UrbanPlan is an interactive, hands-on simulation of a planning process involving teams that work together using legos, a site plan and a spreadsheet to respond to a fictional RFP for the city of Yorktown. Teams must decide how dense to build out a 5 ½ block area, whether to keep a homeless shelter, what type of retail is appropriate and which neighborhood groups to keep happy – all while meeting the financial projections of the City and the Developer (your boss). The program ends with teams presenting to a mock City Council that will award the project to the Development Team with the best proposal.

UrbanPlan in Memphis

“Building a city is a complicated process that requires many necessary tradeoffs and balancing a city’s equitable needs with the values and desires of multiple parties is no small feat. The UrbanPlan program seeks to train how every party at the table plays a role in shaping a city’s fate. Non-profit professionals, policy makers, developers, architects, public officials, resident leaders and young professionals should make every effort to engage in this simulation to learn these very values.”

Leslie Smith, Blight Authority of Memphis

“As a seasoned professional, I am always looking for ways to introduce planning and development concepts in a way that is not daunting.  UrbanPlan is that tool! It is interactive and provides participants with the opportunity to actively engage in a simulated scenario that incorporates input from a variety partners. Understanding how these partnerships work in the development process, enables UrbanPlan participants to have a greater understanding of how each role in the development process impacts the potential outcome of a proposed redevelopment project.”

Chet Jackson, The Works