St. Paul Tapped for Community-Planning Pilot Project

via MassTransitMag:



St. Paul Tapped for Community-Planning Pilot Project

Burl Gilyard, Finance & Commerce



St. Paul will be one of four U.S. cities participating in a pilot community-planning program sponsored by the New York-based Environmental Simulation Center (ESC).

The nonprofit ESC deploys technology and computer-design tools to aid with urban planning. The $892 million Central Corridor light rail transit line is slated to open in 2014. The line is expected to bring substantial redevelopment along University Avenue in St. Paul.

"We're thrilled we got funded," said Brian McMahon, executive director for University United and the project coordinator for the newly-created Frogtown Rondo Partnership, which will implement the ESC program locally. McMahon will be working halftime for the new initiative.

The program calls for opening a new Community Change Center at 533 N. Dale St., at the offices of the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation.

There, residents will be able to access computers that plot out an array of visual and statistical data about the area. The concept is that better visual access to the data will be a boon for both individual residents and broader community planning.

Project partners admit that explaining the program with words alone is complicated. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=6268