Discussion Blog No. 3 Infrastructure Proposal

In Nowhere City, the population is growing at a rapid rate. There are also new industries that are also coming into the area, some which will use need a large amount of water and may over burden the sewer system. Mayor Smith has requested the Planning Department to develop strategies to ensure that the existing infrastructure will not be overburdened. The Executive Director of the Planning Department assigned to you the task of drafting a memorandum of approximately 2 pages outlining the process that the city should take to address this pressing problem. Write a well constructed memorandum detailing this process.

Büyükçekmece Lake JPG

The above link is a JPG of several maps that some of my GIS students
prepared about three years ago related to a study of Büyükçekmece Lake including land use and measurements indicating pollution in the lake such as Nitrogen and Phosphorus levels at different areas.

The image is large so you may want to save it
and use an image processor to zoom in and out A free and
flexible image viewer, IrfranView , can be downloaded at C/Net
Download.com:
http://www.download.com/IrfanView/3000-2192-10021962.html?part=dl-IrfanView&subj=dl&tag=button

This should give you some ideas for your blog. Please contact me if you have other questions.

Land Use Group (housing, tourism, commercial, industrial)

As we saw in our field trip, this area is complex and multi-functional. However, there are differentation between the commercial areas--as we saw there was one area that was exlusively devoted to electronic goods, areas of tourist hotels, small scale manufacturing and buildings of architectural and historical significane such as the Sirkeci train station, PTT building, Mirman Sinan Mosque (which we visited), Yeni Cami, Spice Market and Covered Market. The character of the area is also significant with small streets lined with small and independently owned businesses. There is also housing and scattered small workshops or industries in this area. Certainly one can not fully dissect this area in the time we have allocated. However, at least we can make an attempt to unravel this complex land use so that some general proposals can be made.

There is a GIS database for this area which includes all the building data and rough classification. You should refine and focus this database for the purpose of this study. This may include some land using to further clarify the distintions between land uses. Denoting of areas of influence such as the tourist hotel areas, tourist shops, local shopping areas and their function. and areas of small workshops would be helpful. Futher delineation of historic structures would also help you to better understand the area.

Some of the area is probably missed by tourists because there is improper information. Are their walking tours of the area that are well publicized? Is there other tourist informaiton available about this area? What is the condition of some of the tourist sites?

In a lnad use plan, you have to cnosider what are the existing problems and opportunities for area, future economic and other changes that migth affect this area--as we discussed this wonderful area will more than likely soon see some the affects of globablization, increasing prosperity for the middle class and maybe some gentrification. You should look to see if their any clues if this is starting to creep into this area and what can be done to prepare the owners of commerical establishments to adapt to possible coming structural changes to this

Think about possible possible land use changes that would make this area better, strategies to restore historic structures, how to make this area more attractive to tourists, areas that could be upgraded from low end to high end commeercial. Land uses that should be encouraged to leave the area (such as small industrial), upgrade in housing to provide a mix of housing to compensate the growing suburban movment and provide more revenue and help maintain the historic character of some of the limited. The most important thing is to contemplate how some of the shopping areas could be upgraded to be more speciality oriented to compete with the suburban malls and other retail areas. This is definitely on the horizon even if it appears that the business is thriving at the present time. They may be sturggling and wanting opportunites to gain additonal profit.

Transportation Group Suggestions

You should collect information related to the different transportation modes in the area: pedestrian, light rail routes, ferry, bus routes, communter rail and inter-city rail. Remember that the changes around Sirkeci represent a major change to the character of the area and also an opportunity to restructure the area for transportion. The area is a significant intermodal transfer center between buses (transfer center located on the other side of the western side of the Galata Bridge), ferries, light rail, communter rail and inter-city rail. What about the presnet coordination between the modes at this location? Also, there is a major bus transfer center on the periphery of the area near the Covered Bazaar that might be considered and studied. Buses run along Kennedy Caddesi--is this street under-untilized and could this be an area for an exclusive bus lane.

Mehmet brought up the idea of this area being a car free zone----which is being considered by the Metropolitan Governement. What are the problems relating to its implementation and how could they be mitigated?

In inspecting the street network, you should inspect the functional classification of the streets in this area. Where are there streets that are entirely pedestrian, transit-only, narrow with mostly pedestrian activity but allowing vehicular traffic, arterials, collectors etc. Also, what accomodation has been made for persons with physical handicaps.

We have a GIS database for this area that includes the bus routes, streets and land use. This should be utilzed and reclassified for the needs of your section.

Discussion Blog No. 2

Many of the watersheds in the Greater Istanbul area are being compromised by various factors. One such watershed is the Büyükçekmece watershed. You have been charged as a planning consultant to devise some strategies to protect this watershed. Explain the process you would follow that would result in a set of strategies specifically geared for this watershed. You should do some research in the background of the pressures that are facing the lake, water quality standards and refer to literatrue in this area. This should be a well-developed response. Creative strategies are particulary encouraged.

There will be no follow up requested for this blog. However, you must be ready to explain your proposals and be familiar with what others have posted for discussion at the next class session.

Disccussion Blog no 1 (Fall 2007)

In Nigel Taylor's article, he presents several roles for an urban planner. Drawing on this article, other material and your own opinions, should the planner be:
1) advocate for under-represented groups: 2) technical adviser and distanced from political process (the 'good soldier') ; 3)providing technical and strategical advice in the of urban planning process with direct or quasi-political loyality; 4) technical advisor, actively involved in decision-making process but, not connected to political affliation.

Take one of the roles and be an advocate for it. Students should decide who what roles they should take and then also respond in defending this role.