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“Technical Assistance to Lesedi Local Municipality,” Design Framework for South Africa’s Neighborhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG), Gauteng Province, South Africa, 2011

Abstract

In 2011, South Africa’s Lesedi Local Municipality contracted I2UD and engineering firm Worley Parsons RSA to provide technical assistance to the municipality, sponsored by South Africa’s Neighborhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG).

The technical assistance proposal also developed strategic, sustainable plans and an urban design framework for four economically distressed townships within Lesedi Municipality. I2UD formulated development and urban design strategies to revitalize, upgrade, and take advantage of the strategic locations of communities in South Africa’s Gauteng Province.

Documents include an overview presentation, inception report, field report, and stakeholder meeting notes, and a Turn-Around template for Pre-2011 Priority Areas.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2011
Project Type:Comprehensive Plan
Geographic Regions:Lesedi Local Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa (Ratanda, Impumelelo, Kwazenzele, and Jameson Park)
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Carolina Morgan; Alejandra Mortarini
Sponsors:Neighbourhood Development Partnership Programme (Republic of South Africa)
Categories:Climate Change and Resilience Building
ID:2011_08_001

Related I2UD Projects

I2UD Digital Library Study Guide: The Role of Urban Planning and Management in Post-Crisis Reconciliation and Recovery, October 2025

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“Revitalization of Kars Historic Center” & “Strategies for Sustainable Development,” Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building for Kars, Turkey, 2004-2008

Abstract

Through two projects, “Revitalization of Kars Historic Center” (2005) and “Strategies for Sustainable Development” (2006-2008), I2UD provided technical assistance and institutional capacity-building to Kars Municipality, Turkey. The Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design began the Kars collaboration in 2004, and I2UD brought it to completion in 2008.

A 2005 Municipal Law devolved city planning responsibilities to individual local municipalities, decentralizing urban planning and management in Turkey. I2UD fostered a dialogue among stakeholders, including civil society and low-income dwellers, toward the collective revitalization of the historic Ottoman core of the city of Kars, to strengthen its ability to plan and manage sustainable development.

Documents include an Executive Summary for the “Revitalization of Kars Historic Center” (2005) report, followed by project documentation: A Mission Report, Interim Report, and a Final report. Additionally, see “Revitalization” Volume 2 (Annexes). Supporting documents include a Press Release by Mona Serageldin and a “Kars Social Survey” (Mustafa Gönen and Elda Solloso, June 2005).

The “Strategies for Sustainable Development” (2006-2008) project includes an Interim Report, two Progress reports and a Final Narrative Report. Supporting documents include a “Strategic Plan Exercise” and a “Household Composition Survey Interview Template” for Kars, Turkey.


[Excerpt: Executive Summary, page 1]:
“The Center for Urban Development Studies at Harvard University undertook this project to assist the municipality of Kars in developing revitalization strategies and action plans to initiate the regeneration of its historic center. These strategies focus on valorizing cultural heritage, social inclusion, and economic impact, and aim to incorporate the perspectives of stakeholders with an interest in the historic center. Our work took place over six months and included site visits; meetings with the Governor, the Mayor, senior officials, and NGO representatives; community meetings; and a social survey.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2004-2008
Project Type:Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:Kars, Turkey
Reports:
—
Supporting Documents:

—
Supporting Documents:
Authors:Samir Abdulac; Berhan Ipek; Ali Kural; Christa Lee-Chuvala; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:Christensen Fund
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:2004_11_001

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Gallery 14: Turkey: Tarsus, Adana, Mersin, Iskenderun, Istanbul, and Batikent (1987)

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Seminar on “Partnerships and Urban Development in Older Neighborhoods in Paris and Boston,” with Centre de Recherches sur l’Habitat (CRH), April 2004

Abstract

In collaboration with the Centre de Recherches sur l’Habitat (CRH) in Paris, the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design documented community development strategies and neighborhood initiatives in La Goutte d’Or in Paris, France and the South End, Boston.

Activities included a seminar in Paris and a study tour of Boston community-based organizations for 21 French local governments and NGO representatives. The research was supported in part by PUCA (Le Plan Urbanisme, Construction et Architecture), an agency of the French Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing. Documents include a draft project summary, a project proposal in French, and bibliography.



[Excerpt: Proposal, “Partnerships and Urban Development in Older Neighborhoods in Paris and Boston,” 2002]

“Researchers from the two Centers have initiated joint activities to compare urban development in older and economically distressed neighborhoods in Paris and Boston and their respective economic, social and spatial manifestation. The research will provide a better understanding of the dynamics that drive urban development in older districts and their effect on neighborhood revitalization programs. Particular attention will be paid to the method local governments use to work in partnership with local communities in order to improve the quality of life and economic opportunities for lower-income residents. The research is focusing on older districts in transition including: La Goutte d’Or in Paris and St. Denis on the edge of Paris; and in Boston the South End and Dudley neighborhoods. In each city, the neighborhoods illustrate the challenges facing older districts today.”

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2004
Project Type:IEP; Education
Geographic Regions:South End, Boston, USA / Goutte d’Or, Paris, France
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll; Marie Hélène Bacqué; Yankel Fijalkow
Sponsors:Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (French Government); National Science Foundation
Categories:International Education Program; Executive Training Program; Education
  
ID:2004_00_001

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Gallery 12: Poland: Gdansk and Lublin (1994–1995)

Gallery 15: United States: Boston, Massachusetts (1994-1997)

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Design Studio 2003: “Urban Strategies for Economic Recovery: A Revitalization Strategy for New Bedford, Massachusetts,” Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design offered a Design Studio in Fall 2003, “A Revitalization Strategy for New Bedford Massachusetts,” led by François Vigier and John Driscoll. The seminar gave students a history of revitalization efforts in Boston, Massachusetts, and tasked them with designing their own strategies, addressing both social and physical problems in the community environment.

Documents include a summary paper on “Urban Strategies for Economic Recovery,” as well as curriculum documents for “A Revitalization for New Bedford, Massachusetts.” A seminar overview document contains an introduction, course schedule, and charts. A series of presentations provide material on Boston’s projects, with images, statistics, and a timeline.


[Excerpt: Background Presentation, for “Urban Strategies for Economic Recovery,” p. 1, 2.]

Background
“Boston’s economy has been closely linked to its educational institutions. The region is a dynamic center of knowledge. It has no less than 65 colleges and universities. Since 1970, the city has gone through a full economic cycle twice rebounding from deep recession on the strength of innovation and skills. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s the government funded/research at the universities led to the emergence of new high-tech industries, mainly electronics and computer firms. This economic resurgence followed the loss of traditional manufacturing to lower wage regions in the South.”

….

Massachusetts’ Strategic Plan: “Choosing to Compete” as a Strategic Objective.
“Choosing to Compete was the culmination of several years’ effort between the State of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, academic institutions and the business community to understand the State’s economic situation and prospects and to develop a public-private strategy to support economic recovery. Fourteen conferences were held by the State and the University of Massachusetts bringing government officials and civil servants together with business, academic and community leaders. Extensive research and analysis of the economy was carried out jointly by government, academic and private firms. The result was a strategy that starts with an in-depth understanding of the competitive position and future prospects of Massachusetts’ key industries and defines government’s role as a partner with the private sector in making the state’s business sector more competitive in a globalized economy.

“Choosing to Compete” sets out a strategy for how government can enable and assist the private enterprise which drives the economy. It focuses on nurturing the growth of industries which export goods and services to other states or nations and thus bring money into the state and constitute the foundation of its economic development. These industries include manufacturing but also services ranging from tourism to finance and business services like environmental and other consulting firms, to educational institutions which attract students from around the world. If this economic base grows, the local industries which serve it will also grow – industries like construction, retail and wholesale trade, and personal services. Government should not focus its efforts on growing these local industries except in situations where it is attempting to stimulate business development in disadvantaged communities. If the base economy grows, the local economy should automatically grow with it.”
___

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2003
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
Reports:
Authors:François Vigier; John Driscoll
Sponsors:Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:2003_09_001

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Gallery 15: United States: Boston, Massachusetts (1994-1997)

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IEP 2003: “Infrastructure and Partnerships for Local Economic Development” in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, South Africa, International Education Programs, 2003

Abstract

Curriculum components from the 2003 IEP (International Education Program) “Infrastructure and Partnerships for Local Economic Development,” which was held in Pretoria and Bloemfontein, South Africa in August and September 2003.

Documents include agendas, case studies, project summaries, and reference materials. Noted work by Mona Serageldin includes “Decentralization and Urban Infrastructure Management Capacity,” a background paper for the 2001 Third Global Report on Human Settlements.

Additional contextual documents include: The “Best Practices 2001” submission for Middledrift, Eastern Cape, South Africa; an executive summary from May 2000 for the “Housing Microfinance Initiative”; a presentation of indicator reports by CUDS “Neighborhood Improvement Program, Neiva, Colombia”; and “Participant Evaluation and Comments” forms for the 2003 seminar participants.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2003
Project Type:IEP; Education
Geographic Regions:Pretoria and Bloemfontein, South Africa (Program Locations) / Brazil / Boston, Massachusetts, US / South Africa / Bogotá, Colombia / Southwark, London, UK / Saint-Denis and Aubervilliers, France / Ahmedabad, India / Adjamé, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire / Szczecin, Poland
Reports:
Authors:CUDS Team
Sponsors:Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:International Education Program; Education
  
ID:2003_08_001

Related I2UD Projects

Beginning in 1982, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design hosted International Training Programs (ITP), an annual series of 2- to 4-week summer seminars designed to strengthen the decision-making skills of senior professionals in public and private agencies responsible for urban development.

The I2UD Digital Library holds curriculum materials for ITPs from 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998:

The tradition of ITPs continued after 2000, when the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) (a re-organization of the Unit) continued training seminars as International Education Programs (IEP) from 2000-2004:

Programs included inter-linked modules, lectures, case studies, interactive computer simulation models, site visits to urban projects, discussion groups and networking with professional counterparts from international metropolitan regions. Sessions had a modular format and structured team teaching, taught by a team of senior faculty and guest lecturers. Programs ended with a synthesis presented through a project evaluation exercise. Participants used case projects to examine strategies from the viewpoint of both public and private partners — to assess the feasibility and potential impacts of policies and projects on the community and the city. Presentations by guest speakers, representing U.S. and international agencies, NGOs, and community groups, were also integrated within the pedagogic framework of each module.

Gallery 2: Côte d’Ivoire: Adjamé, Abidjan, 1990-1995

Gallery 12: Poland: Gdansk and Lublin, 1994–1995

Gallery 15: United States: Boston, Massachusetts, 1994-1997

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“The Revitalization of Traditional Urban Centers in Puerto Rico,” Technical Assistance, 2003

Abstract

In 2003, team members at the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design authored an urban documentation and technical assistance strategy titled “The Revitalization of Traditional Urban Centers in Puerto Rico.” The report built upon cooperation with academics and government officials in seven Puerto Rican municipalities: Isabela, Luquillo, Aibonito, Morovis, Cabo Rojo, Coamo, and Humacao.

The project was accomplished through collaboration with a new organization, the Directoría de Urbanismo, created within the Department of Transportation and Public Works of Puerto Rico. The report identified regional planning capacities in municipalities, discussed concerns and needs, and addressed the strengths of existing community and their participatory programs. Documents include trip and summary reports for the seven municipalities.


[Excerpt: Summary Report, May 2004, Introduction, p. 5]

“In May 2003, the Center for Urban Development Studies of the Harvard Design School received a research grant from the Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies to cover travel expenses for a research study on the program for the revitalization of Urban Centers being led by the Directoría de Urbanismo in Puerto Rico.

During their first visit to the Island (June 2003), John Driscoll and Liz Meléndez San Miguel had the opportunity to work with staff members from the Directoría and meet with representatives working in 7 of the 18 municipalities included in the pilot program as well as the architects who worked on the development of the pilot revitalization plans. During a follow-up visit, ten months later (April 2004), 3 municipalities were visited and additional interviews were conducted to understand the program’s progress and learn more about future plans.”

“The following summary report reviews the information gathered to outline the importance of the program while posing questions on its future development and implementation.”

Introduction

“The urban centers of Puerto Rico manifest a complex array of problems characteristic of traditional urban centers around the world. The number of residents living in city centers continues to decline while the urban periphery experiences rapid demographic and spatial growth. Ongoing changes in the functional and economic needs of the city are resulting in the deterioration of the social and physical structure of certain areas, even as other areas are benefiting from new investments.

In Puerto Rico, the spatial dimension of the economic restructuring is evident both at the Island level as smaller municipalities, particularly those in the center of the Island, lose investment to the larger more powerful municipalities of the metropolitan areas, as well as the city level in the general decline of the traditional centers of social and economic activity throughout the Island. The resulting spiral of disinvestments can be characterized by the diminished quality of life for residents, declining economic opportunities, damages to historic structures and traditional edifices and the deterioration of the natural environment. Administrative and resource constraints have made it difficult for municipalities to address these issues and compete with larger metropolitan areas for resources. Many local municipal governments lack funding resources and adequately trained staff to undertake regular planning activities or implement special public works projects.”


Program for the Revitalization of Urban Centers

“In an effort to promote the revitalization of the 78 traditional urban centers of Puerto Rico, the central government, through the August 2002 Law for the Revitalization of Urban Centers, created a program to develop and coordinate projects and activities to revitalize the urban centers in the Island. The Directoría de Urbanismo, created within the Department of Transportation and Public Works in January 2002, is leading the program. The law declares that the Directoría will, in coordination with the mayors and with the assistance of the Planning Board, lead, coordinate and implement projects and activities to foster the rehabilitation of the urban centers, designate the areas to be impacted, develop rehabilitation plans, and implement appropriate projects.”
___

Project Year:2003
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Puerto Rico
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll; Liz Meléndez San Miguel; François Vigier
Sponsors:David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:2003_05_001

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“Monitoring Processes of Change in Historic Centers: A Case Study of Fes, Morocco,” Case Study Paper for UNESCO World Heritage Center and the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), 2002

Abstract

Mona Serageldin presented the report “Monitoring Processes of Change in Historic Centers: A Case Study of Fes, Morocco” at a workshop on Monitoring World Heritage in November 2002, held in Vicenza, Italy and sponsored by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). Serageldin’s report assesses the rehabilitation strategy for the Medina of Fez based on a spatial analysis and social and economic indicators, and outlines the considerations involved in implementing the strategy and a geographic monitoring system.


[Excerpt: Abstract, p. 3]

ABSTRACT
“Historic centers encompass monumental buildings and landmarks embedded within a rich urban fabric of utilitarian buildings. Property owners and residents are constantly altering these buildings to adapt them to new needs and lifestyles. Their interventions trigger interlinked processes of transformation that lead either to preservation or to deterioration. Rehabilitation strategies must reconcile the plurality of views, interests, mandates and missions adds layers of complexity to the already challenging task of coping with the impact of disinvestments, misuse, abuse and neglect eroding the quality of life in historic centers.”

“The strategy developed for the first phase of the rehabilitation of the Medina of Fez required a thorough understanding of the dynamics at work in the Medina and of the institutional and financial blockages that prevented reinvestment and fostered the continued deterioration of residential buildings. This assessment was based on a spatial analysis of the key physical, social and economic indicators for the area, including property transactions and building permits for new construction and improvements.”

“The institutionalization and periodic updating of a monitoring system recording the key indicators used in the preparation of the project and linking these databases to the ADER-FEZ GIS has been recommended, but not yet implemented. With a good monitoring system in place and closer collaboration between the tax Department and the Municipality the tax yield from the Medina would be enhanced and the interest of the authorities in the historic core as a viable economic entity [would be] rekindled.”

—

“At the Center for Urban Development Studies, we have developed an approach to revitalization and rehabilitation that recognizes the plurality of stakeholders in historic centers. We accept the evaluation of cultural significance given to different components of the historic urban fabric by specialized agencies. Our role is to assist local government in devising strategies ensuring coherence, inclusion and impact. Our approach to action plans focuses on valorization of the urban fabric based on the dynamics of change in the site as a living component of a larger urban agglomeration.”

Project Year:2002
Project Type:Workshop
Geographic Regions:Fes, Morocco
Reports:Monitoring Processes of Change in Historic Centers: Fes, Morocco (November 2002)
Authors:Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:UNESCO World Heritage Centre; International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM)
Categories:Education
  
ID:2002_11_001

Related I2UD Projects

Gallery 10: Morocco: Fes, Casablanca, and Rabat (1983-1993)

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“Master Plan for the Revitalization of the Older Urban Fabric,” Preservation in the Old City of Al Qusair, Egypt, 2000

Abstract

In 2000, the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design produced a planning program that encouraged both economic urban development and historic district revitalization for the preservation of the Old City of Al Qusair, Egypt.

The revitalization program focused on the recently restored major Ottoman fort, archeological excavations of Pharaonic settlements, and tourism development along the Red Sea coast. The CUDS survey emphasized the benefits of a revitalization plan to enact an “operational strategy for the revitalization of Qusair’s old urban fabric” and to “ensure its integration within the official master plan for Qusair commissioned by the Governor.”

Documents include a Full Report, Questionnaire, Suggested Urban Regulations and Building Code, Intervention List, Action Plan Write Up, and a Statistical analysis.



[Excerpt: The Full Report, The Old City of Qusair]

“The Old City of Qusair is an integral component of the whole city…Between the planned extension and the existing city, uncontrolled expansion is occurring primarily along the main roads. This informal and rather chaotic urbanization is bound to have a negative impact on the environment of both the Old and New Qusair. These settlements house families who lived previously in the older neighborhoods and should be included in future development and upgrading plans at the city scale.”

The documentation and analysis involved “three fundamental determinants of change and transformation of the historic urban fabric”:

1. A thorough understanding of tenure patterns and development dynamics in the city as they affect the historic center.

2. The documentation of economic and socio-cultural changes and their impact on lifestyles, on housing, and commercial activity in the different zones of the study area.

3. The identification of factors prompting property owners, shopkeepers, and households to invest in the improvement of their buildings, shops and dwellings.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:2000
Project Type:Master Plan
Geographic Regions:Al Qusair, Egypt
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; François Vigier; Tarek Waly
Sponsors:Wallenberg Foundations
Categories:Historic Districts
  
ID:2000_00_002

Related I2UD Projects

Galleries 6-7: Egypt: Cairo and Helwan (1986, 1990)

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ITP 1998: “The Role of Public/Private Partnerships in Urban Improvements,” with Case Studies on Kreuzberg, Berlin (Germany), GIS Mapping on Cape Cod (US) and the Maarouf Quarter of Cairo (Egypt), 1998

Abstract

The curriculum components from the 1998 International Training Program (ITP), “The Role of Public/Private Partnerships in Urban Improvements,” include outlines of public and private partnerships for urban improvement initiatives. Case studies include city project overviews of the Kreuzberg District of Berlin; GIS Mapping of Eastham and Wellfleet in Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and the Maarouf Quarter in Cairo, Egypt.

Guest lecturers included: Pat Cusick, Executive Director of South End Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP); Richard Dimino, Chief Executive Director of Artery Business Committee; Linda Mogelli Haar, Director of Planning and Zoning of Boston Redevelopment Authority; Richard Henderson, Associate Director of Port Planning and Development of Massachusetts Port Authority; James Kostaras, Senior Architect/Planner for Boston Redevelopment Authority.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1998
Project Type:ITP; Education
Geographic Regions:United Kingdom / Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA / Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany / Maarouf, Cairo, Egypt
Reports:
Authors:Unit Team
Sponsors:Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:International Training Program; Education
  
ID:1998_07_001

Related I2UD Projects

Beginning in 1982, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design hosted International Training Programs (ITP), an annual series of 2- to 4-week summer seminars designed to strengthen the decision-making skills of senior professionals in public and private agencies responsible for urban development.

The I2UD Digital Library holds curriculum materials for ITPs from 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998:

The tradition of ITPs continued after 2000, when the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) (a re-organization of the Unit) continued training seminars as International Education Programs (IEP) from 2000-2004:

Programs included inter-linked modules, lectures, case studies, interactive computer simulation models, site visits to urban projects, discussion groups and networking with professional counterparts from international metropolitan regions. Sessions had a modular format and structured team teaching, taught by a team of senior faculty and guest lecturers. Programs ended with a synthesis presented through a project evaluation exercise. Participants used case projects to examine strategies from the viewpoint of both public and private partners — to assess the feasibility and potential impacts of policies and projects on the community and the city. Presentations by guest speakers, representing U.S. and international agencies, NGOs, and community groups, were also integrated within the pedagogic framework of each module.

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City of Boston’s “Neighborhood Partnership Initiative” & “Main Street Program,” Urban Revitalization for Roslindale and West Roxbury, Boston, United States, 1997

Abstract

The Center for Urban Development Studies at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design collaborated with the City of Boston on its Neighborhood Partnership Initiative in the late 1990s. The initiative aimed to restructure distressed neighborhoods and revitalize districts in Boston through community organization, the promotion of new economic activity, and housing improvements, including a redesign for Boston’s main streets. Neighborhoods included Washington St/Grove St in West Roxbury and Washington St/West Roxbury Parkway in Roslindale.


[Excerpt: Overview]

Boston, MA:
“Municipalities worldwide have successfully engaged community groups in structured partnerships based on joint definitions of needs and opportunities. Local initiatives programs support and encourage civic leadership and all of them involve a program of shared financial commitments that leverage public and private resources. In the case of Boston, the city and its development agencies created an array of programs to address the needs of the city’s distressed neighborhoods and utilized collaborative approaches that build upon the economic, social, and physical assets in a community.

Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (NPI) is an example of a model program that worked actively with neighborhood residents and community organizations to develop coordinated plans for neighborhood preservation and housing improvements. The NPI ended in 1996 and evolved into Boston’s Main Street Program, another partnership program that focuses on the revitalization of business districts in 19 neighborhoods. In Main Streets, the city provides seed funding for a coordinator who works with a board representing local businesses and NGOs in the neighborhood.”

The Neighborhood Partnership Initiative:
“In the 1980s, DND redefined its role from a capital planning agency to a community development agency managing a number of diverse programs. The DND’s goal was to strategically invest resources to build up the strength and vitality of neighborhoods and work directly with community-based organizations to coordinate and implement public improvements, housing, open space, and youth social programs. The Neighborhood Partnership Initiative grew out of a review of existing programs working at the neighborhood level that were not having their desired impact and the realization that DND needed to develop a more focused strategy for allocating scarce public resources.”

Project Year:1997
Project Type:Case Study
Geographic Regions:Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll
Sponsors:Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:1997_05_001

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Reuse Plans for Boston’s Navy Yards and Military Bases: “Balanced Growth Reuse Strategies for Military Base Conversions,” Boston, United States, 1993-1996

Abstract

Between 1993 and 2008, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit, later I2UD) compiled three urban planning reports for the reuse of decommissioned military bases and historic navy shipyards in Boston and other areas of Massachusetts in the United States.

The first report, “Balanced Growth Reuse Strategies for Military Base Conversions” (1993), was a Technical Assistance and Research and Evaluation led by François Vigier, from the Unit, and Victor W. Karen, from the City of Boston’s planning agency. The undertaking was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). The EDA in turn supported the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) to assist communities through the military base decommissioning process and transition to civilian life.

The report presented urban planning approaches to harness the potential social and economic reuse of U.S. military bases scheduled for closure. Forts included:

  • Fort Devens, MA, an army base in a rural setting (c. 1996);
  • Charleston Navy Yard, SC, a navy facility in an urban setting; and
  • Lowry Air Force Base, CO, an air force installation in a suburban setting.

Local professionals were consulted for the study, including leading educators and urban planning experts in the Boston area from the mid-1990s, including Robert W. Rush, James English, Paul Van Dien Davis, William Poorvu, and Alan Altshuler.

The second report, “Reuse Strategies for Military Base Conversions ” (1996), was authored by the Unit team, led by Vigier and Edward Robbins (Lecturer in Urban Design). Documents include an Executive Report, a Summary Report, and Main report. The strategy addressed four points of value in the specific case of Boston’s base zones: historic value, regional economic trends, investment for economic growth, and the centralization of a community input process in the formulation of a closure strategy for Boston’s bases. Overall, this pair of reports are excellent models of the Unit’s early style of professional urban planning.

The third report, “A Case Study of Fort Devens: The Transition to Civilian Use” (2008), authored by I2UD research associate Erick Guerra, expanded on the previous reports and provided an updated examination of the reuse plans for the former military base in rural Massachusetts, highlighting the cooperation as well as competing interests amongst stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels in converting the land to civilian use.

See also: The Redevelopment of Charleston Navy Yard, Boston Case Study, 2001 (Project ID: 2001_03_001).

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year1993-1996
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:United States
Reports:
Authors:François Vigier; Victor W. Karen; Edward Robbin; Robert W. Rush; James English; Paul Van Dien Davis
Sponsors:U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Categories:Urban Finance
  
ID:1996_12_001

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“Revitalization of the Old Town of Vilnius,” Management Strategy for Vilnius Old Town, Lithuania, 1995

Abstract

In September 1995, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design authored an urban development plan and management strategy for the “Revitalization of the Old Town of Vilnius,” encompassing a technical planning strategy designed for revitalization efforts in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania.

The technical proposal included plans for identifying a strategic plan, analysis of the sustainable economic factors of the Old Town, solutions for attracting private investment and encouraging economic activities, and the development of legal frameworks for prospective revitalization strategies.

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1995
Project Type:Research Paper; Management Strategy
Geographic Regions:Vilnius Old Town (Senamiestis), Lithuania
Reports:
Authors:John Driscoll; Jerold S. Kayden; Barry Shaw; Mona Serageldin; François Vigier
Sponsors:World Bank
Categories:Urban Planning
  
ID:1995_09_001

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“Lublin Local Initiatives Program” & “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project,” Technical Assistance for Urban Upgrading in Lublin, Poland, 1994-2000

Abstract

Between 1994 and 2000, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization (the Unit) and its successor, the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS), at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, worked on the Lublin Local Initiatives Program to promote urban development in Lublin, Poland. The program focused on rehabilitation and revitalization in Lublin’s neighborhoods to improve the quality of life by introducing the involvement of citizens in the planning process through participatory and empowerment strategies and the mobilization of local resources.

The Unit/CUDS subcontracted for the consulting firm Planning and Collaborative Development International (PADCO), and USAID/RHUDO Warsaw funded the mission to prepare guidelines for the development of Lublin’s municipal, technical, and managerial capabilities. The project included tenant participation and housing rehabilitation components. This work by the Unit and CUDS earned a Best Practice Award for excellence in improving the living environment at the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul in June 1996.

Documents fall into three main groups:

  • First, the Lublin Neighborhood Partnership Initiative documents (1995), including a Program Review mission, a Final Report, an Organizational Framework and Work Plan, a Strategy and Impact Assessment Impact Table, a paper on “Local Government Finance” by David Jones, and a Summary on “Initiating Neighborhood Partnerships” by Mona Serageldin and Ewa Kipta.
  • Second, a “Lublin Old Town Rehabilitation Project” proposal for the community supported upgrading plans for the historic Old Town region of Lublin, with Summary by Mona Serageldin from July 1996, “Lublin Seminar on City Revitalization: Revitalization of Distressed Urban Neighborhoods.”
  • Finally, a “Program Review Mission Field Report” November 1996 for the Polish cities of Szczecin and Lublin, with a “Lublin Field Report” from January 1997.

CUDS, later becoming I2UD, continued to rework Lublin-related documentation throughout the 2000-2010s for educational case studies or presentations. See two examples below for the Lublin Local Initiatives Program: Institutionalization of Community Based Development (Case Study, March 1997) and Lublin Local Initiatives Program: A Success Story (Report, October 2000).

See related I2UD projects below

Project Year:1994-2000
Project Type:Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Lublin, Poland
Reports:

—

—
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Janne Corneil; John Driscoll; Ewa Kipta; David C. Jones; David Neilson; Richard Shortt; Bogue Trondowski; Anna Zietek
Sponsors:USAID Regional Housing and Urban Development Office
Categories:Reconciliation and Development
  
ID:1994_08_001

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Gallery 12: Poland: Gdansk and Lublin (1994–1995)

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“Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Revitalization and Rehabilitation of the Historic District,” Technical Assistance for the City of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 1994

Abstract

In 1994, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization implemented an urban revitalization strategy for the rehabilitation of the historic urban fabric in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Through the Technical Assistance project the Unit aimed to assist local government authorities to adopt improvement strategies. The Unit worked with local public officials, practitioners, and Mahalla leaders to establish an institutional framework for local revitalization and rehabilitation initiatives within the city’s Ghur Emir historic district. Documents include the Full Report, “Institutional Framework to Foster Revitalization and Local Rehabilitation Initiatives,” as well as color maps and color photographs.


[Excerpt, Full Report, August 1994]

“This report presents the findings of a mission to Samarkand undertaken by Mona Serageldin adjunct professor of Urban Planning and Associate Director of the Unit for Housing and Urbanization at Harvard University Graduate School of Design in June 15-22, 1996. The Mission was sponsored by the Aga Khan Trust of Culture, Historic Cities Support Program, for the purpose of assisting the government authorities in Samarkand and the AKTC in establishing an institutional framework to foster revitalization and local rehabilitation initiatives in the city’s Historic District. The support received from Dr. Stephano Bianca, Director of the Historic Cities Support Program, Mr. Nemetjon Sadiqov, AKTC representative in Samarkand and their staff contributed to the successful completion of the mission.”

Excerpt: Color Maps: “Major Streets in Ghur Emir Area”

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Project Year:1994
Project Type:Local Rehabilitation Initiative and Technical Assistance
Geographic Regions:Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Reports:
Authors:Mona Serageldin; Boguslaw Trondowski; Sameh Wahba; Anna Zietek
Sponsors:Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Historic Cities Programme
Categories:Historic Districts
  
ID:1994_00_003

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Design Studio 1990: “The Medina of Tunis,” Urban Regeneration for the Historic Hafsia District, Tunis, Tunisia, Seminar Curriculum

Abstract

The Design Studio from Spring 1990, led by Professors François Vigier and Mona Serageldin, focused on urban regeneration in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia. This studio addressed issues of revitalization of older urban districts of Tunis.

Documents include an overview of urban development, urban housing conditions, institutional frameworks, and government housing policies to outline the urban context of Tunisia. Reports detail the development site of the Hafsia District, and outline phases and plans for the revitalization project, including graphics and maps.


[Excerpt: “Urban and Housing Conditions,” Design Studio 1990]

Urban and Housing Conditions
“Rapid urbanization has generated a large demand for housing and add to intensive unregulated construction activity. As a result, housing stock has increased at an annual average rate of 4 percent, and conditions improved somewhat during the 80’s. However, throughout the decade, the demand for housing and urban services has outpaced the public sector’s ability to keep up with urban growth. Almost half of all dwellings built since 1975 have bypassed urban development regulations and were instead undertaken by the informal sector in areas lacking adequate utilities and relying on low-cost construction methods. To alleviate this problem, the supply of suitably located serviced land at prices affordable to the poorest segments of the population must be expanded.”
….

The Hafsia Revitalization Project
The objective of the project sponsored by the World Bank is to revitalize and renovate the area, and demonstrate the feasibility of upgrading medinas without dividing populations and by involving the private sector in the development process. The specific objectives are:

1. To revitalize the economic base with a look to the future while promoting employment opportunities for its present residents.

2. To upgrade the urban environment with minimum disruption of social cohesion and community life.

3. To structure a replicable self-financing, revitalization process given the lack of public resources. In other words, components of the proposal whose capital cost are not likely to be fully recovered (eg., housing for poorer households, infrastructure improvements, new community facilities) will have to be cross-subsidized by other revenue producing components.

4. To reverse development trends destructive to the character of the medina.”

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Project Year:1990
Project Type:Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:Medina of Tunis, Tunisia
Reports:1990 Design Studio: Tunisia Urban Development
Authors:François Vigier; Mona Serageldin
Sponsors:Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Categories:Design Studios; Education
  
ID:1990_00_002

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Gallery 13: Tunisia: Tunis (1978-1990)

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“Sustainable Improvement Strategies for Lower Income Urban Communities,” Upgrading Policy Plans for Amman and Aqaba (Jordan), Cairo (Egypt), and Karachi (Pakistan), 1990

Abstract

In 1990, the Unit for Housing and Urbanization undertook a project, “Sustainable Improvement Strategies for Lower Income Urban Communities,” focusing on upgrading strategies for low-income neighborhoods in Amman and Aqaba (Jordan), Cairo (Egypt), and Karachi (Pakistan).

The project was in collaboration with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) in Jordan and the Department of Community Health at the Aga Khan University in Karachi. Co-funded by the Ford Foundation and UNICEF, the study assessed projects in Jordan and Egypt that demonstrated successful approaches to improving environmental quality in urban neighborhoods.

The assessments focused on determining the potential for empowering lower income households to improve their economic conditions and living environments through the provision of appropriate infrastructure services. In Karachi, the Unit funded a survey of low-income communities (see “Issues Checklist”).

Documents include an overall summary of the study components and a working paper on “Sustainability of Public Spaces,” prepared by Howard Trett for the Unit in December 1990, as well as component reports by region. Supporting documents are an outline of the research agenda, a quality of life “Issues Checklist for the Reassessment of Common Spaces,” and a background report on HUDC Municipal and NGO Support Options for urban development assistance to the studied regions.


[Excerpt: “Summary of Overall Study Components,” p. 1-2]

PROBLEM DEFINITION
“The World Health Organization estimates that 5 million deaths and 2 to 3 million cases of permanent disability are caused yearly by contaminated water, poor sanitation, air pollution and overcrowding. The cumulative impact of these conditions is the most severe for children in low income urban neighborhoods. It is estimated that a child born in a squatter settlement is 40—to-50 times more likely to die before the age of five than a child in an industrialized country. According to the UN, efforts to alleviate these conditions through conventional upgrading and sites-and-services projects, has reached only ten percent of the urban poor. This investment has been concentrated in 150 projects which sought to achieve replicability through lower standards and higher levels of cost recovery.”

“These projects, which necessitate central government subsidies in one form or another, are increasingly becoming unaffordable to nations burdened by heavy foreign debts at a time when decentralization policies are shifting the responsibility of providing services to local governments.”

“Municipalities in developing countries are attempting to cope with their new obligations by redefining their land development strategies, reorganizing their institutional structures and finding new methods of generating the financial resources necessary to provide and maintain urban services.”
…
“The ability of local government to respond to needs, and the effectiveness of the responses are linked to the capability to formulate and implement affordable improvement strategies which are also sustainable without a continuous infusion of public resources.”


PROJECT GOAL
“The research project seeks to identify, define and test strategies and methods to enable government authorities with private sector participation, to develop sustainable approaches to upgrading and maintaining urban environments in limited income communities. Special emphasis will be placed on defining strategies which have beneficial impacts on the quality of life for children and youths.”

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
– “Identify and select pragmatic approaches to sustaining environmental quality in low-income urban neighborhoods with particular emphasis on the needs of children and youths.

– Identify, select and define appropriate monitoring and evaluation criteria to appraise prevailing levels of urban environmental quality including health and sanitary conditions.

– Develop guidelines for sustainable improvement programs to be implemented by public authorities and non-government organizations.

– Train public officials and members of community organizations in assessment techniques and implementation of action programs for improving and maintaining environmental quality.”

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Project Year:1990-1992
Project Type:Policy Plan
Geographic Regions:Amman and Aqaba, Jordan / Cairo, Egypt / Karachi, Pakistan
Reports:—
Authors:John Driscoll; Mona Serageldin; Howard Trett; François Vigier
Sponsors:Ford Foundation; UNICEF; Unit for Housing and Urbanization, Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Aga Khan Trust for Culture; Housing and Urban Development Corporation (Jordan)
Categories:Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:1990_01_001

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I2UD Photograph Collection, Galleries 6-7: Egypt: Cairo and Helwan (1986, 1990)