2021 Award RecipientsDaniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive PlanCity of Warren Master Plan City of Warren and Beckett and Raeder, Inc. The focus of this Master Plan is on transitioning into a new era marked by the knowledge economy, diversity of household types, mobility, and resiliency in the face of climate variability. The framework's utility comes from an emphasis on integration, an understanding that systems are interrelated. As a result of a process that emphasized outreach and reflecting the community’s priorities, Warren benefited from unprecedented levels of participation. With the Mayor, Council, Planning Commissioners, and city staff’s involvement at the visioning sessions, the residents could see the layers of coordination that go into the production of a Master Plan. Jurors said, "The nomination successfully illustrated key successes of this planning process. We especially appreciated the evaluation of previously separate "silos" together in order to make new connections and more fully use limited resources. It was also gratifying to read about how the planning process educated planning commission members and helped them to re-consider previous ways of evaluating applications. This is what the planning process is all about!" Congratulations to the City of Warren and Beckett and Raeder! Click here to watch the award presentation.
Outstanding Planning Project: Public OutreachJoe Louis Greenway Framework Plan City of Detroit and SmithGroup The Joe Louis Greenway is a 27.5-mile planned nonmotorized trail and linear park in Detroit, with access to nature, play, and recreation. The process for shaping the Joe Louis Greenway Framework Plan, which included 17 planned events with more than 600 attendees, built trust through shared authorship, celebrating history, culture, and neighborhood identity, providing a safe recreation experience, promoting economic development, connecting neighborhoods and people, and restoring the natural environment. Jurors said, "The project is an impressive scale and a complex undertaking with so many neighborhoods and factors that it must take into account. We were particularly impressed in reading about the reaction to concerns of gentrification as a result of the trail's development, and the collaboration with Atlanta representatives to learn from their experience with the Beltline." MAP congratulates the City of Detroit and SmithGroup! Click here to watch the award presentation. 
Outstanding Planning Project: Public OutreachCity of East Jordan Master Plan City of East Jordan and Beckett and Raeder Wide-ranging engagement for this master plan was critical because East Jordan is at an important crossroads. The city was tasked with honoring its manufacturing heritage yet expanding other employment sectors, accommodating tourists and year-round residents with different housing needs, and preserving its waterfront. The city used the master plan process to acknowledge the importance of having a community supported vision for growth and investment to guide land use priorities. Over 400 community members provided insight and guidance on the future of East Jordan through this inclusive 12-month planning process. Jurors said, "[Involving students] was an inspirational next step that not only fostered care amongst existing decision makers in the community engagement process, but offered an opportunity for learning and bringing the importance of planning to the youth at a young age. This process provided an opportunity for all ages and levels of civically engaged residents to participate and offer feedback in fun and unique ways." Congratulations to the City of East Jordan and Beckett and Raeder! Click here to watch the award presentation.
Outstanding Planning Project: Economic Development and PlanningEast Warren/Cadieux Neighborhood Framework Plan City of Detroit and OHM Advisors The East Warren/Cadieux Neighborhood Framework Plan is a plan of action intended to guide both short and long-term growth and investment in the MorningSide, East English Village, and Cornerstone Village neighborhoods. The plan has been co-crafted by the City of Detroit and neighborhood residents, and is built on inclusionary growth, economic opportunity, and an atmosphere of trust. The plan is grounded in four focus areas that work in tandem to build momentum and deliver immediate impacts. Jurors said, "The number of people engaged and having had input in the process is very impressive given the challenges that were faced, as is the momentum the plan generated through early investments. That demonstrates a well executed initiative in a neighborhood that was poised for growth and reinvestment." MAP congratulates the City of Detroit and OHM Advisors! Click here to watch the award presentation.
Outstanding Planning Project: Economic Development and PlanningComstock Center Place Plan for Redevelopment and Prosperity Township of Comstock and Beckett and Raeder, Inc. Established in the late 1800’s, Comstock Center was a vibrant commercial center and station along the Detroit to Chicago railroad. The Township launched a design study for Comstock Center to build upon the Vision 2025 Master Plan that had identified this subarea as key for redevelopment. The visionary component of this plan is that it treats housing and economic development as two sides of the same coin. Jurors said, "The submission did a wonderful job of describing how the Place Plan grew from an earlier, larger study, while also leading to immediate implementation on a range of scales from new organizations being founded to neighborhood beautification through landscaping in collaboration with local businesses." Congratulations to the Township of Comstock and Beckett and Raeder, Inc.! Click here to watch the award presentation.
Outstanding Graduate Student AwardEnvisioning a Decentralized Compost System for Detroit: A Framework for Community-Scaled Composting
University of Michigan Urban and Regional Planning Program As the world confronts the climate crisis, food waste is often overlooked as a significant greenhouse gas emitter, despite being responsible for nearly 7% of global emissions. More than 40 million tons of food waste were generated in 2017 in the United States, with only 6% successfully diverted from landfills and combustion facilities. Over the past decade, new businesses and nonprofits have formed in Detroit with missions focused on repurposing food scraps. Looking through the lens of three neighborhood study sites, the city-wide scale, and the county and state context, the capstone team analyzed existing and possible composting scenarios in Detroit from several, often competing perspectives: environment and sustainability; law and policy; and economic development. The group also examined dynamics that could create resistance for community-based composting systems and proposed best practices to mobilize support. MAP congratulates students (Sean Burnett, David DeBoskey, Michael Friese, Emily Korman, Megan Rigney, Anikka Van Eyl, Keerthana Vidyasagar, Meixin Yuan) and faculty Lesli Hoey and Eric Dueweke! Click here to watch the award presentation.
 Outstanding Graduate Student AwardTapping Into Economic Impact: The Impact of Microbreweries in Michigan
University of Michigan Urban and Regional Planning Program This project investigated whether Michigan’s microbreweries have a positive economic impact in the local areas where they are located. Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, findings show that while microbreweries often have a positive economic impact on their surroundings, there is so much variability in businesses and local conditions it is difficult to pinpoint microbreweries as the sole catalyst. Based upon these results, the project recommended changes to regulations and policies to ensure positive outcomes. MAP congratulates students (Rowan Brady, Cassie Byerly, Carly Keough) and faculty Scott Campbell! Click here to watch the award presentation.  Outstanding Graduate Student AwardAccelerating Climate Action in Colombia and India University of Michigan
Urban and Regional Planning Program This project is a transdisciplinary collaboration among a joint planning capstone and architecture and urban design studio, the United Nations, and UN-Habitat’s Colombia and India offices. The collaboration included direct engagement with officials in the Colombian Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Environment and the Indian State of Rajasthan in the Jaipur District. This capstone project examined how the “UN-Habitat’s Law and Climate Change Toolkit” can be used to analyze the effectiveness of national policies, various levels of master plans, and site specific plans in addressing climate change and meeting international climate commitments. Recommendations emphasize environmental sustainability focusing on carbon emission mitigation through safe multi-modal transportation networks, efficient building design, and nature-based climate solutions and carbon sinks. MAP congratulates students (Keyana Aghamirzadeh, Pierre Bagenda, Tom Bagley, Neeli Kakal, Clare Kucera, Michelle Lincoln, Anna Thompson, James Vansteel,Beatrix Yan, Jessica Yelk, Kevin Bechard, Autumn Bender, Shandra Bernath-Plaisted, Isabelle Borie, Kassem Chammout, Sarah Jammal, Aracely Landero, Talia Moretti, Anmol Poptani, Huiting Qian, Sydney Strawser,Danielle Weitzman) and faculty Ana Paula Pimentel Walker and María Arquero de Alarcón! Click here to watch the award presentation.
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