Urban Planning is Not Boring - Samantha Ellman and Natalie Ikhrata

Latest Episodes:

A Brief Introduction to Affordable Housing Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to "Urban Planning is Not Boring." In this special episode, we're revisiting an essential topic that we recently covered in our class for Abundant Housing LA: "Introduction to Affordable Housing." Affordable housing is a pressing issue in cities worldwide, and it's crucial to understand the fundamentals of this complex and multifaceted subject. Whether you're an urban planning enthusiast, a housing advocate, or someone seeking to make sense of the challenges and solutions in your community, this episode is for you.

Join us as we dive into the core concepts of affordable housing, unpacking the key terminology, policies, and strategies that underpin this critical field. We'll provide a concise overview of the various approaches to affordability, from subsidized housing to inclusionary zoning, and explore the impacts of the housing crisis on communities and individuals.

Whether you're new to the subject or looking to expand your knowledge, AHLA's "Below Market Housing Blueprint" course is your gateway to a critical conversation about housing affordability, accessibility, and the path to creating more inclusive and equitable cities. Our goal is to demystify affordable housing, making it accessible and understandable for everyone. We'll address common misconceptions, share real-world examples, and discuss the importance of equitable housing solutions.

Enroll today in Abundant Housing LA's Below Market Blueprint Course.

"Our new 6-week course covers affordable housing's journey through LA County's processes like housing elements and CEQA. Kicking off the course are hosts of the Urban Planning is Not Boring podcast to give you a primer on affordable housing and its nuances!"
This course is a $450 value! Use the coupon code RENT75 to pay only $112.50! Enroll anytime! Live sessions are recorded and accessible for a year!
If cost is a barrier, email Joshua@abundanthousingla.org for a scholarship!

About Abundant Housing LA

Small Steps, Big Impact: Incremental Development Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Cities across the United States have opted to implement policy for community development gradually, rather than undergoing expedited construction and housing reform. Brooklyn Heights, Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, and Austin are just a few names you might recognize of cities undertaking something called incremental housing development. The term is used to describe when cities are built, as the name suggests, in small increments. It balances the ever-changing demands of modern urban living with financial efficiency, but is it the approach that urban planners have been looking for?

Today, we are discussing incremental development using Austin, Texas as a case study. Cities in the US like Austin have taken this strategy to improve housing in their community. The city council of Austin earlier this summer voted to halve the minimum lot size requirement in areas zoned for single-family homes, a law that made it difficult for planners to build row houses, townhomes, or tri- and four-flexes. The population of Austin is skyrocketing, and Councilmember Leslie Pool, the drafter of the resolution, believes this step is the early stage of incremental housing development for the city toward a better future for families of all incomes.

And we make a very special announcement! We will be teaching the first seminar course of the Abundant Housing LA Pro-Housing Leadership Certification Course! The course will focus on Affordable Housing Development, and we are honored to have the opportunity to take part in this course. Check it out!!

Sources:

Victory in Austin: City Council Votes for Incremental Housing Development

Discover civicX with co:census Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Urban Planning is Not Boring. Today, we have the privilege of exploring the world of community engagement, design, and planning with some remarkable guests from co:census. They're here to discuss an exciting new product, civicX, which promises to transform public feedback into meaningful insights in real-time.

Joining us are three experts from co:census:

Autumn Beaudoin, Ethics & Research Design Lead
Nicole Schwartz, Software Engineer
Jovanny Tovar, Product Marketing Manager

Co:census is known for its commitment to challenging the status quo of design, and we delve into the core values that drive their work. We explore how intentional engagement with underrepresented communities is a cornerstone of their approach, and why it's indispensable in the realm of design and planning.

The spotlight then shifts to civicX, co:census' innovative new product. We discover the inspiration behind its development and learn how it facilitates real-time gathering of insights from the voices that matter most. The conversation touches on the critical concept that sample sizes alone don't necessarily represent the diverse communities we aim to engage with. Our guests provide valuable insights into the potential outcomes for organizations that choose to use civicX and explore how incorporating civicX can significantly enhance the quality and inclusivity of projects and initiatives.

Join us for a dynamic conversation that promises to shed light on the transformative potential of civicX and the future of community-driven design and planning.

About co:census and civicX

co:census is a full-service solution to transform public feedback from meetings, surveys, and conversations into Insights and Reports.

civicX is a new co:census solution that challenges the status quo of the historical community engagement framework. civicX completely reimagines outreach by focusing on diversity, equity, and representation.

Have an upcoming project? Speak to the co:census team and easily access their support.

civicX alpha will be available to a limited number of users. Sign up here for our waitlist to be among the first to try this new solution from co:census.

About Autumn Beaudoin (they/them)

Autumn is an ethicist, researcher and strategist with design research, economics, and behavioral science backgrounds. Using this intersection of skills and with experience on government teams, they are on a mission to overhaul economic inequality and racial injustices by putting people at the center of localized systemic change.

About Nicole Schwartz (they/them)

Nicole combines practices of research, code, and art to foster relationships with technology that are life affirming and sustainable. Their approach to designing and developing technology is rooted in harm reduction practices that center the needs of people most directly targeted and underserved by the capitalist interests of the wider tech industry.

About Jovanny Tovar

Joining the call today is Jovanny, a pivotal figure at co:census, where he spearheads product marketing initiatives that bridge the gap between technology and its users. With a keen understanding of market dynamics and an innate ability to distill complex tech concepts into relatable narratives, Jovanny is at the forefront of crafting strategies that resonate. Beyond the confines of his role, he's an avid tech enthusiast with a penchant for innovative solutions that drive community engagement and foster inclusivity.

Exploring Equitable Zoning Reform with Urban Land Institute Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Urban Planning is Not Boring. Today, we're diving deep into zoning reform and its implications for our cities. We're thrilled to have special guests from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) with us to discuss their latest groundbreaking report titled "Reshaping the City: Zoning for a More Equitable, Resilient, and Sustainable Future." For those interested, you can find a link to the report further down in the episode description.

Joining us are two ULI experts who played pivotal roles in crafting this report:

Lian Plass, Senior Manager at ULI's Urban Resilience Program
Ben Forman, Senior Associate at ULI's Centers and Initiatives

We begin by demystifying zoning reform for those who might not be familiar with it, offering a concise definition and examples of its significance in shaping urban landscapes. Our discussion then delves into the barriers that cities face when attempting to implement zoning changes. Lian and Ben shed light on the complexities and challenges involved in reshaping zoning codes to address pressing issues like housing crises and carbon emissions reduction. The conversation turns to the ever-persistent "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) concerns that often arise during discussions of increased housing stock and inclusionary zoning policies. Our guests provide insights into how planners can effectively engage with these concerns while championing zoning reforms. Urban mobility is another crucial aspect of city planning, and our guests discuss how the public and private sectors can collaborate to create transportation systems that reduce car reliance and improve urban mobility. Climate change is an urgent concern, and we explore the current land use policies adopted by cities to combat its threats. Our guests share examples of these policies and assess their effectiveness. Lastly, we shift our focus to parks and green spaces, discussing how planners can ensure communities have ample access to green spaces.

Join us for this thought-provoking conversation as we unravel the complexities and opportunities in zoning reform, urban mobility, climate action, and community inclusivity. It's a podcast episode packed with insights for planners, policymakers, and anyone passionate about the future of our cities.

Resource Links

Lian Plass
Lian Plass is a Senior Manager for the Urban Resilience program which provides ULI members, the public, and communities across the United States with information on how buildings, development, and cities can be more resilient in the face of climate change and other environmental vulnerabilities.
Lian was inspired to join ULI after her overwhelmingly positive experience with ULI’s 2016 Advisory Services Panel centered on the Arch Creek Basin. Before coming to ULI, Lian served as Sustainability Administrator for the City of North Miami where she led efforts to tackle difficult sustainability and resilience issues. The Arch Creek Basin report demonstrated the importance of resilience-building initiatives within the city and helped make a strong case for funding city-led initiatives to prepare for climate change impacts. Lian has since worked in the private sector as a Senior Planner where she managed a wide range of planning and development projects including site rehabilitation, climate action plans, and code audits.
Lian is passionate about applying technology to resolve difficult planning problems equitably, expeditiously, and cost-effectively. This includes leveraging new massive caches of publicly available data to learn more about communities, alongside finding creative ways to convey critical information about development projects and generate engagement in the planning process. Lian applies her knowledge and experience to support the Urban Resilience program’s research, technical assistance, outreach, and education activities including research and report-writing, grant project administration, and event planning for the annual Resilience Summit. Lian holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida, and a Bachelors of Arts in Sustainable Development from Columbia University.

Ben Forman

Ben Forman is a Senior Associate for the Urban Land Institute's Centers and Initiatives which brings together ULI members, staff, and supporters to deliver insightful research, and to help apply what we learn together.

Ben is passionate about decarbonizing the built environment. At ULI, Ben has contributed to a number of reports including "The Off-Site Renewable Energy Buyer's Guide for Real Estate," "Reshaping the City," and a series of primers that address how owners can engage tenants throughout their journey to net zero. Ben also assists in managing ULI's community of practice, a worldwide alliance of real estate owners, investors, and strategic partners working to improve the environmental performance of the real estate industry through benchmarking, knowledge sharing, and implementation of best practices. Part of this work includes leading the Innovation Partners Program that connects our community of practice to property technology and service providers with ESG offerings.

Bridging Architecture and Planning with Shiva Ghomi Aug 21, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that delves into the dynamic interplay between architecture and planning. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Shiva Ghomi, Director of Planning and Community Development at Aufgang, an esteemed architecture and planning firm. Shiva's unique background as both an architect and urban planner lends a distinctive perspective to our conversation.

Shiva begins by sharing insights into her role at Aufgang, where she wears the hat of a planner in a predominantly architectural environment. As the sole planner at the firm, Shiva's multi-faceted background enriches her approach to projects, leading to a holistic understanding of the built environment.

Delving into the relationship between architecture and planning, we explore how these interconnected disciplines shape the urban landscape. Shiva offers insights into the challenges and synergies of integrating architectural visions with broader urban planning goals. From her experience, she shares how finding alignment between these aspects leads to vibrant and cohesive urban spaces. She provides a window into how sustainable design principles seamlessly merge with architectural and community development projects, creating environments that thrive in the face of change. Looking forward, Shiva reflects on the evolving landscape of architecture and planning. She envisions a pivotal role for professionals with expertise in both areas, highlighting the importance of collaboration between architects and planners in tackling modern urban challenges.

For more information about Aufgang, check out their website.

About Shiva

Education and Certifications:

Bachelor of Architecture Degree, Tehran Azad University South Branch
Master’s Degree in Urban Design, Tehran Azad University Science & Research Unit
Master’s Degree Architecture and Urban & Regional Planning, New York Institute of Technology

Professional Background: Prior to joining Aufgang, Shiva co-founded SPARC—Spatial Art and Construction with offices in Brooklyn and the Netherlands. Shiva has built a career by focusing on affordable housing & responsible neighborhood planning. Of note is that, while with SPARC, Shiva won a contract from the City of NY to reconstruct over 100 single- and two-family coastal homes in New York destroyed by Hurricane Sandy and successfully completed that commission.

Position: As Director of Planning and Community Development, Shiva is heavily involved in navigating zoning regulations and leading her team in developing compliant designs to bring projects to successful completion.

Personal Life: Shiva has been teaching “Sustainability: History and Practice” course at City Tech (CUNY) since 2018.

Unpacking MOVE Culver City's Controversy Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that delves into the exciting world of urban planning. In this episode, we take a close look at MOVE Culver City, a city-led initiative that envisions reimagining streets as public spaces, prioritizing efficient and safe mobility options for everyone.

Join us as we explore the project's goals, controversy, and status. Despite the project's goals to increase safety and sustainable mobility options, there was significant public backlash, leading to the end of the pilot project by a 3-2 vote of city council. As we explore the data showing increased transit, biking, and walking usage in the area, we grapple with the challenge of addressing induced demand and the tension between promoting alternative mobility and accommodating car-centric preferences.

Tune in as we navigate the complexities of MOVE Culver City and the broader dichotomy in car-centric California. We discuss the opportunities and challenges of reimagining our streets, creating safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, and envisioning a more sustainable future for urban mobility.

CORRECTION - This vote was done in April 2023, not August 2023!

Sources

In Culver City’s street space battle, cars are set to make a comeback

Culver City bike lane project axed due to public backlash

Washington & Culver Boulevard Tactical Mobility Lane Post-Pilot Report - April 2023

Catching up with Sam and Nat Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to Urban Planning is Not Boring! After our mini 'summer break', we're excited to bring you a special episode titled "Catching up with Nat and Sam." In this episode, your hosts Natalie and Sam reconnect and share their experiences adjusting to post-grad life.

Natalie kicks things off by discussing her transition into the working world. She provides insights into her full-time job and the challenges and joys that come with starting a new career in private real estate. From navigating office dynamics to putting theory into practice, Natalie shares her observations and reflections on this exciting new chapter.

Meanwhile, Sam takes us on a virtual journey as she recount her recent travels. From French Polynesia to Germany, Sam has been seeing the world this summer. In Stuttgart, Germany, Sam attended the Urban Future Conference as a member of the Young Leaders Programme cohort. In this episode, Sam shares her experiences exploring different urban environments and engaging with fellow planners from around the world. She highlights key takeaways from the conference and how it has shaped their perspective on urban planning.

Throughout the episode, Nat and Sam engage in a lively discussion about their respective experiences and how their adventures have influenced their understanding of urban planning beyond the classroom. They also reflect on the importance of continuous learning and professional development in the ever-evolving field of urban planning.

So join us for an engaging conversation about the realities of post-grad life and the exciting adventures Nat and Sam have had over the summer.

Intersections of Design and Planning with Shruti Shankar Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban design and planning. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Shruti Shankar, the urban design director at Studio One Eleven, a renowned interdisciplinary architecture, interiors, urban planning, and landscape architecture practice based in Long Beach, California.

Originally from Chennai, Shruti brings a unique perspective to her work, deeply fascinated by the people and life of cities rather than just the buildings themselves. As a trained architect, she has always been drawn to the larger picture—the organic life that thrives in bustling metropolises like Mumbai and Los Angeles, with a keen focus on accessibility, universality, and community building.

During this conversation, we delve into Shruti's journey, discussing her upbringing in Chennai and how it shaped her passion for urban planning. We explore her role as an urban design director at Studio One Eleven, known for their collaborative approach and commitment to community building and neighborhood development. Shruti shares her insights on the importance of sustainability and resilience in urban design, drawing from her experiences as a Fullbright Fellow and a certified eco districts planner.

From her rise in the field to her thought-provoking ideas on building more inclusive and sustainable urban environments, Shruti's expertise shines through in this engaging conversation. Join us for an inspiring and informative episode as we explore the power of urban planning to shape equitable cities with Shruti Shankar, urban design director at Studio One Eleven, on Urban Planning is Not Boring.

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About Shruti

Shruti Shankar is the Urban Design Director at Studio One Eleven with an interdisciplinary background in Urban Design, Architecture and Sustainability. She brings over a decade of project experience in the USA and internationally to her work. She has lead and worked on a variety of project types and scales, from placemaking, tactical urbanism and streetscape improvement projects, to urban design, community visioning and strategic planning. Shruti’s work focuses on creating sustainable and vibrant urban places through people-focused design, equitable planning methods, and collaborative city-building. Some of her award-winning projects include Station Area Plans for cities along Metro’s proposed West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor, and the Other-to-Residential Toolkit produced for the Southern California Association of Governments to address the need to produce more housing in Southern California cities. Shruti was born and raised in Chennai, India, and earned her Master’s in Urban Design from Washington University in St. Louis on a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship for Leadership Development, following her Bachelors’ degree in Architecture from Anna University in Chennai. She is an AICP Certified Planner and a LEED Accredited Professional for Neighborhood Development.

Studio One Eleven

Shruti's Studio One Eleven Profile

Shruti's LinkedIn

Do We Need to Develop More Market Rate Housing? Exploring the Concept of Filtering Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban planning. In this episode, join your hosts Sam and Nat as they dive into a crucial concept in housing production: filtering. They explore why it is essential to produce housing at every income level, not solely focusing on affordable housing.

Sam and Nat discuss the mechanics of filtering, which refers to the natural process of housing becoming more affordable over time as newer, higher-cost units are built and older units become more affordable. They examine the benefits of maintaining a diverse mix of housing options in terms of income levels, including fostering social and economic diversity within neighborhoods.

Throughout the episode, Sam and Nat delve into the potential consequences of exclusively prioritizing affordable housing production, such as concentrating poverty and limiting housing choices for individuals across different income brackets. They emphasize the importance of striking a balance between affordable housing and market-rate housing, highlighting the role of urban planning in creating inclusive communities.

Tune in to this thought-provoking episode of Urban Planning is Not Boring as Sam and Nat shed light on the concept of filtering and explain why a holistic approach to housing production is crucial for vibrant and sustainable cities.

Sources: Everything you need to know about the affordable housing debate

How Filtering Increases Housing Affordability

Sitting down with Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) May 29, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to Urban Planning is Not Boring, the podcast that explores the fascinating world of urban planning. In this episode, we are joined by Maria Patiño Gutierrez, Director of Policy and Research at Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California that works to build power and community leadership to create equitable policies and systems that benefit working-class communities of color. SAJE's work focuses on housing justice, equitable development, and community organizing, and they have been at the forefront of many important campaigns and initiatives in the LA area. We discuss SAJE's approach to community organizing and advocacy, including their use of popular education and leadership development to build power among marginalized communities. We also delve into some of the challenges and successes that SAJE has experienced in their work, including their efforts to fight against gentrification and displacement in the rapidly-changing LA landscape. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the importance of community-led organizing and the role of non-profits in shaping the future of our cities.

Fareless Report: https://www.saje.net/the-road-to-equity-the-case-for-fareless-transit-in-los-angeles/

The SAJE Blog: https://www.saje.net/news/blog/ Other coalitions UNIDAD (United Neighbors In Defense Against Displacement)-LA People's Plan Public Land Campaign ACT-LA United to House LA