends in Iowa City, case studies of similar areas, and strategies for supporting affordable housing in the community; poster displaying results and recommendations; and presentation displaying results and recommendations. Read the final […]
Trails Economic Impact and Master Plan
Urban and Regional Planning students created the Trails economic impact plan that provides research on the benefits of the current trails system in Decorah, Iowa and provides recommendations on how to continue expanding it as well as a presentation displaying research and results, and a poster displaying research and results. Read the final student report […]
Wellman Sustainability Plan
Urban and Regional Planning students created The Wellman Sustainability Plan which centers on sustainability-oriented recommendations for the City of Wellman. Recommendations were drafted based on surveys, public meetings, and discussions with local officials. The Plan was a ten-year road map that… Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner. Iowa Initiative for […]