Hawkins 153D, MW: 3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Dr.

Jennifer Mapes Office: 215 Ward Hall Office Hours: MW 12-2 p.m. Email: jennifer.mapes@plattsburgh.edu

GEG 307: Urban Geography and Planning

This course looks at the evolution of North American cities, their contemporary form, and prospects for future sustainability. To understand how cities have changed, we will focus on American ideas about what makes a good city, and how these cultural ideals shape urban places. The material in this course is divided into two sections: the first examines the history of cities and planning, the evolution and ideological shaping of the urban form. The second section of the course examines prospects for a future city that is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, considering the challenges faced in specific cities today. Outside-of-class work will focus on the city and town of Plattsburgh, applying what you learn in the classroom to better understand your own urban surroundings. This work will include two field projects and a final paper on a local topic.

Course objectives
Describe the history of the urban form in North America, and connect physical changes to ideological principles and municipal interventions. Explain the evolution of contemporary urban planning and ideologies behind elements of success (and failure). Broadly describe the challenges to a sustainable city and offer examples of efforts to bridge the divergent elements of social equity, economic viability, and environmental health. Learn and utilize spatial data collection, analysis, and presentation tools to better understand the urban geography of Plattsburgh.

Required texts
City Life: Urban expectations in a new world. Witold Rybczynski. 1995 (ISBN: 0684825295) The Smart Growth Manual. Andres Duany, Jeff Speck, and Mike Lydon. 2009 (ISBN: 0071376755) Additional readings are provided below via hyperlinks listed below and on Moodle.

Course schedule
Aug. 29/31 Introduction: What makes a good city? Why aren't our cities like that? City Life The measure of a town City Life (First reading response due) History of cities In the Land of the Dollar, and Civic Art, City Life History of planning Selected reading from: Planning in the USA (Moodle) Field project 1: History of Plattsburgh (due Sept. 28) Plattsburgh Comprehensive Plan (Moodle) Urban renewal High hopes, City Life In class: Robert Moses in New York: The City and the World, Ric Burns, 2001 Suburbanization (Field project due) Country homes for city people, City Life New urbanism and planning today The new downtown and The best of both worlds City Life Ch. 1 Smart Growth Manual Fall Break MIDTERM EXAM Regional planning & Transportation Ch. 2 & 3, Smart Growth Manual Open space & ecosystem services Ch. 4, Smart Growth Manual Neighborhoods: live/work/play Ch. 5 & 6, Smart Growth Manual Complete streets Ch. 8, 9 & 10, Smart Growth Manual Parking & building Ch. 11 & 13, Smart Growth Manual 2

Sept. 2 Sept. 5/7 Sept. 12 Sept. 14 Sept. 19/21

Sept. 26/28 Oct. 3/5

Oct. 10 Oct. 12 Oct. 17/19 Oct. 24/26 Oct. 31/ Nov. 2 Nov. 7/9 Nov. 14/16

Nov. 21 Nov. 28/30

Field project 2: Walkability assessment (due Dec. 5) Excerpt from The Death & Life of Great American Cities, J. Jacobs (Moodle) The challenge of sustainability Green Cities, Growing Cities, Just Cities?: Urban Planning and the Contradictions of Sustainable Development, Journal of the American Planning Association. S. Campbell Presentations Presentations FINAL EXAM

Dec. 5 Dec. 7 TBA

Course assessment
Participation (10 percent) Discussion is an important part of the class meeting, so you should come prepared with comments and questions. Class attendance is mandatory! If you have to miss class for a health reason, you must present a documented excuse within a week of missing that class. Attend class half the time, you will receive a 50 percent (or lower) grade. Infrequent attendance or lack of engagement will significantly decrease your grade for this portion of class. Reading responses (10 percent) weekly, online Reading questions will be posted on Moodle one week before they are due. Responses must be posted on Moodle by Monday at 3:30 p.m. You must submit 10 out of the 12 questions assigned. The first question is required, to allow you to get used to using the Moodle system. It will be due by the end of the first week of classes (Friday, 5 p.m.). Exams (15 percent x 2 = 30 percent) The two exams will not be comprehensive. They will include key word definitions and essay questions. Field reports (2 x10 percent = 20 percent) Due Sept. 28 & Dec. 5, in class Field reports are primary research on Plattsburgh. The first will examine the history of a neighborhood using historical sources in the librarys special collections. The second will involve a survey of the walkability of this neighborhood. Both field reports will begin in class, but need time outside of class as well in order to complete the assignment. Final project, plan & presentation (20+5+5 percent = 30 percent) Due Dec. 14, online Final projects will describe a small-scale smart growth opportunity for Plattsburgh. Using your course text, your field explorations, and additional research, you will document and explain what changes to your chosen neighborhood would improve the citys livability. Guidelines will be provided in class.

Additional opportunities
Please let me know if you are interested in pursuing any of the following as independent studies: Expanding your project to be presented at the Association of American Geographers conference in New York City (Feb.24-28, registration deadline: Sept. 28) Creating a map that shows our class walkability findings to present at the AAG Using your project to apply for and execute a College Green Grant

College Honor Code

It is expected that all students enrolled in this class support the letter and the spirit of the Academic Honesty Policy as stated in the College Catalog. This is your first and final warning against plagiarism and other forms of cheating. If you plagiarize, you will not have an opportunity to redo the work, will be reported to the University, and may fail the class.

Electronic communication policy

The best way to communicate with me is always in person. See me before or after class, or during my office hours. My emails I will post non-pressing announcements on Moodle and discuss them in class. Any timesensitive announcements will be sent to your school address. If you are having trouble accessing your school address, please let me know. Otherwise, I will expect you to receive my message during regular business hours. Similarly, I will check my email during business hours (M-F 8 am to 5 pm), but rarely check , my school email nights and weekends. Please do not expect an immediate response. If I have not responded to your email within 48 hours, a polite reminder email is fine. Your emails Please send emails from an address associated with your real name. Yahoo, Hotmail, and Gmail accounts may not be recognizable as student emails and may be ignored. Follow proper email etiquette. This includes an informative subject line, a salutation (Dear Professor Mapes, or Dear Dr. Mapes, or just Professor Mapes,), your full name, and what class you are in. I do not answer questions that are answered on the syllabus (such as, What did I miss? or What are your office hours? or Where is your office?). Please check here first! Moodle Announcements may be posted to Moodle, but will also be made in class. If you miss class, check Moodles announcements and read through the class Powerpoint for that day. All content will be available through the Lessons section, including class Powerpoints (in PDF form). Powerpoints are posted on Friday. 4