Rethinking the Urban Conversation: RethinkCollegePark.net Robert Goodspeed PhD Student M.I.T. Department of Urban Studies and Planning October 16 th , 2009

Outline Project context Website structure, content, and participants Reflection and emerging hypotheses

Project context

Website structure, content, and participants

Reflection and emerging hypotheses

College Park, MD

College Park, MD

Planning Geographies

Rapid Changes Proposed Billions in investment over the next 10-15 years: East Campus Development Initiative (expected well in excess of $500 million) Purple Line M-Square Research Park ( extensive office, 490 condos) Private Investments in the pipeline Mosaic at Turtle Creek (8 stories 300 condos behind Hillel) City Hall project (9 stories, 165 condos, 350 space downtown garage, retail) Northgate (17 stories 204 condos, retail) Starview Plaza (110 units, office, retail) University View Overlook (office, retail) Berwyn House Apartments (additional 72 units) CP Metro Station (400 condos) Hillcrest Height (140-160 condos, retail – now considering combining with Lasicks and providing student housing) Mazza Grandmarc Apartments (211 unit student housing – North CP) Camden at College Park (500 condos, retail) Greenbelt Station (2,000 townhomes, office, retail) Former NOAA site in Riverdale Park (460 units) Connector Road

Billions in investment over the next 10-15 years:

East Campus Development Initiative (expected well in excess of $500 million)

Purple Line

M-Square Research Park ( extensive office, 490 condos)

Private Investments in the pipeline

Mosaic at Turtle Creek (8 stories 300 condos behind Hillel)

City Hall project (9 stories, 165 condos, 350 space downtown garage, retail)

Northgate (17 stories 204 condos, retail)

Starview Plaza (110 units, office, retail)

University View Overlook (office, retail)

Berwyn House Apartments (additional 72 units)

CP Metro Station (400 condos)

Hillcrest Height (140-160 condos, retail – now considering combining with Lasicks and providing student housing)

Mazza Grandmarc Apartments (211 unit student housing – North CP)

Camden at College Park (500 condos, retail)

Greenbelt Station (2,000 townhomes, office, retail)

Former NOAA site in Riverdale Park (460 units)

Connector Road

Complex Policy Environment

The Cast of Characters University Administration City of College Park State of Maryland Prince George’s County University Students & Staff

Purple Line

East Campus

Community Character

Rethink College Park “ Our mission is to help transform College Park into a great college town. We believe in full access to information, public dialogue, and the power of creative ideas” Posts by Contributor David 155 38.0% Rob 125 30.6% Clay 48 11.8% Eric 31 7.6% Chris E. 16 3.9% Matt 6 1.5% Reza 6 1.5% Chris W. 4 1.0% Evan 4 1.0% Sam S. 4 1.0% Sarah 2 0.5% Albert 1 0.2% Andrea 1 0.2% Bob 1 0.2% Danielle 1 0.2% Jesse 1 0.2% Sam M. 1 0.2% Sean 1 0.2% Totals 408 100.0%

Topics

Visual Library

Who Participates? 71.6% left one comment

Whiter the “H”? (History)

Emerging Hypothesis Information drives the discussion The urban conversation is already online The web can facilitate participation Changing professional boundaries

Information drives the discussion

The urban conversation is already online

The web can facilitate participation

Changing professional boundaries

Theory Communicative action? Non-Euclidian planning? Lessons for E-Government? New Media and Urban Politics?

Communicative action?

Non-Euclidian planning?

Lessons for E-Government?

New Media and Urban Politics?

Imagining a great college town for a great university Robert Goodspeed M.I.T. Department of Urban Studies and Planning web.mit.edu/rgoodspe/www [email_address] www.rethinkcollegepark.net