McGill Associates, PA’s Post

The Maryland Economic Development Corporation and the Maryland Department of Transportation have released two Requests for Proposals to study new development at stations along the MARC Penn Line in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and to look for innovative ideas to support investment around light rail and subway stations in the Baltimore region. These efforts represent an incredible opportunity for impact in creating vision and addressing market barriers related to Transit Oriented Development. Stealing the words of David A. Zaidain, AICP - Be a part of it! The official Requests for Proposals for both studies are available for review here: https://lnkd.in/eZA6_dKi. Responses are due by September 12, 2023 for the Penn Line, and September 19, 2023 for Baltimore Region. Questions related to the RFP's can still be submitted.

Today we are proud to announce a partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation that will redefine the future of urban living and transportation in Maryland through the exploration of future transit-oriented development. MCDOT is launching this new focus in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, with studies planned along the MARC Penn Line and around light rail and subway stations in the Baltimore region. The Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation have released two Requests for Proposals calling on the development and planning community to study new development at stations along the MARC Penn Line in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and to look for innovative ideas to support investment around light rail and subway stations in the Baltimore region. Transit-Oriented Development has the potential to stimulate economic growth by attracting businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors to our great state which in turn will lead to increased job opportunities and enhanced prosperity for our residents. The official Requests for Proposals for both studies are available for review here: https://lnkd.in/gQWge6GP. Responses are due by September 12, 2023 for the Penn Line, and September 19, 2023 for Baltimore Region. https://lnkd.in/gBaZUDiz

Help build the Baltimore region's transit future! Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Economic Development Corporation announced two Requests for Proposals (RFPs). One to study new development along the Maryland Transit Administration's MARC Penn Line stations in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and a second to support investment around the Baltimore region's light rail and subway stations. This is a big first step by the new Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller Administration toward unlocking the potential for transit-oriented development to create more inclusive, sustainable, and economically competitive communities across Maryland. Congratulations to the MDOT and MEDCO teams. However, they need help. Are you up for the job? RFP responses are due before the end of summer. The Greater Washington Partnership has long recognized that transit-oriented development is a key tool to drive regional competitiveness. In partnership with the Greater Baltimore Committee, we have called for a world-class public transit system for the Greater Baltimore region, including equitable development at the region's transit and rail stations, to create shared prosperity and catalyze inclusive economic growth. Find the RFPs here:

This institute will provide leaders with tools to navigate contentious campus situations, to encourage critical thinking and dialogue, and to embed civil engagement as standard practice. Learn more: https://buff.ly/4e0BatZ

Thanks. And if you want to learn more about urban planning and land uses, register for my upcoming class. LEARN THE BASICS OF URBAN PLANNING: 1-Day, 5-Hours Live Online Class. Monday, May 20, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. https://lnkd.in/ggiX4kbX   Learn what urban planning is, why we plan, types of plans, planning concepts and terms, the process of preparing and implementing plans, how municipal plans and policies interconnectedly influence real estate development, and how it all contributes to city building.   This condensed class is perfect for professionals who want to advance their capabilities, students interested in exploring planning as a career, and the general public looking to better understand local community plans and development initiatives. 

What is the impact…

Very useful insight to those not in industry, green belt or grey belt ?

Rt Hon Rachel Reeves’ first speech as Chancellor this week has made it clear that planning reform is a key priority of this Government, with key changes being made to the Green Belt early on in the honeymoon period. The Green Belt is the planning designation most known about, but least understood so defining what it actually means to the general public is going to be an important part of the narrative. As Samuel Stafford from the Home Builders Federation stated in his interview on BBC #politicslive, the Green Belt is incredibly dated. It has lost its meaning. It is not naturally beautiful landscape - we have National Landscapes and National Parks for that. Nor is it inherently ecologically rich land - we have Special Protection Areas / Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the like for that. Instead, the Green Belt is a land use designation. Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ (now Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government…) most recent stats state that over 1.6 MILLION hectares of land is Green Belt. To put that into context, that is circa 10 TIMES the size of London. Clearly not all Green Belt land is going to be released for housing, and nor are we advocating for that. But we do, and will, support the reintroduction of Green Belt reviews and the development of Grey Belt land to assist in unlocking house building. However, to remove the confusion among the general public, and subjectivity of the terms among planners (which will no doubt lead to more appeals in the short-term), we would go a step further and consider rebranding this land use in its entirety. If you have a site or land within the Green or perhaps new Grey Belt, now is the time to understand what value could potentially be unlocked. Get in touch with our team on 02037138500 / contact@dlbp.uk.

My new publication on displacement and resettlement, co-edited with Professor Jay Drydyk of Carleton University, Canada. An amazing journey, with a great team, focussing on people's agency. Thanks to Jay for the initial impetus to adopt the counterfactual approach, which invites us to reconsider how the dynamics of accountability play out through resettlement hazards and the asymmetries of power relations in the negotiation of displacement benefits and redress. https://lnkd.in/gmF6DYsj

Worth a read of this summary by James Thomas, Eleanor Lane and James Snape