Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/21474

The Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) is administered by the National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). It is a campus-wide initiative that harnesses the expertise of UMD faculty and the energy and ingenuity of UMD students to help Maryland communities become more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. PALS is designed to provide innovative, low-cost assistance to local governments while creating real-world problem-solving experiences for University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate students.

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The State of Affordable Housing in Brunswick, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Anderson, Will; Edmondson-Deigh, Kaya-Nadine; Lehman, Erin; Pearson-Merkowitz, Shanna
Brunswick is a rapidly growing city in rural Maryland that needs an affordable housing stock to keep up with its population growth. We examine if and how an Inclusionary Zoning program in the city could be used to create affordable housing units and how it would assist the city in its goal of a more integrated community. We will evaluate if an Inclusionary Zoning program would be appropriate, and we make specific recommendations for city policy. Mixed-income housing is one potential tool to provide affordable housing options to Brunswick residents. Several key factors in planning mixed income housing are evaluated, including the allocation of units to different income levels, proximity among income levels, density and housing type, tenure, and duration. Finally, we discuss why mixed income housing is right for Brunswick, and how planners can make it attractive to both subsidized and market rate occupants. Subsequently, we discuss state and federal opportunities for affordable housing, such as Community Development Block Grants and active grant opportunities through the Notice of Funding Opportunities. We highlight a federal program that provides funding for affordable senior housing. We also discuss how the support of nonprofit organizations is beneficial to this process. Finally, we end with final recommendations for Brunswick.
Cycling for Change
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Engel, Max; Gernstein, Anna; Goldstein, Jeremy; Tarjamo, Markus; Clark, Patrina
This research presents a comprehensive proposal for an introduction of a Cycling 101 class at the University of Maryland (UMD), developed in collaboration with the Prince George's County Planning Department. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the UMD cycling community and policy awareness, addressing issues such as sustainability, mental health, and physical wellbeing. Through collaboration with experts like Michael Jackson and Professor Kimberly Driver, it evolved into a passion project, empowering students through cycling education. The proposed course, designed as an "I-series" course, covers a range of topics including cycling mechanics, safety, environmental sustainability, and mental and physical health benefits. The research outlines the process of creating the course, emphasizing the importance of a well-structured syllabus and efficient review by university committees. Potential locations for the course within UMD's academic structure, particularly in the School of Public Health and School of Public Policy, are explored. Extensive literature supports the positive impact of cycling on physical and mental health, reinforcing the course's potential benefits. The research findings suggest that Cycling 101 aligns with UMD's commitment to sustainability and offers tangible advantages for students' wellbeing. The proposed collaboration is significant for both UMD and the Prince George's County Planning Department, contributing to a cycling-friendly environment and promoting holistic urban mobility. In conclusion, this research validates the feasibility of introducing Cycling 101 at UMD, highlighting its positive impacts on students, the university community, and urban planning in Prince George's County. The collaboration serves as a catalyst for sustainable practices and holistic wellbeing, aligning shared goals between the university and the Planning Department.
Artist Crossing
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Ajaero, Ucheya; Bullock, Abigail; Perkins, Abigail; Rahming-Williams, Nichelle; Riffle, Brianna; Boland, Margret; Gomez, Jose; Gross, Hannah; Mora, Adrian; Watson, Omari; Deist, Chase; Demircan, Zeynep; Garcia, Aylin; Jones, Amory; Mulé, Maya; Hernandez, Kevin; Hussien, Abdureuf; Merino, Sandra; Pipatpongsa, Chayaporn?; Bell, Matthew; Matthews, Georgeanne?
The ARCH 700 Urban Design Graduate looked at the Four Corners site and the Arts District area in Hyattsville with the intent to understand what problems each of these communities had and how to apply best practices in urban design to each. At Four Corners, the focus was on creating a sense of place and community along University Boulevard where little of that kind of experience existed previously, and at Hyattsville, how to reimagine the urban design of the Arts District and the vacant County Service building so that a more vibrant town center could emerge. Students explored issues such as multi-modal circulation, the city grid, densification through the addition of various building typologies, community place-making, and ‘complete street’ design. All of the proposals sought to integrate new residential and other developments and create a framework for parks and urban spaces that embrace diversity and maintain historic cultural assets.
Four Corners (re-sestablisher)
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Ajaero, Ucheya; Bullock, Abigail; Perkins, Abigail; Rahming-Williams, Nichelle; Riffle, Brianna; Boland, Margret; Gomez, Jose; Gross, Hannah; Mora, Adrian; Watson, Omari; Deist, Chase; Demircan, Zeynep; Garcia, Aylin; Jones, Amory; Mulé, Maya; Hernandez, Kevin; Hussien, Abdureuf; Merino, Sandra; Pipatpongsa, Chayaporn?; Bell, Matthew; Matthews, Georgeanne?
The ARCH 700 Urban Design Graduate looked at the Four Corners site and the Arts District area in Hyattsville with the intent to understand what problems each of these communities had and how to apply best practices in urban design to each. At Four Corners, the focus was on creating a sense of place and community along University Boulevard where little of that kind of experience existed previously, and at Hyattsville, how to reimagine the urban design of the Arts District and the vacant County Service building so that a more vibrant town center could emerge. Students explored issues such as multi-modal circulation, the city grid, densification through the addition of various building typologies, community place-making, and ‘complete street’ design. All of the proposals sought to integrate new residential and other developments and create a framework for parks and urban spaces that embrace diversity and maintain historic cultural assets.
Urban Design Proposals for Four Corners and Hyattsville Arts District?
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Ajaero, Ucheya; Bullock, Abigail; Perkins, Abigail; Rahming-Williams, Nichelle; Riffle, Brianna; Boland, Margret; Gomez, Jose; Gross, Hannah; Mora, Adrian; Watson, Omari; Deist, Chase; Demircan, Zeynep; Garcia, Aylin; Jones, Amory; Mulé, Maya; Hernandez, Kevin; Hussien, Abdureuf; Merino, Sandra; Pipatpongsa, Chayaporn?; Bell, Matthew; Matthews, Georgeanne?
The ARCH 700 Urban Design Graduate looked at the Four Corners site and the Arts District area in Hyattsville with the intent to understand what problems each of these communities had and how to apply best practices in urban design to each. At Four Corners, the focus was on creating a sense of place and community along University Boulevard where little of that kind of experience existed previously, and at Hyattsville, how to reimagine the urban design of the Arts District and the vacant County Service building so that a more vibrant town center could emerge. Students explored issues such as multi-modal circulation, the city grid, densification through the addition of various building typologies, community place-making, and ‘complete street’ design. All of the proposals sought to integrate new residential and other developments and create a framework for parks and urban spaces that embrace diversity and maintain historic cultural assets.
Maryland’s Missing Middle Housing
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Eldadah, Samaa; Carter, Niambi; Dawkins, Casey
As Maryland localities struggle to meet the demand for a diversity of housing types at a range of income levels, the predominance of detached single-family zoning constrains available land for building new housing and limits the expansion of the housing supply. In this context, local governments have considered zoning change in detached single-family neighborhoods to better accommodate missing middle housing. As of May 2024, however, there have been no significant zoning changes to accommodate missing middle housing in single-family neighborhoods. However, counties are planning for future upzoning initiatives to increase density in residential neighborhoods through comprehensive plans. This report compiles lessons learned from four counties—Montgomery, Frederick, Anne Arundel, and Howard—about successes and challenges in preparing for upzoning to accommodate missing middle housing. These counties employ a range of strategies to address the market and political challenges to upzoning. Lessons learned from counties include using small area planning and zoning overlays, building political will through extensive stakeholder engagement, and offering incentives to developers to build missing middle housing.
Impact Consulting Fellowship: Strategic Recommendations for Community Forklift
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Doncheva, Alexandra; Salunkhe, Ashish; Sfakiyanudis, Dimitri; Patel, Harshil; Huang, Julia; Lek, Kim; Mahajan, Mohnish; Cassell, Peter; Murumkar, Tanvi; Patil, Rutwik; Farshchi, Nima
A visit to the Community Forklift warehouse, allowed us to view operational processes and bottlenecks, and social media and advertising data, our team has the following suggestions to meet Community Forklift’s goals to boost revenue, increase consumer base, engage the community, donate items away, and help keep items out of the landfill by finding them new homes. Community Forklift has a unique spirit, and we believe people will want to be part of an organization with a great mission, acting to make a difference. We believe Community Forklift is a great cause and our suggestions aim for smoother and more effective ways to meet the mission.
Impact Consulting Fellowship: Strategic Recommendations for Community Forklift
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Doncheva, Alexandra; Salunkhe, Ashish; Sfakiyanudis, Dimitri; Patel, Harshil; Huang, Julia; Lek, Kim; Mahajan, Mohnish; Cassell, Peter; Murumkar, Tanvi; Patil, Rutwik; Farshchi, Nima
A visit to the Community Forklift warehouse, allowed us to view operational processes and bottlenecks, and social media and advertising data, our team has the following suggestions to meet Community Forklift’s goals to boost revenue, increase consumer base, engage the community, donate items away, and help keep items out of the landfill by finding them new homes. Community Forklift has a unique spirit, and we believe people will want to be part of an organization with a great mission, acting to make a difference. We believe Community Forklift is a great cause and our suggestions aim for smoother and more effective ways to meet the mission.
Preserving and Developing Affordable Housing in Riverdale, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Bardsley, Jesse; Dwyer, Maura; Edullantes, Hoang; Gordon, Samuel; Haddad, Sarah; Jones, Amory; Keen, Paul; Mule, Maya; Prendergast, Caila; Rahming, Nichelle; Velasquez, Deisy; Howell, Kathryn; Finio, Nicholas
As the Purple Line construction nears completion, the light rail’s opening will bring significant development pressure to every community along the corridor. This report focuses on one of these communities: Riverdale. The Purple Line Corridor Coalition is the primary sponsor of this report and contributed guidance throughout its creation. This work was also guided heavily by a PLCC partner organization, Greater Riverdale Thrives, a community coalition in Riverdale concerned with issues including affordable housing and political advocacy efforts. Riverdale is a majority low-income, renter, immigrant, Latino, and Black Prince George’s County bedroom community. This report focuses on the hyper-local context of Riverdale while investigating macroeconomic issues of wealth inequality, discerning the impacts of ownership and power distribution on the region’s housing market. Riverdale’s built environment has not seen much change since its initial development as a beltway suburb of Washington, D.C. in the 1950s and 1960s. After several generations, this community has morphed dramatically, and the needs of its residents have grown proportionately. The apartment complexes, built more than 50 years ago, are showing their age, and many have been bought by corporate landlords who have a minimal desire to maintain the properties. The shopping plaza—once deemed a cultural destination for the area—has fallen into disrepair at the hands of neglectful property ownership and disinvestment in the community at large. As the Purple Line development puts substantial pressure on the existing housing stock in the area, it will also incentivize the building of new housing near the station. Issues of affordable housing preservation and development, gentrification, and displacement are key areas for intervention and advocacy efforts. This report examines how housing can both be preserved and produced in a way that can benefit the community of Riverdale, by leveraging existing policy frameworks such as rent stabilization, while also looking at new opportunities such as a community land trust. The report includes a network map, which can be used to ensure that Riverdale maintains its cultural significance for its community members. The report also provides examples of how transit- oriented development can happen with minimal displacement based on experiences of other communities in the Washington, D.C. area, and other localities around the US that have undergone similar changes. Discussions of power dynamics in community advocacy are centered to highlight ways to empower the Riverdale community. Finally, this report offers tools that can be used by the community to expand ownership in the face of impending development. The Purple Line will radically change Riverdale and the surrounding community in the next few years. Ensuring that the community has a voice in the future development of Riverdale is of the highest importance to maintaining its cultural significance for years to come.
Parking Lot Redesign
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Boutselis, Kat; Flores-Chevere, Alejandro; Johnson, Nuelle; Wimbush May, Jillian; May, Peter
The gatekeeper for this proposal to redesign the parking lot at M-NCPPC’s Largo Headquarters, is the Prince George’s County Planning Board, which will approve the new parking lot design. The proposal is specifically addressed to Lakisha Hull, Director of the Prince George’s County Planning Department. With the board members, Ms. Hull will review the suggested layout and direct the planning and design team who will sketch out and implement the rain garden. The primary contact for this proposal is Theodore Levy of the County Planning Department, overseeing the planning and architectural team. Another audience for this proposal is horticulturalists, plant ecologists, landscapers, garden designers, and construction contractors. The horticulturalists bring knowledge of plant materials native to Largo that would thrive in the rain garden. Landscapers can suggest best designs for feasibility and maintenance. The contractors will be responsible for the building the new layout. All these individuals will advise the design team and provide insight on the best way to implement the new layout. A final audience are the employees who work at the Largo Headquarters and community members who live in the area. The parking lot is mainly used by employees who can give insight into the most useful features of the parking lot that should be kept. As well, community members can provide insight into what they would like to see in their community and what they would use.
Preserving and Developing Affordable Housing in Riverdale, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Bardsley, Jesse; Dwyer, Maura; Edullantes, Hoang; Gordon, Samuel; Haddad, Sarah; Jones, Amory; Keen, Paul; Mule, Maya; Prendergast, Caila; Rahming, Nichelle; Velasquez, Deisy; Howell, Kathryn; Finio, Nicholas
As the Purple Line construction nears completion, the light rail’s opening will bring significant development pressure to every community along the corridor. This report focuses on one of these communities: Riverdale. The Purple Line Corridor Coalition is the primary sponsor of this report and contributed guidance throughout its creation. This work was also guided heavily by a PLCC partner organization, Greater Riverdale Thrives, a community coalition in Riverdale concerned with issues including affordable housing and political advocacy efforts. Riverdale is a majority low-income, renter, immigrant, Latino, and Black Prince George’s County bedroom community. This report focuses on the hyper-local context of Riverdale while investigating macroeconomic issues of wealth inequality, discerning the impacts of ownership and power distribution on the region’s housing market. Riverdale’s built environment has not seen much change since its initial development as a beltway suburb of Washington, D.C. in the 1950s and 1960s. After several generations, this community has morphed dramatically, and the needs of its residents have grown proportionately. The apartment complexes, built more than 50 years ago, are showing their age, and many have been bought by corporate landlords who have a minimal desire to maintain the properties. The shopping plaza—once deemed a cultural destination for the area—has fallen into disrepair at the hands of neglectful property ownership and disinvestment in the community at large. As the Purple Line development puts substantial pressure on the existing housing stock in the area, it will also incentivize the building of new housing near the station. Issues of affordable housing preservation and development, gentrification, and displacement are key areas for intervention and advocacy efforts. This report examines how housing can both be preserved and produced in a way that can benefit the community of Riverdale, by leveraging existing policy frameworks such as rent stabilization, while also looking at new opportunities such as a community land trust. The report includes a network map, which can be used to ensure that Riverdale maintains its cultural significance for its community members. The report also provides examples of how transit- oriented development can happen with minimal displacement based on experiences of other communities in the Washington, D.C. area, and other localities around the US that have undergone similar changes. Discussions of power dynamics in community advocacy are centered to highlight ways to empower the Riverdale community. Finally, this report offers tools that can be used by the community to expand ownership in the face of impending development. The Purple Line will radically change Riverdale and the surrounding community in the next few years. Ensuring that the community has a voice in the future development of Riverdale is of the highest importance to maintaining its cultural significance for years to come.
Flood Mitigation in the Chesapeake Beach SeaGate Community
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Blair, Bradford; Pressley, Danielle; Quigley, Alex; Speierman, Emily; Tagle, Matthew; May, Peter
The town of Chesapeake Beach is on the Chesapeake Bay’s western shore and is directly connected to the Bay by creeks that feed tidal marshes. Marshland within Chesapeake Beach’s South Creek Estuary was filled in to enable community development, including the SeaGate townhouse community and Maryland Route 261. At less than four feet above mean sea level, Route 261 and the SeaGate’s parking lots flood during high tide events, storm swells, and intense storm events. In addition to being inconvenient for community members, it is also a safety concern as Route 261 provides access to the SeaGate community, the local fire department, and wastewater treatment plant.The historical practice of filling in wetlands for development and the increasing pressures of climate change have resulted in worsening flooding in the SeaGate community. Chesapeake Beach’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan discusses the area’s future of coastal resiliency and mentions the need to create a coordinated and consistent plan for addressing sea level rise. There have been previous attempts by the community to control flooding resulting from rising tides and stormwater. The Army Corps of Engineers installed revetments and a gate to control tidal fluctuations, and the Maryland State Highway Administration raised Route 261 to prevent the road from flooding. However, the floodgate is no longer operational and mounting pressures from sea level rise combined with more intense storms have flooded the road with increasing frequency. This report’s proposed solutions address both tidal and stormwater flooding. Because the primary source of flooding is from the Chesapeake Bay, the floodgate must be replaced. The new floodgate will be automated to be in sync with tidal cycles and local weather conditions. The gate will automatically close at high tide and open at low tide to allow for the migration of wildlife between the tidal marshes and the Chesapeake Bay. There will also be an option to manually open and close the gate at the SeaGate community’s discretion. As well, three different technologies will address stormwater flooding—cisterns, permeable pavers, and bioretention cells. Cisterns will be fitted to the townhouse units to store runoff from rooftops. They will be sized to capture a five-year, 24-hour storm (4.18 inches), but can be adjusted to capture the runoff from various storms. The captured water will be automatically released during dry periods and at low tides, as controlled by a smart system, however there will also be a manual option to give community members more control. Permeable pavers will reduce the volume of runoff and allow more water to infiltrate into the soil. They will be placed in low-traffic areas, such as parking lots and sidewalks, to reduce the wear on the pavers and extend their lifetime. Bioretention cells will be implemented alongside roads and parking lots to help manage runoff volume and quality. There are a few existing bioretention cells in the SeaGate community, but they aren’t maintained and don’t appear to function well. The proposed design improves the existing systems and adds new bioretention cells. To increase the feasibility of the proposed solutions and minimize the burden on the community, the report recommends applying to grant programs intended to help fund climate resiliency and sustainability projects in Maryland. Some of these include the Chesapeake and Coastal Grants Gateway, the Maryland G3 Grant Program, and the Watershed Assistance Grant Program. These grants will help fund the proposed solutions and create a safer, more climate resilient Seagate community.
Affordable Housing in Brunswick, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Anderson, Will; Edmondson-Deigh, Kaya-Nadine; Lehman, Erin; Pearson-Merkowitz, Shanna
Brunswick is a rapidly growing city in rural Maryland that needs an affordable housing stock to keep up with its population growth. We examine if and how an Inclusionary Zoning program in the city could be used to create affordable housing units and how it would assist the city in its goal of a more integrated community. We will evaluate if an Inclusionary Zoning program would be appropriate, and we make specific recommendations for city policy. Mixed-income housing is one potential tool to provide affordable housing options to Brunswick residents. Several key factors in planning mixed income housing are evaluated, including the allocation of units to different income levels, proximity among income levels, density and housing type, tenure, and duration. Finally, we discuss why mixed income housing is right for Brunswick, and how planners can make it attractive to both subsidized and market rate occupants. Subsequently, we discuss state and federal opportunities for affordable housing, such as Community Development Block Grants and active grant opportunities through the Notice of Funding Opportunities. We highlight a federal program that provides funding for affordable senior housing. We also discuss how the support of nonprofit organizations is beneficial to this process. Finally, we end with final recommendations for Brunswick.
Stormwater Mitigation Plan for the Town of North Beach, MD
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2024-05) Busse, Garett; Chu, Esmé; Diaz, Zachary; Hayes, Lucy; May, Peter
This effort addresses stormwater mitigation in the town of North Beach, Maryland. Located on the internal coast of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, North Beach is experiencing one of the highest levels of eustatic sea level rise. One main intersection, 5th Street and Bay Avenue, sees nuisance flooding from storm events of an inch or more due to its low elevation compared to surrounding blocks. Even though this intersection borders a public beach, the flooding is almost always due to stormwater and not storm surge. North Beach is seeking recommendations for a stormwater mitigation plan to eliminate pooling at this intersection. This report hypothesizes the effectiveness of the recommendations that would increase the resilience of North Beach. The design uses ecological solutions to flood mitigation that benefits local habitats and species. It also seeks to educate about the implemented practices. The proposed recommendations have been found to reduce flooding by 47%, while remaining cost-efficient and fundable by local grants.
Understanding and Improving Anacostia Watershed Water Quality
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Andrelchik, Amy; Hunter, Alexis; Hurtado Olson, Aziz; Hyde, Rebecca; Majadly, Ahlam; Moats, Rachel; Morton,Caroline; Pasternak, Barrie; Phan, Que; Pulley, Anna; Reitenbach, Claire; Touray, Fatoumata Wesley Wiggins, Jasmine Wilkins; Goldstein, Rachel Rosenberg Ph.D., MPH,
The Anacostia River Watershed is an often-overlooked watershed in the backyard of the nation’s capital. While water quality has improved throughout the rest of the United States, the Anacostia Watershed has continued to have poor water quality, including the presence of fecal indicator bacteria that suggest the presence of other disease-causing microorganisms (pathogens). Although it’s not used for drinking water, the presence of pathogens in the Anacostia River is a public health concern as this waterbody is used recreationally and for fishing by a wide group of users, including the largely BIPOC communities that live in the watershed’s communities. Students in MIEH 600 (Foundations of Environmental Health), an introductory graduate course in the University of Maryland School of Public Health, were given the opportunity to examine priority issues identified by the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS): the impact of pet waste and vessel waste on the Anacostia River. Students applied quantitative and communication skills in two assignments: an environmental health fact sheet and a water sample report. Four students chose to create fact sheets and accompanying PowerPoint presentations. All fourteen students participated in water sampling, analysis, and water sample report preparation.
Collington Square Play Space
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Austin, Caleb; Bajana, Juan; Barresi, Isabella; Choi, Yune Elia; Darago, Bianca; Francisco, Liliana; Giray, Grazelle; Guerrero-Osorio, Gracie; Howell, Wyatt; Hruby, Calvin; Kinsey, Rachel; Le, Christina; Mallow, Joe; Mao, Zhenkai; Phan, David; Rachman, Tiara; Shi, Liangjie (Alan); Kweon, Byoung-Suk
Collington Square Play Space is located in the Broadway East Community in Baltimore, which belongs to Maryland Legislative House District 45. It is also located next to Collington Square (CS) Elementary School, CS Recreation and CS Park. It is currently designed as a play space. However, there is only a broken swing set and rundown play structure in the play space. For this assignment, students were asked to redesign the Collington Square Play Space. Students were asked to develop design solutions that: • Provided good trees that give shade and combat heat island effect • Incorporated more swings • Provided more lighting for night • Created a smart park with digital access for children • Provided a social gathering space for picnics • Provided an opportunity for children to ride their bikes • Addressed residents’ concerns about safety • Improved stormwater treatment • Added ADA Accessibility to the Park
Visioning Lakeland: Restorative Justice Through Scenario Planning
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Abel, Paul; Anderson, Alanna; Elson, Jona; Gebru, Dominique; Hauodi, Salma; Islam, Anonnya; Islam, Maisha; Jamero, Samantha; Jones, Asia; Lee, Jihee; Ravert, Megan; Sanford, Mimi; Seyedebrahimi, Ebrahim; Tram, Judy; Walker, Emma; Woods, Kayla; Irazábal Zurita, Clara E. , Arch., M.Sc., M.Arch., Ph.D.
Lakeland is a vibrant historically African American community in College Park that has faced the lasting consequences of decades of discriminatory policies and neglect. From the era of forced segregation to the devastating impacts of urban renewal and now the pressures of gentrification, Lakelanders have been denied equitable access to resources and opportunities enjoyed by neighboring communities. Despite these challenges, generations have persevered, demonstrating unwavering resilience and determination. This studio explored the potential pathways to persist and attain restorative justice using scenario planning to envision Lakeland’s future in 2033. By investigating the opportunities and challenges that present themselves through status quo, reformist, and revolutionary scenarios, the resulting proposals and strategies give insight into the ways in which restorative justice can be achieved. By envisioning 2033 Lakeland scenarios through the lens of three primary themes—housing and land use, community infrastructure, and climate change mitigation and adaptation—this report addresses key indicators in each theme to inform the City of College Park, the Restorative Justice Commission, and other Lakeland organizations on methods and strategies to achieve each vision, or what will happen if action is not taken.
Geophysical survey of Emory Grove United Methodist Church parking lot using ground-penetrating radar
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Herbert, Genevieve; Jones, Shannan; Pedersen, Matthew; Udell-Lopez, Kathrine; Schmerr, Nicholas
Project Background and Objectives In 1864, freed African Americans founded the Emory Grove community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. For about 100 years, since its inception, this community was vibrant and close-knit. At its height, Emory Grove was 300 acres and home to roughly 500 residents. The Emory Grove community hosted Methodist gatherings, called “camp meetings.” During the 1960s and 1970s, urban renewal led to the destruction of this once spirited community. With the goal of reestablishing community cohesion, Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) and the Emory Grove United Methodist Church envision a redevelopment project known as Heritage Emory Grove (HEG). This plan centers redevelopment efforts around the Emory Grove United Methodist Church and prioritizes historic programming and cultural amenities. The issue with the redevelopment is predominantly associated with the unmarked graves around the church and nearby cemetery that have been lost over time. Before proceeding with the redevelopment, local officials and community members want to ensure that any unmarked graves in the vicinity are identified and properly marked to avoid disturbing them during the redevelopment process. The objective of this study is to conduct a geophysical survey of the church parking lot and yard area (from hereafter referred to as the “landscaped area”) using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Ground-penetrating radar is a non-intrusive method of surveying the shallow subsurface to investigate underground structures. It uses electromagnetic radiation in the microwave band frequencies of the radio spectrum to detect reflected signals from subsurface structures. It is typically used for the investigation of buried utilities such as pipes, cables, masonry, asphalt, and metals, and will be invaluable in locating and identifying potential unmarked gravesites. Geological Context Montgomery County has varying geology depending on the region (Singewald et al., 1953). The central portion of the county is made up of Ijamsville phyllite, the Wissahickon formation, and the Sykesville formation. Gaithersburg is situated in a region of predominantly Wissahickon formation (i.e., banded, or laminated quartz-rich phyllites and schists containing magnetite quartz veins), but Emory Grove is situated on a strip of serpentine bedrock. The soil makeup is as diverse as the region within the Piedmont Plateau, which has experienced deep stream valley incisions and complex structural geomorphology that has resisted erosion (Maryland Dept. of State Planning, 1973).
Partner Network Requirements and Data Assessment
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Baicu, Avram; Huq, Amanu; Tatham, Jennifer; Uddin, Farhana; Weng, Ady; Rainsford, TJ
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (MDNR) Chesapeake & Coastal Service (CCS) unit ensures that the state is equipped to deal with the needs and demands of Chesapeake economic and coastal resource use. CCS supports MDNR goals by partnering with various stakeholders, including federal and state government agencies; regional, national, and international institutions; formal and informal educational programs; nongovernmental organizations; and the private sector. The iConsultancy Team was tasked with assisting CCS in their partnerships with stakeholders. Namely, CCS requested visualizations of data collected about partner organizations to help enable CCS staff to better understand the composition of their partner network (e.g., geography, service). To accomplish this, the team cleaned and assessed a large data set of interactions between CCS and its stakeholder communities so it could be better visualized, conducted user research with key CCS staff to better understand and define their goals for stakeholder interactions, and provided recommendations for information gaps and additional data collection. The team worked with the MDNR’s PALS team—Marlo Atkinson, Kate Vogel, and Dylan Tallie—throughout the project.
Ground Penetrating Radar Survey at Emory Grove Cemetery
(Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2023-12) Islam, Aniqa; Perry, Megan; Shahid, Saffat; Schmerr, Nicholas
Research Objective: The objective of this survey is to use a non-invasive method to determine if and where unmarked graves may be at the Emory Grove Cemetery. Current redevelopment proposals require the Montgomery County Planning Department to be aware of the indistinctive burial sites to prevent disturbing the graves during construction. The Emory Grove United Methodist Church officials would also like to know their locations to properly identify the graves and to determine whether the cemetery must be shut down or if there is space for further burials. Geological Context: The Maryland Geological Survey cross section in Figure 1 shows the site lies above the Mather Gorge Formation, placed during the Lower Cambrian and/or Neoproterozoic period. This more than 800 feet continuous formation of quartz-mica schist interlayered with quartzitic metagraywacke is near the Blockhouse Point Fault, an unknown fault type. While the metagraywacke is subordinate, it is more visible as it has a higher resistance to weathering than the dominant schist [1].

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