UA589 Research and Evaluation- Town of Easton, MA

The Town of Easton’s project evaluated existing recreational assets, engaged the community to identify programmatic needs, and developed a strategic plan to guide future capital planning. The town’s parks, athletic fields, and conservation lands, managed by both public and private stakeholders, were central to this effort. As the town increasingly prioritizes active recreation, the project provided a critical foundation by identifying opportunities and deficiencies in publicly owned recreational spaces and assessing how well these spaces met the community’s needs.

“My experience collaborating with Dr. Sungu-Eryilmaz and her graduate level Urban Research Methods class through the Boston University MetroBridge program, was nothing short of exceptional. We were fortunate enough to work with classes in the Spring of 2020 and the Fall 2020 as part of our yearlong community engagement and planning process for becoming an AARP Age-Friendly Community. The surveys and interviews they conducted along with the focus groups they hosted provided the data we needed to move forward with an action plan, that reflected the wants and needs of the community. I am excited as we begin a third project with her UA 589 Research and Evaluation class to develop a tool that will collect information and help the Town of Easton frame decisions in the years to come around our recreational facilities.”

Kristin Kennedy, Director of Health and Community Services, Town of Easton, MA

UA 505- Urban Management course: City of Boston Equity & Inclusion Cabinet- Boston, MA

Students analyzed the operational structure of a recent Equity & Inclusion Cabinet initiative to define and implement equity definitions and frameworks across various departments in Boston City Hall. The class interviewed staff from various departments at City Hall and outlined recommendations for measuring initiative progress and implementing best practices in future programs. Their report is not intended to be a program analysis and does not merely evaluate the effectiveness of the Cabinet’s efforts; rather, it analyzes how the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet’s initiative was organized and executed. Recommendations were intended to help guide the Cabinet as it measured its efforts and ensures the successful implementation of future programs.

UA 805: Urban Studies Capstone course: Fort Point Neighborhood Association and West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Boston, MA

Students conducted an analysis of the existing conditions at the 31-acre Gillette redevelopment site, providing critical insights to inform the development process and aid the Fort Point Neighborhood Association and West Broadway Neighborhood Association in their efforts to ensure their residents’ interests are considered in development plans.

2024

UA 805: Urban Studies Capstone course: Edward Everett Square, Everett, MA

The Edward Everett Square Vision Plan was a student-led initiative focused on assessing the current conditions in the area and facilitating stakeholder consultations. The goal was to suggest short- and medium-term interventions that align with the design objectives of the Columbia Road Transportation Action Plan, spearheaded by the City of Boston.

UA 703: Urban Research Methods course: Fort Point Neighborhood Association and West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Boston, MA

In August 2024, Gillette announced plans to redevelop its 31-acre South Boston campus into a mixed-use community with public open space, housing, and economic development, submitting a letter of intent to the Boston Planning & Development Agency. Gillette will keep its headquarters and innovation center on site while moving manufacturing to Andover, MA. To prepare for this change, the Fort Point Neighborhood Association partnered with Boston University’s City Planning and Urban Affairs program to analyze existing site conditions. The project examined factors such as population and housing diversity, open space, street networks, waterfront access, and transit, providing FPNA with data to guide decision-making and giving students practical urban planning research experience.

2023

UA 805- Urban Studies Capstone course: Maplewood Square Project, Malden, MA

Students of the Boston University Metropolitan College (MET) City Planning & Urban Affairs programs worked with the City of Malden, Massachusetts, to help develop the components of a neighborhood plan for Maplewood Square, the city’s second-largest business district. The class gathered community feedback before making their final presentation. The collaboration was part of BU MET’s Urban Studies Capstone Course (MET UA 805), which integrates the principles and applications of city planning, urban affairs, and public policy. “The Urban Studies Capstone is a holistic course in which we ask the students to bring everything that they’ve learned to date while still learning some new skills,” said BU MET Lecturer Emily Keys Innes.

2022

UA 805- Urban Studies Capstone course: The 15-minute City/Neighborhood: Challenges and Opportunities for Gateway Cities in Massachusetts

UA 703- Urban Research Methods course: Mildred Haley Project, Boston, MA

2021

UA 703- Urban Research Methods course: Understanding Curb Usage Through Observational Research, Boston, MA

In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), this study sought to make recommendations for future curb zone regulations in the City of Boston. Positioned as a civic innovation lab, MONUM charged the research team with rethinking how the city can manage the evolving demands for curb space. Some of these demands include growth in Transportation Network Company (TNC) trips, which now total more than 50 million per year in Boston, as well as the city’s overall population growth, now up 9% since 2010 (U.S. Census, QuickFacts). Additionally, with the explosive growth of online shopping, there are as many as 1.6 million deliveries every day in Boston. Increased vehicle traffic resulting from these disruptive technologies must compete for finite curb space with residents’ private vehicles, commercial delivery vehicles, buses and other public-sector vehicles such as USPS trucks, and an increasing diversity of curb zone uses including bike share stands, parklets, and outdoor restaurant seating.

2020

UA 703 Urban Research Methods course: Surveying the Needs of Residents Aged 50+ to Foster an Age-Friendly Community in Easton, MA

Throughout March and April 2020, students conducted AARP’s Livable Communities Survey for the Town of Easton. The goal was to better understand the lived experiences of Easton’s residents aged 50 and older. Despite minor data collection setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic, students were able to gather sufficient survey information from Easton residents. These survey results were analyzed and translated into action items, which will act as a guide for the Town of Easton officials as they work to meet the demands of Easton’s growing 50+ population.

UA 510 Housing and Community Development course: Charlesgate Park through an Equity Lens for the Charlesgate Alliance

2017

UA 805: Is there any room for “sustainable” housing development around rapid transit stations in Boston?