Hunter College Managing the Urban Physical Environment
Urban Studies Program
Steve Johnston URBS 401Course Calendar: Spring 2000
Jan 31 1 Course introduction. Required readings:
I. Introduction to the Urban Environment Intro to the City:
Feb 3 2 Early cities: origins and development Chap 1
7 3 Modern cities: 20th-century urban patterns and trends
10 4 Urban spatial structure: classical models and central place theory
14 5 Visual perception: cities and parts of cities Chap 5
Project #1 issued: "Imageability" Mapping
II. Physical Aspects of the Urban Environment
17 6 The design process: designing rooms or buildings
*21 NO CLASS: Washington's Birthday observed
24 7 Urban design: designing neighborhoods or cities Chap 6
28 8 Cities within the natural "environment" Chap 3
Mar 2 9 Energy considerations in land development
6 10 Urban infrastructure: installed utilities
Project #2 issued: Infrastructure
9 11 Urban infrastructure II: "pipes and wires" Chap 8 (pp 95-101)
13 12 Urban transportation systems
III. Land Use: Locations and Intensities of Urban Activities
16 13 Land uses, starting with residential areas
20 14 Institutional and manufacturing uses
23 15 Business activities: commercial land use
*27 16 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
30 17 Land classification systems
Project #3 issued: Land Use Surveying
Apr 3 18 Collecting land use data: land-use surveying
IV. Physical Planning: the Management of the Urban Environment
6 19 Physical planning by local governments in the U.S, Chap 9
10 20 Zoning: the American planner's classic regulatory tool
13 21 Recent developments in zoning
Project #4 issued: Zoning Analysis
*17 22 Midtown Walking Tour
*20 NO CLASS: Spring Recess
*24 NO CLASS: Spring Recess
*27 NO CLASS: Spring Recess
May 1 23 Subdivision laws and building codes
4 24 Growth management Chap 8 (pp 102-105)
8 23 Fiscal management policies, including taxes
11 24 State and federal roles
15 25 Non-governmental influences
V. The Future of the City
18 26 Urban trends: where are cities headed? Chap 10
22 28 Review session for final exam.
* FINAL EXAMINATION [to be scheduled by the College]
Course text
: Introduction to the City, A. Filipovitch, Kendall/Hunt, 1989.Class meets Mon/Thurs 9:45-11am, Room C122A West Building.
Professor's office: 1612 West Building. Office hours: Tue: 2-4 pm, Wednesdays 4-6 pm, and by appointment.
Phone: 772-5603 Department office phone: 772-5518 FAX: 772-5593 E-mail: urban@hunter.cuny.edu