2012 CDCP Action Plan
Community Design Center of Pittsburgh
MISSION: The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (CDCP) advocates for the
Stephen A. Glassman President & CEO
value of good design, planning and public policy to support more livable and sustainable communities in the Pittsburgh region.
938 Penn Ave, 6th floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222
[email protected] 412.391.4144
VISION: The CDCP envisions a region where design is accessible, valued, and celebrated throughout diverse and connected communities. Strategic Mandate:
Strategic Mandate:
Outcomes: • Functioning and ongoing Design Advocacy Alliance composed of the general public, diverse community groups, and the design community • Stronger voice for importance of design and planning in community dialogue Goal 1: Provide a regular forum for an independent and informed voice for quality design and planning Actions: • Establish a volunteer corps to promote ongoing, thoughtful discussion and active participation in design and planning • Plan community specific and community-wide meetings on issues related to design and planning • Create access to resource materials, thought pieces, and affiliate organizations Goal 2: Connect citizens with dialogue about design and planning to increase design literacy Actions: • Develop aggressive social networking, mobile marketing, and email marketing platforms to notify people about design issues where their voices can be added to the dialogue • Provide testimony at public forums and work with public officials to improve public policy and legislation related to design and planning Goal 3: Create a level of appreciation for good design and planning Actions: • Model successful urban environments such as Minneapolis, MN; Portland, OR; and Vancouver BC and other regions with cultures that celebrate design and planning • Use experts, affiliate organizations—such as the Pittsburgh Civic Design Coalition—and media publicity to educate individuals, organizations, community groups, and civic leaders in the region
Outcomes: • A multi-year funding strategy • CDCP is the “go-to” organization for employment, internships, technical assistance, and expertise in community design and planning Goal 1: Expand and Diversify Funding Sources Actions: • Increase board contributions • Increase individual and corporate donations • Expand regional and national funding sources Goal 2: Enhance CDCP Visibility and Relevancy Action: • Re-brand CDCP with new name, logo, and interactive website Goal 3: Advance Staff and Board Expertise Action: • Build organizational culture supporting teamwork, problem-solving, creative enterprise, and individual contributions
Advocate, Educate, and Engage the Public in Good Design
Strengthen and Stabilize CDCP
2012 CDCP Action Plan Strategic Mandate:
Strategic Mandate:
Outcomes: • Concentrated planning and design efforts in neighborhoods and communities where those investments have the potential to make substantial improvements • Building capacity in transitional communities to implement effective planning and design projects Goal 1: Leverage Existing and Potential Funding to Transitional Communities Actions: • Concentrate Design Fund grants in transitional and edge communities • Continue commitment to early intervention in community development activities • Develop and pilot a mini-grant program for transitional neighborhoods • Increase number of subsidized/free design consultations to eligible residential and commercial clients by income and neighborhood Goal 2: Build Partnerships with Existing Resources and Organizations in Transitional Communities Actions: • Integrate design services through Champion Neighborhoods Working Groups • Pilot partnership with Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh • Join with Pittsburgh Children’s Museum for Charm Bracelet project • Pursue collaborative projects with CD Collaborative members, such as PCRG revolving loan program Goal 3: Evaluate the Impact of Projects in Transitional Neighborhoods Actions: • Determine metrics for performance and use effectively to chart progress • Pursue partnership with Rhiza Labs to effectively utilize mapping and data resource
Outcomes: • Combine programming resources to achieve greater impact in the region • Greater design and planning influence in specific geographic areas Goal 1: Leverage Design Fund Grant Funding and Technical Assistance Actions: • Align and leverage CDCP assets with other resources—such as URA, CDC’s, and CD Collaborative—to maximize impact • Explore collaborations with Allegheny County and other southwestern Pennsylvania partners to expand CDCP impact beyond City of Pittsburgh Goal 2: Effectively Market Design Assistance for Commercial and Residential Property Owners Actions: • Emphasize visible curb to façade improvements, clustering consultations on blocks • Increase total number of clustered consultations, emphasizing commercial property improvements • Recruit and train additional design consultants who are culturally competent and sensitive to community needs
Focus on Under-Served Areas in Transitional Communities
Cluster Programs and Projects Geographically
We accomplish this by: 1. providing support, guidance, and connections to improve sites and buildings; 2. engaging and motivating individulas, organizations, and neighborhoods; and 3. investing in the early stages of community planning and development.
