American Planning Association 5th Annual Student Design Competition

Racial Justice & Equity. ​ ​ ​ Righting the wrongs of the past. ​ ​

Index

The Competition: Project Statement Competition Schedule 2 Awards and Recognition 3 ​ Eligibility 4 ​ The Challenge ​ How do we rectify the wrongs of the past? 5

The Rules 6 Basic Considerations

Submission Requirements 7 First Submission Review FINAL Submission

Selection Criteria 9 Innovation in Ideas Addressing Community Recommendations Incorporating APA EDI strategy & Policy Guides Quality of Research, Writing, & Document Preparation Quality of Design

Final Jury 10

Design Plan and Recommendations 11

Questions 13 Entry Form ​ Submission Resources, Reference Materials and Useful Links 14

1 The Competition

Project Statement The American Planning Association (APA) presents the Annual Student Design Competition as part of the 2021 National Planning Conference. Now in its fifth year, the competition invites teams of students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in planning, public policy, urban design, architecture, and real estate development to participate. This competition is seen as part of the APA’s ongoing efforts to provide leadership in the development of vital communities by advocating excellence in planning, promoting education and citizen empowerment, and providing the tools and support necessary to meet the challenges of growth and change. The year 2020 has marked a new chapter in the pursuit of racial justice and equity in our country. Grave injustices were highlighted in America, as our country grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil unrest in our cities were about much more than racism and excessive force in law enforcement. It is about the radically different life experience so many people of color live in this country and the fundamental unfairness of the stark racial disparities. Data shows us the persistent racial differences in educational achievement, incarceration rates, life expectancy, housing conditions, childhood trauma, COVID-19 infections, and more. The discriminatory practices from the planning profession has led to structural disadvantages in housing, transportation, education and employment that last to this day. Therefore, we must fundamentally change our ‘business as usual’ planning and zoning practices. This year’s competition challenges students to right the planning’s wrongs of the past. The unique focus of this competition is for students to demonstrate a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach to creating great communities through a racial justice and equity lens. Proposals should seek to promote healthy communities, support workforce development and ​ ​ ​ community entrepreneurship, increase high-quality housing options, and incorporate ​ ​ ​ strategies that optimize environmental assets and awareness. The final jury will be seeking ​ ​ comprehensive, thoughtful, implementable solutions that integrate innovation, best practices, and thought-provoking strategies for addressing these four objectives.

APA’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy can be used as a guiding tool that sets forth a ​ ​ plan for how planners better promote the understanding and practices of equity, diversity and inclusion, both within and outside the planning community and profession. Following list is the core focus areas of the strategy. ​

● Expand ● Address Barriers ● Seek Partnerships Representation ● Builds Capacity ● Be Responsive ​

In addition, The final jury and selection committee will look favorably on teams that clearly state how their proposals incorporate the APA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy solutions contained within the APA’s Housing Policy Guide to address the challenges of accessibility, ​ ​ ​ affordability, and availability – which are plaguing rapid and slow growth communities nationwide – and the APA’s Planning for Equity Policy Guide, which includes policy recommendations for ​ ​ ​ ​ planners to advocate for equity at local, state, and federal levels.

2 Competition Schedule

Date Description

7 December 2020 Competition Brief Launch

1 January 2021 Deadline for Registration 6:00 PM (EST)

1 February 2021 Deadline for FIRST Submission Review 6:00 PM (EST)

8 February 2021 Feedback provided from First Submission Review *All participants move forward after feedback has been provided

28 February 2021 Deadline for FINAL Submissions 6:00 PM (EST)

8 March 2021 Finalist Notified

May 2021 National Planning Conference Recognition Session

Awards and Recognition Up to three teams will be selected as finalists and will be given the opportunity to present their winning proposals to the National APA Leadership jury at the 2021 National Planning Conference (NPC). This may take the form of a panel format where multiple project representatives participate in a discussion about racial justice.

In addition, the following prize monies shall be awarded to the competition winners:

First Place ● $3,500 ● Project featured in NPC21 Session ● APA website spotlight: Design presentations can be recorded and uploaded online ● Features in APA Magazine, InterACT, Student, Divisions and Chapter Leader Newsletters ● APA Social media & APA blog features

Second Place ● Project featured in NPC21 Session ● APA website spotlight: Design presentations can be recorded and uploaded online ● Features in APA Magazine, InterACT, Student, Divisions and Chapter Leader Newsletters ● APA Social media & APA blog features

Third Place ● Features in APA Magazine, InterACT, Student, Divisions and Chapter Leader Newsletters ● APA Social media & APA blog features

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Eligibility To participate in the 2021 Student Design Competition a team of at least three members must meet the following requirements:

Team Leader 1. Must be an enrolled student in a University level planning program during the entire competition; 2. Must be a student member of the APA; and 3. Must be able to present their proposal at the National Planning Conference in May 2021.

Additional Team Members (minimum of 2 additional team members and no more than 5 team members in total, including the team leader) 1. All team members (outside of the community partner) must be enrolled at a college or university for the entire competition; 2. Teams are encouraged to be interdisciplinary in nature – it is the intent that planning students collaborate with students of allied disciplines (e.g., architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, real estate development, engineering, etc.) to create a holistic, reality- and place-based design proposal 3. At least one team member must be able to present the proposal to the jury at the National Planning Conference in May. 4. Each team must be comprised of at least one community partner. Community partner examples: ● Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) ● Community or Private foundation ● Advocacy organization ● Non profit organization ● Neighborhood association ● City planning departments

4 The Challenge

How do we rectify the wrongs of the past? This challenge presents the opportunity for student teams to critically evaluate an existing or past planning project in your host institution’s community, critically evaluate the process of its creation, offer an innovative alternative to the previous recommendations, and explore new forms of dialogue and communication given current constraints of social distancing.

Rather than focusing on a project site in the host city for NPC 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic creates a window of opportunity to address critical and systemic problems of racial inequity that exist in past planning practices. It is hopeful that this focus on the municipality or region in which entrants’ college, university, or institute is located, will not only yield a variety of submissions, but also facilitate or enhance agency, initiative, and dialogue between Urban Planning degree programs and their local communities, to enhance and energize these town-and-gown relationships.

The presence of structural or systemic racism in past planning practices can be found in such actions as red-lining, deed restriction by racial covenant, housing policies, pollution, transportation ​ ​ ​ ​ infrastructure, ordinances, poverty concentration, health disparities and a host of other examples, both explicit and implicit. To address this, student teams are challenged to identify and review a past comprehensive plan, action plan, neighborhood plan, transportation plan, parks & recreation plan, or others to critically evaluate issues of racial equity through a current and informed lens, and provide ​ ​ alternative solutions for a path forward. Further, student teams may critically evaluate and present new alternatives to these previous examples through the current challenges and needs posed by COVID-19. Arguably, these issues are intertwined. ​

Pursuant to these challenges and needs posed by the global pandemic, student teams are also challenged to initiate, record, and present innovative means of community-engaged public vetting and feedback as they harvest, develop, and present their ideas. New means of public participation in planning processes through streaming media, social media, digital mapping, and digital polling have been accelerated in both relevance and necessity in the wake of social distancing measures. While COVID-19 has closed the doors of many to traditional in-person means of public meetings, reviews, charrettes, and commentary, digital media has opened new doors to a new era of public participation. How Urban Planners adapt these opportunities for dialogue and feedback into planning practice will be a subject of discussion for many years to come. Student teams are challenged to embrace a form or forms of new media to facilitate interviews, test ideas, seek feedback, and present their findings to this competition. Submitted design projects should demonstrate the practice of implementing racial equity in all policies, by highlighting a cross-cutting equity issue outlined in the APA’s Planning for Equity ​ ​ Policy Guide: ​

● Gentrification ● Energy and Resource Consumption ● Environmental Justice ● Health Equity ● Community Engagement and ● Heritage Preservation Empowerment ● Housing ● Climate Change and Resilience ● Mobility and Transportation ● Education ● Public Spaces and Places

5 The Rules

The intent of this student design competition is to create innovative and thought-provoking planning solutions that rectify past planning injustices and strive to design plans that promote racial equity, sustainability, and just, resilient communities through place-based designs made possible or further supported by policy interventions. Even though each team will be judged on their creativity and thorough completion of design, there are a few rules that must be followed by each submission:

1. All proposed projects should be centered on a real-world community based effort such as a plan update, proposed development, neighborhood plan, etc.

2. While improvements can be proposed within the public right-of-way and city-owned property, particular sensitivity should be employed when suggesting improvements to privately-owned sites, whether occupied or vacant (but it is not forbidden).

3. Proposed improvements within the Project Area may involve or improve connectivity to off- site areas and should be described as such (e.g., a proposed bus station and/or trail improvements).

4. Any recommended policy changes to support proposed improvements should be detailed in the report.

5. Teams should make strategic decisions about which parcels to redevelop, designate for future development, or leave as is. These recommendations should be detailed in the report.

6. Proposed projects should be centered on real-world inclusive community engagement that guides proposed project design plans and policy recommendations.

6 First Submission Review Requirements

A PDF of an associated report indicating (no more than 10 pages) : ​ ​

● Project identified ● Description of the problem ● Background and historical analysis ● Researched best practices ● Identify data that will be used ● Description of the proposed improvements ● Preliminary community engagement strategy ● Include digital product ideas

Final Submission Requirements

Submitted design proposal should include the following traditional Planning Design Concepts:

● An assessment of the identified existing project ● A background and historical analysis of the area, place and people ● Additional research and assessment of existing conditions ● A set of recommendations for policy changes, investment incentives, public spending, changes to land-use, etc. ● A land-use plan ● Additional plans and maps, including but not limited to transportation and access, open space, neighborhood amenities, topography, etc. ● At least one large-scale visualization ● At least two small-scale visualizations (street view vignettes) ● A clearly articulated vision

Compare and contrast your proposal and findings against previously published initiatives and recommendations for your chosen area of study, citing specific items using an appropriate manual of style (APA, Chicago Manual). Each student team is required to submit the following minimum requirements to be considered as an official entrant:

Digital presentation A digital product in any format of your choice to further convey the design and policy solutions identified for your project. Examples in the past have included creating an app, a demonstration website, a video, and other examples of existing or innovative tools which were used to highlight the design and policy solutions proposed for the site. For example: ● Digital markup board: ConceptBoard or Miró, et al ● Digital model(s): SketchUp, Rhino, 3D Studio Max, et al ● Digital presentation: PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi, et al ● Edited presentation video of historical context, community engagement and design solutions (maximum 10 minutes?) : iMovie, Adobe Premiere, YouTube Studio, et al 7 ● Geospatial mapping & diagramming of your choice: ArcGIS, Beacon, Social Explorer, Google Earth, Adobe Illustrator, et al ● Collaborative tech for innovation: Social media, community surveys, interactive mapping, et al

Report A PDF of an associated report indicating background analysis, researched best practices, and description of the proposed improvements is required. The background analysis should present a comprehensive understanding of the project site, immediate area, and greater region. Best practice affordable housing trends and already developed or implemented examples should be compiled to provide justification for proposed site improvements. The proposed design should be further defined in the report (max # of pages not to exceed 10 pages, one-sided). It is expected that the graphic quality and layout of the report will meet current best practices for document preparation and format.

Final Presentation Selected finalists will have the opportunity to present their work to a jury of APA design professionals. Finalists are encouraged to bring a full presentation (no longer than 10 minutes) ​ ​ that clearly articulates the full scope and concept of their proposal. Projection capabilities will be provided, as well as easels for boards and pedestals for models if requested by any of the selected teams. Additional details of the presentation format and the final jurors will be provided at the appropriate time. PLEASE NOTE: Presentations are not required as part of the initial submission.

The entire submittal package and all presentation materials shall be the sole work of the student team members, and the student team members alone.

There may also be a panel at NPC21 on racial equity sponsored by the SRC from which representatives will be invited to participate and discuss the new perspectives in the fight for racial justice.

Example: ​ First year Ball State University Master's level students presenting a small real estate infill proposal as a hypothetical company: https://youtu.be/yDvXmnkHlKw ​

8 Selection Criteria The selection committee will review projects through a blind review process: the identities of the student teams will be kept secret until selections have been made. Further, members of the selection committee will be required to recuse themselves from judging entries in which they have a conflict of interest (e.g., a committee member who teaches as part of a planning program will not be able to judge entries from that program). APA retains the right to disqualify any entrant who does not meet the minimum student/team eligibility requirements or fails to disclose a conflict of interest.

Each submittal will be scored using the following criteria:

Addressing Racial Equity and Social Justice Each team will be scored on the way in which they address past historical legacies of injustice, that chart a clear path forward to achieve racial equity and social justice in the built environment and policy recommendations. Additional consideration will be given to plans that address all eight (9) of the community’s recommendations. (20%)

Addressing Racial Equity in Community Engagement Each team will be scored on how well they engage the existing community in inclusive participatory practices that form the foundation for design ideas, plans and policy recommendations. (20%)

Incorporating APA EDI Strategy & Policy Guides Each team will be scored on how well they articulate the way in which they incorporated the policy recommendations found in the APA’s Housing Policy Guide and the APA’s Planning for Equity Policy Guide. (15%)

Innovation in Ideas Each team will be scored on the creativity and quality of the planning solutions proposed as part of the project site design. (15%)

Quality of Design Each team will be judged on the visual legibility, clarity, and overall quality of their masterplan, visualizations, and information graphics. (15%)

Quality of Research, Writing, & Document Preparation One of a planner’s primary tools is a written report, plan, or study. Accordingly, each team will be judged on the quality of their research, writing, and document preparation. The report should be written and prepared in a manner and format that is highly graphic and easy to read and understand. (15 %)

9 Final Jury

The jury will review up to three finalists which the selection committee has identified as best meeting or exceeding the criteria set out below. Student teams who are unable to attend the NPC2021 will be disqualified and the next highest ranked team will take their place.

The final jury will be tasked with selecting the winning proposal as well as designating a proposal as first runner-up. All finalists will come in on equal footing regardless of the scoring by the selection committee. In addition to being evaluated by the criteria outlined above, the final jury will take the following into consideration while making their selections:

Comprehensiveness, Quality and Effectiveness of Team Presentation Each team will be judged on the comprehensiveness, quality, and effectiveness of the presentation at the National Planning Conference.

Team Collaboration Working collaboratively as a team is an essential skill needed in the planning field. Each team will be judged on how well they demonstrate how the team worked collaboratively throughout the process and incorporated different expertise, backgrounds, and disciplines.

Hors categorie Each team will also be judged on any additional material they present to the final jury.

10 Design Plan Recommendations & Examples Each team is free to choose any EDI topic. Use the definitions below as a guideline to apply a racial equity lens to design plans: Not requirements but important topics for consideration.

Racial equity is defined by the Center for Social Inclusion as both an outcome and a process. Racial ​ ​ equity places priority on ensuring that people of color are afforded opportunities that they have historically been denied and from which they continue to be excluded.

Racial equity as a process: As a process, people of color or those most impacted by structural racism are actively leading the creation and implementation of policies, programs, and practices that have an impact in their lives.

Racial equity as an outcome: As an outcome, racial equity is achieved when race does not determine one’s life opportunities and results, such as access to a safe home and inclusion within an amenity-rich neighborhood.

When we achieve racial equity:

● People, including people of color, are owners, planners, and decision-makers in the systems that govern their lives. ● We acknowledge and account for past and current inequities, and provide all people, particularly those most impacted by racial inequities, the infrastructure needed to thrive. ● Everyone benefits from a more just, equitable system.

1. Ensure that the community benefits from new investment: Restoring existing and creating new development is necessary to increase the value of the community and attract businesses to the area, but strategies should ensure that existing residents benefit.

2. Increase high-quality affordable housing options : Fair housing choices and affordability strategies aim to restore existing housing conditions, redevelop vacant properties, provide additional housing options for mixed income residents, implement workforce housing, as well as retain and maintain a stock of affordable housing for vulnerable residents.

3. Leverage opportunities created by existing large infrastructure: Infrastructure addresses the structures and systems (i.e. buildings, railroads, highways) needed to help a community function properly. By examining how these can work together to catalyze investment for the community, it will ultimately serve their personal and economic needs.

4. Align citywide plans with the community’s goals: At the local level, city wide plans can present opportunities and challenges to communities. For the purpose of this study, the focus will be on how the study area can use these efforts to their advantage.

11 5. Optimize environmental assets and awareness: By understanding the environmental challenges and assets of a community, this knowledge can be used as a tool to implement preventative measures that increase the power of the individuals, families and natural ecosystems in the area, while maximizing the overall longevity of the community.

6. Support workforce development and community entrepreneurship: Supporting workforce development and local entrepreneurship is essential to enhancing the economic stability of the people within the study area. By looking at the job opportunities and needs of the community, investment can be targeted.

7. Promote healthy communities: Knowledge of environmental health is essential to the livelihood of those living in the study area. Members of the community should have reasonable transportation access to necessary healthcare services, which can aid in reducing health disparities.

8. Process: Working with community stakeholders to understand the local neighborhood context , assets, and vision it is essential to undertake a community driven engagement process that is inclusive and strives to connect with those traditionally left out of the planning process. This process should act as a guide for future design ideas and policy recommendations.

9. Policy: ​ By understanding the historical legacies of past planning policies, this knowledge can be used as a tool to recommend policies that aim to ensure that existing residents are the beneficiaries of any neighborhood improvements.

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Questions Teams are encouraged to submit any questions they may have about the competition, the evaluation criteria, or the project. All questions must be submitted via email to [email protected]. Be sure ​ ​ to reference questions - APA Student Design Competition in the subject line of the email.

Entry Form Each student team shall select a team leader to act as the team’s single point of contact. The team leader must complete and submit the following registration for

Here: https://planning.org/students/awards/designcompetition/

Submission Fee There is no submission fee to participate in this student design competition.

13 Resources, Reference Materials and Useful Links

History of exclusionary planning practices 1. Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America ​ ​ 2. Undesign the Redline 3. Segregated by Design 4. America’s formerly redlined neighborhoods have changes, and so must solutions to rectify them 5. Brief history of deed restriction and housing segregation 6. What are racial covenants? Mapping Prejudice ​ 7. Mapping of past racial covenants and deed restricted plats in Muncie, Indiana 8. APA Legal Lessons - Writing Plannings’s Past Wrongs

Planning tools to promote racial equity and anti-racist practices 1. APA’s Planning Home Initiative 2. APA’s Housing Policy Guide 3. APA’s Planning for Equity Policy Guide 4. Center for Social Inclusion 5. National Museum of African American History and Culture: Being Anti-racist 6. ESRI Tapestry Interested in using Tapestry Segmentation? ​

Planning examples / policies that can promote racial equity 1. HOPE SF Commitment to Racial Equity and Reparations 2. Government Alliance on Race and Equity 3. The Case for AfroUrbanism by Lauren Hood 4. Urbanism is Complicit in Infra-Structural Racism-And Reparations have a place in the built environment by Destiny Thomas 5. Equitable urban planning accelerated by Covid-19 in Oakland, CA

Human centered and inclusive community engagement practices 1. Bill Lennertz / National Charrette Institute / feedback loops and community engagement model 2. Op-Ed: Whose Streets? Black Streets – Streetsblog USA 3. Dignity-Infused Planning Process https://thrivancegroup.com/vision ​ 4. The Center for Urban Pedagogy 5. Asset Based Community Development Institute 6. Pratt Center for Community Development 7. Baltimore’s Design for Social Distancing Competition Design For Distancing ​ 8. Process is mentioned as one of the guiding principles in the Case for Afro Urbanism article ​

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