The Future of Tipton Airport in Anne Arundel County

Final project for URSP788: Independent Study (Fall 2016). University of Maryland, College Park.Tipton Airport is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It is a General (GA) airport, classified as a reliever airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It is the reliever airport to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), which is located less than 13 miles from Tipton. The airport plans to extend their runway from 3,000 feet to 4,200 feet. The main objective for this expansion is to increase the number of larger turbo-planes and business aircrafts, which require longer runways that can use the facility. This will expand the airport’s market reach and user base, allowing it to improve the ease of flying for potential users. The purpose of this study is to determine the future demand for corporate service and other air traffic at the airport in light of the runway expansion, and to recommend additional variables that will help increase air traffic.Anne Arundel County & Annapoli

Measuring Neighborhood Stability

Final project for URSP601: Research Methods (Spring 2016). University of Maryland, College Park.In their work, students made two types of conclusions—about the effectiveness of the measured characteristics in revealing neighborhood stability and about the stability of particular census tracts in the County. Measured Characteristics: Given that housing sales prices and household incomes are higher than average in Howard County, the typical measures of neighborhood stability are not well-suited to the County. In some measures, for example, between the initial Neighborhood Stability Index and the housing price analysis, the majority of the data did not align. Census tracts identified by the Index as stable were identified as unstable in the housing price analysis. Neighborhood Stability in Howard County: The County’s southwestern section, including Columbia, had the greatest concentration of extreme results: both high and low performing tracts. Its north and west sections were more uniform in their distribution, containing both stable and declining housing prices. Between 2000 and 2010, approximately 80% of Howard County experienced increases in average housing sales prices, with 25 census tracts experiencing increases of more than $100,000. Three census tracts, two located in the north of the County and one south of Columbia, showed increases in average housing sales prices of more than$300,000. Only two census tracts showed a decrease in average housing sales prices, with one of those census tracts experiencing an almost $350,000 decrease in average sales price of homes. The census tracts showing high increases in predicted home sales prices are clustered in the southern part of the County and around Columbia. Two are in the southern part of Columbia in the Owen Brown and Greenleaf areas (census tracts 606707 and 606704). Other census tracts with high increases in prices are west of the Patuxent Parkway and east of Columbia toward Waterloo Park. Roughly half of the County, those census tracts north and west of Columbia, exhibit low to moderate changes in sales prices. Only one census tract (601203), located southeast of Columbia, showed a decrease in sales price. Neighborhoods or census tracts directly within and around Columbia show the least stability, especially those census tracts south of Columbia and along the County’s southern border. Given that this pattern has repeatedly resulted in our analyses, we recommend that the County further assess conditions in these census tracts to verify our findings. Although Columbia is often among the top 10 "Best Places to Live," the highest concentration of tracts at risk of decline are within the boundaries of Columbia. Census tract 6067.04 is the bottom-performing tract, is located in Columbia’s Owen Brown Village area a community with some of the most dated housing stock in Columbia that also has crime issues. There are also several tracts at risk of decline in Columbia’s Long Reach Village area where there are plans to revamp the center, which was declared a blight zone by the Howard County Council. Other tracts at risk of decline are in Clarksville, Laurel and Elkridge. However, with the exception of Clarksville, these areas also consist of stable tracts and those experiencing improvement or upgrade.Howard Count

Columbia Gateway Innovation District: Alternative Future Visions

Final project for URSP 705 & 706: Community Planning Studio (Summer 2016). School of Architecture Planning & Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park.The Columbia Gateway Project is a comprehensive report on future development for the Columbia Gateway site in Columbia, MD. This report charts the next steps to enhance the viability and explore the economic possibilities of the area. This report lays out key issues and goals for impending planning efforts. It is a framework that establishes options for the next 25 years and beyond. This report contains three ‘alternatives’ for development: low intensity, medium intensity and high intensity. It also explores the possibility of transforming the area into an “innovation district” which is defined as a spatial geographic model that stimulates economic growth by clustering entrepreneurs, startups, business accelerators and incubators. Key Issues: The landscape of Columbia, MD will continue to shift over the next 20 years. The population will continue to increase and become more diverse. The Columbia Gateway area is one of the last areas available for extensive development within Howard County. In order to keep up with shifting population demands, Howard County will need to develop a unique plan for redeveloping this area in order to create and expand a “work, play, and live” atmosphere. This report outlines some key initiatives, including: Economic Development: Tactics are recommended to encourage business innovation and growth, in order to make the area a leader in 21st century technologies. Particular attention is given to making the area into an innovation district on various levels that would support the area’s growth and economic conditions; Transportation: This report places great emphasis on transit, bike and pedestrian transportation while also improving existing road networks within Columbia Gateway. Each development alternative expounds on what improvements would need to be made to support proposed development within the area; Housing: Suggestions are made to create housing options that appeal to a diverse group of people. The report also provides options for how affordable housing options can be added to the area; Community Design: This report recommends a well-designed a community that includes green spaces, community areas, and more. The plans offer a way to transition the area from an office environment into a livable and recreational environment as well.Howard Count