Department of Urban and Regional Planning           

 
School of Architecture and Planning  University at Buffalo

PD 406-606 Fall 2010

 

Community Development Processes

 

Lecture:                       Tuesday 12:00 - 2:40pm, 132 Hayes Hall

Instructor:                    Rob Silverman

Office:                         201K Hayes Hall

Office Hours:              Tuesday 3:30pm – 4:30pm & Thursday 12:00pm - 1:00pm (and by appointment)

Phone:                         (716) 829-5882

E-Mail:                         rms35@buffalo.edu

 

The Course:

 

Community development encompasses issues related to neighborhood planning, citizen participation, grassroots organizing, housing, economic development, social welfare, public safety, health, education, recreation, the environment and other aspects of community life. Community development is distinct from other types of urban planning in two respects. First, community development views the urban planning process as transparent and driven by the general public. Second, community development strives to create an urban milieu that is centered on enhancing the quality of life for residents.

 

During the semester, we will examine many of the dimensions of the community development process. As they are explored, you should maintain a holistic view and remain conscious of how each dimension interacts with others. In addition to examining substantive issues in community development, this course focuses on critical thinking. Selected areas of community development will be examined in-depth.

 

We will meet for the next 15 weeks. During each class session we will discuss the assigned readings. Everyone should be prepared to participate during each lecture.

 

If you have any questions during the semester, please bring them to my attention. I will be available during office hours and by appointment. Also, you may contact me using e-mail.

 

Required Text and Required Reserve Readings:

The required texts are available at the University Medical Bookstore and The College Store

 

1)      Kotler, Milton. 2005. Neighborhood Government: The Local Foundations of Political Life. New York, NY: Lexington Books.

 

2)      Robinson, Jerry W. and Gary Paul Green. 2010. Introduction to Community Development: Theory, Practice and Service Learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

 

3)   Required Reserve Readings are available on the S:drive and on UBLearns.

 

Note:    In addition to the required readings it is suggested that students purchase a copy of a style manual (i.e. The Chicago Manual of Style, or a similar manual) to use as a reference when writing papers and other assignments during the semester.

 

Course Requirements:

 

Our Suggested Readings Project: During the semester each student will add an article from the journal Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society to the “Our Suggested Readings” link on the PD406-606 UBLearns website. Each student should browse past issues of the Journal on the UB library website, download an article that is of interest (do not duplicate articles other students have selected or articles already assigned in the syllabus), and send it to Dr. Silverman. All of the articles that students pick will be added to the link. Students can read the articles selected by their peers at their discretion. In order to have a full menu of options, each student should select an article and send it to Dr. Silverman for posting before October 19, 2010.

 

Neighborhood Plan Critique: Students will be given planning and other documents to critique. The critique should draw from assigned readings and lecture materials. The neighborhood plan critique will be assigned on September 28, 2010 and is due at the beginning of class on October 12, 2010.

 

Topics in Community Development Discussion #1: A student led discussion of emerging topics in community development will take place September 21, 2010. Students will be assigned readings and lead the class in a discussion on selected topics. The assignment will be elaborated upon on September 7, 2010. Following the class discussion, students will be assigned a reflexive essay to complete. The essay is due on September 28, 2010.

 

Topics in Community Development Discussion #2: A student led discussion of emerging topics in community development will take place October 26, 2010. Students will be assigned readings and lead the class in a discussion on selected topics. The assignment will be elaborated upon on October 12, 2010. Following the class discussion, students will be assigned a reflexive essay to complete. The essay is due on November 2, 2010.

 

Topics in Community Development Discussion #3: A student led discussion of emerging topics in community development will take place November 16, 2010. Students will be assigned readings and lead the class in a discussion on selected topics. The assignment will be elaborated upon on November 2, 2010. Following the class discussion, students will be assigned a reflexive essay to complete. The essay is due on November 23, 2010.

 

Regional Organizing Capacity-Building Plan for WNY: The class will work as a group and develop a regional organizing capacity-building plan for western NY. This exercise will involve gathering information, making observations in the field, and writing a plan summarizing the findings from the fieldwork. The exercise will be assigned on October 19, 2010 and is due at the beginning of class on December 7, 2010.

 

Grading Policy: Your grade will be based on the following (100 points possible for the semester):

 

Our Suggested Readings Project                                                                      3%

Neighborhood Plan Critique                                                                            30 %

Topics in Community Development Discussion #1                                            4 %

Topics in Community Development Discussion #2                                            4 %

Topics in Community Development Discussion #3                                            4 %

Topics in Community Development Essay #1                                                 10 %

Topics in Community Development Essay #2                                                 10 %

Topics in Community Development Essay #3                                                 10 %

Regional Organizing Capacity Building Plan for WNY                                     25 %

 

Grading Scale:

 

Graduate Grading Scale (PD606)           Undergraduate Grading Scale (PD406)

GRADE

TOTAL POINTS

GRADE

TOTAL POINTS

A

96-100

A

96-100

A-

90-95.99

A-

90-95.99

B+

87-89.99

B+

87-89.99

B

84-86-99

B

84-86-99

B-

80-83.99

B-

80-83.99

C+

77-79.99

C+

77-79.99

C

70-76.99

C

74-76.99

D

60-69.99

C-

70-73.99

F

0-59.99

D+

67-69.99

 

 

D

60-66.99

 

 

F

0-59.99

 

Academic Integrity:

 

Students are expected to approach the course with seriousness and integrity. It is important to complete assignments on time, attend class regularly, and foster a collegial learning environment. Plagiarism and other instances of academic misconduct will result in a failing grade on a respective assignment, exam, or paper. Students should refer to the University at Buffalo Undergraduate Catalog and the University at Buffalo Graduate Catalog for clarification on the University’s policies and procedures.

 

Accommodations for Disabilities:

 

If you have a disability (physical, learning, or psychological) that impacts your course work please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 25 Capen Hall, (716) 645-2608.  ODS will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accommodation (such as recruiting note-takers, readers, or extended time on assignments). You must bring requests for accommodations for a disability to the professor’s attention within the first two weeks of class.

 

Writing Centers:

 

The University at Buffalo has a number of writing center where students can get assistance with essays, term papers, and thesis projects. Students should contact one of the following if they would like to access these campus resources:           

 

 

SYLLABUS

           

August 31: Introduction to the Course

Other Activities:


Our Suggested Readings Project          

 

September 7: Community Development and Community Planners

Assigned Readings:

Robinson and Green: Ch 2, 18

 

Brower, Sidney. 2000. “Ellaboration” Pp. 141-160 in Good Neighborhoods: A Study of In-Town and Suburban Residential Environments, by Sidney Brower, Westport, CT: Praeger. Reserve

 

Needleman, Martin L. and Carolyn Emerson Needleman. 1974. “Community Planning, A Necessary Step Backward” Pp. 321-344 in Guerrillas in the Bureaucracy: The Community Planning Experiment in the United States, by Martin L. Needleman and Carolyn Emerson Needleman. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Reserve

 

Other Activities:


Topics in Community Development Discussion #1 Groups Assigned

 

September 14: Neighborhood Control and Change

Assigned Readings:

Kotler: All

 

Blauner, Robert. 1969. “Internal Colonialism and Ghetto Revolt.” Social Problems 16(4): 393-408. Reserve

 

Poindexter, Georgette C. 1996. “The Empowerment of the Neighbourhood.“ Urban Studies 33(10): 1821-1829. Reserve 

 

September 21: Topics in Community Development Discussion #1

 

September 28: Neighborhood Plans in the Public and Private Spheres

Assigned Readings:

Gregory, Michelle. 1996. “Anatomy of a Neighborhood Plan: An Analysis of Current Practice.” Chicago: APA Growing Smart Working Paper, 1-25. Reserve

 

McKenzie, Evan. 2003. “Common-Interest Housing in the Communities of Tomorrow.” Housing Policy Debate 14(1/2): 203-234. Reserve

 

Other Activities:

Topics in Community Development Essay #1 Due

Neighborhood Plan Critique Assigned

 

 

October 5: Public Participation and Grassroots Organizing             

Assigned Readings:

Silverman, Robert Mark. 2005. “Caught in the Middle: Community Development Corporations and the Conflict Between Grassroots and Instrumental forms of Citizen Participation.” Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society 36(2): 35-51.  Reserve

 

Stall, Susan and Randy Stoecker. 1998. “Community Organizing or Organizing Community?: Gender and the Crafts of Empowerment.” Gender & Society, 12(6): 726-756. Reserve

 

October 12: Emerging Governance Structures and Development Strategies            

Assigned Readings:

Robinson and Green: Ch 17

 

Lowe, Nichola and Brian J. Morton. 2008. “Developing Standards: The Role of Community Benefits Agreements in Enhancing Job Quality.” Community Development 39(2): 23-35. Reserve

 

Parks, Virgina and Dorian Warren. 2009. “The Politics and Practice of Economic Justice: Community Benefits Agreements as Tactic of the New Accountable Development Movement.” Journal of Community Practice 17: 88-106. Reserve

 

Other Activities:

Neighborhood Plan Critique Due

Topics in Community Development Discussion #2 Groups Assigned

 

October 19: Community-Based Organizations and Local Institutional Structures

Assigned Readings:

Frisch, Michael and Lisa J. Servon. 2006. “CDCs and the Changing Context for Urban Community Development: A Review of the Field and the Environment.” Community Development: Journal of the Community Development Society 37(4): 88-108.  Reserve

 

Silverman, Robert Mark. 2008. “CBOs and Affordable Housing.” National Civic Review Fall: 26-31. Reserve

 

Other Activities:

Regional Organizing Capacity-Building Plan for WNY Assigned

 

October 26: Community Development Discussion #2

 

November 2: The Forms of Capital

Assigned Readings:

Robinson and Green: Ch 3, 16

 

Stoecker, Randy. 2004. “The Mystery of the Missing Social Capital and the Ghost of Social Structure: Why Community Development Can’t Win.” Pp. 53-84 in Community-Based Organizations: The Intersection of Social Capital and Local Context in Contemporary Urban Society, edited by Robert Mark Silverman. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. Reserve

 

Zimmerman, Jeffrey. 2008. “From Brew Town to Cool Town: Neoliberalism and the Creative City Development Strategy in Milwaukee.” Cities 25: 230-242. Reserve

 

Other Activities:

Topics in Community Development Essay #2 Due

Topics in Community Development Discussion #3 Groups Assigned


November 9: Community Development Block Grant and Housing Policy

Assigned Reading:     

Landis, John D. and Kirk McClure. 2010. “Rethinking Federal Housing Policy.” Journal of the American Planning Association 76(3): 319-348. Reserve

 

November 16: Topics in Community Development Discussion #3


 November 23: Topics in Community Development Essay #3 Due - No Class

 

November 30: Fair Housing and Mortgage Discrimination

Assigned Reading:

Connerly, Charles E. 2006. “Fair Housing in the US and the UK.” Housing Studies 21(3): 343-360. Reserve

 

December 7: Regional Organizing Capacity-Building Plan for WNY (Plan Due and Presentation)