June 5, 2015
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Redevelopment and Revitalization
community revitalization efforts, Detroit, neighborhood revitalization, Theaster Gates
Detroit, MI, was once among the richest cities in the United States. Seventy years ago, Detroit was known as the “factory for the arsenal of democracy,” home to the American auto industry, and the nation’s center for industry and manufacturing.
Detroit is now emerging from the largest municipal bankruptcy in United States history. The conditions that led to Detroit’s decline are similar to those that impact central cities in many parts of the United States: loss of manufacturing industries, migration of middle class families to the suburbs or distant exurbs, disinvestment both by government and the private sector in schools and infrastructure, and faulty management decisions by municipal leaders. More
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March 31, 2015
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Planning, Smart Growth
2015 National Planning Excellence Award for a Planning Agency, american planning association, Montgomery County, white flint
Two Maryland planning agencies to receive American Planning Association national awards for planning excellence
For many decades Maryland has supported and fostered sound community and regional planning. This long term commitment to sound planning principles and planning innovation in the “Old Line State” will be recognized by the American Planning Association (APA) in April at their National Conference in Seattle, WA. For the first time, APA will bestow national awards for planning excellence in the same year to two Maryland planning agencies. The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and the Montgomery County Planning Department will be the recipients of the awards announced today and to be presented in mid-April at the APA’s National Planning Conference in Seattle. More
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February 10, 2015
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Planning
american planning association, Maryland, maryland planning, MD chapter APA, planners, planning
The Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association (MD APA) is a nonprofit organization of planning professionals from all regions of Maryland. Most are members of the American Planning Association (APA). As one of 47 state chapters, MD APA supports the mission of the American Planning Association (APA) advocating excellence in community planning, and addresses economic, environmental and social equity issues at national and international levels. More
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December 12, 2014
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Historic Preservation, Smart Growth
2015 Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Awards, Carrollton Hall, ellicott city maryland, historic preservation, sustainable communities, tax credits
The 2015 Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Awards
Taylor’s Furniture Store
Designed to make reinvestment easier and bring new life to threatened historic structures, the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit has played a pivotal role in incentivizing private investment in the restoration of Maryland’s historic resources. By rehabilitating historic properties, the program spurs job growth, improves property values and encourages reinvestment of properties, commercial districts and neighborhoods into places where people want to live and entrepreneurs want to do business. More
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December 5, 2014
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Planning, Sustainability
electricity resiliency, energy grid, energy resiliency, micro grids, planning, Urban and Regional Planning
From a community infrastructure perspective, everything changed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ensuring energy resiliency to power individual buildings as well as entire communities emerged as a pressing local issue.
Community leaders who analyze infrastructure in the wake of major climate events often identify energy availability and the need for resiliency in energy infrastructure as critical in planning for future weather events. Sustainable energy planning is becoming a topic of concern to communities, particularly those areas that have faced severe weather events and loss of power lasting a week or more. Since frequency and severity of storms are projected to increase, an increasing number of local governments are focusing on long-term energy planning to improve energy performance. More
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August 4, 2014
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Smart Growth, Transportation
bethesda center, MARC, maryland department of planning, md department of transportation, Metro Centre at Owings Mills, MTA, planning for tod, prince george's plaza, tod, WAMATA
By Scott Hansen, MDP Transportation Planning, & David Whitaker, AICP, MDP Communications
Models & Guidelines 30: Planning Tools for TOD
Owning a parcel near transit can open a wealth of development opportunities. Yet, how to achieve the most benefits from those locations can be a challenge. Transit-oriented development (TOD) is not any type of growth occurring near transit station. Instead, TOD features a well-designed and relatively high intensity of mixed land uses within a comfortable walk of a rail or bus transit station. More
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July 3, 2014
David T. Whitaker, AICP
Agricultural/Rural Preservation
ag census, census of agriculture, farm preservation, farms, Maryland, productive farming, USDA
Life on the farm is not what it used to be. Or so says the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture.
First conducted in 1840, the Census of Agriculture reports on a myriad of aspects of agriculture on the county, state, and national level: acreage in farms, average farm size, the value of farm products and more.
Closer to home, the census provides a current snapshot of the characteristics of the approximate 6,000 farm families in Maryland. More
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