Students in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, in a class entitled "Neighbor-to-Neighbor Studio in Environmental Design," have been working since the summer on a variety of projects involving methods of improving the University Heights community. With proper guidance and some community involvement, their research is covering a variety of topics, including traffic patterns, crime, housing and economic impacts. The larger goal is the desire to bring back an era of community involvement and social energy.
The community initiative being undertaken by the University and local groups is an excellent example of what the school has to offer the community. Interested students are encouraged to help the University Heights area, which allows them to see results of their actions and improve their surroundings. The program should also be used as an example of community involvement, hopefully pushing other schools to create similar classes.
The collaboration between the school and the community is the most important aspect. This school does not have the best history of involvement with the city of Buffalo, especially around South Campus, but this new program is a step in the right direction. Some problems in the Heights can only be solved by both parties - the university and the residents. The first step is to recognize where improvement is needed and then implement changes.
Many goals are achieved by having students lead the charge. First of all, students do not require any fee. With the current economic situation, it is difficult to pay for improvements and research. However, students will do their best work for credit. Also, students - especially those living in the Heights - now have a constructive way of airing and then fixing their grievances.
When students are working for changes, it will hopefully spread both to the community and the rest of the school. If residents of the Heights uninvolved with the school see the commitment being put in by the university, they could be more inclined to help out. If the school notes the positive impact of architecture and planning, it could create programs led by other schools. It would be beneficial to both schools and the students to get real world experience in several different fields.
Students also want to impact the field of public relations. They hope to build a strong community identity, and then market it to outsiders, making the area more available to development and commerce. Those plans will benefit everyone and can only be achieved by the synergy of university and community interest. Students can bridge the gap between the two and make both stronger in the process.
Community-oriented programs are valuable for every party. When students realize the connection and start the path of involvement and improvement, everyone benefits. There should be more recognition from the school and the city, both of which should help the later stages of the process, once problems have been identified. It is difficult to find enthusiastic and free help, and now that it exists, it must be used.
When the results are released in December, everyone in the community should take notice. If the students are working for the community, the community should then work with the school. Hopefully, the classes will continue in the spring. The university can then act on their commitment to the area, and the future of the Heights will be known for the thriving center of education, commerce and community that it once was, and can be again.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
