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GEO 454/554 Spring 2005 Urban Geography
Catalog Description Geographic principles related to the distribution, function, structure, and regional settings of urban centers.
Miami Plan for Liberal Education This course is part of the Urban Geography Thematic Sequence (GEO 1). The course addresses the four principles of the Miami Plan as follows: · Thinking critically: Analyze through essay examinations, papers, reports, exercises, presentations, and in-class discussions geographic perspectives on contemporary changes in the urban landscape and urban life, and understanding new geographic ways of thinking about urban processes and problems. · Understanding contexts: Recognize distinctive roles played by people of different classes, genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientation in particular urban places. · Engaging with other learners: Understand geographic perspectives on contemporary changes in the nature and form of urbanization through active contributions to class dialogue and debate. · Reflecting and acting: Think about actions and behavior resulting from living and working in urban areas.
Course Requirements · Class meets January 13 in Shideler. All other sessions are in Cincinnati, at Buddy’s Place, 1300 Vine St. Parking is available immediately to the north of the building. · Final paper and presentation account for 100% of the grade. · Attendance and participation is especially important because class meets only once a week and in Cincinnati. A lower grade will be assigned for poor attendance · All of the following deadlines and obligations must be met, and grade will be lowered if they are not: · One-page abstract due February 10 · Revised abstract due February 17 · First draft of paper due March 10 or before leaving for Spring Break. · Second draft of paper due April 7. · Final paper due April 21. · In-class presentation April 21 or 28.
Contacting the Instructors Charlotte (Tommie) Thompson, tommie@nuvox.net, 541-6518, 515-3135 James Rubenstein, rubensjm@muohio.edu, cell 513-505-3569 Office hours: Mon & Thurs 9-11 in 211 Shideler (529-5025) Tues 9-11 & Thurs 12.30-2.30 in 102 Boyd (529-5254) Fri immediately before class at 1300 Vine St in Cincinnati Other times by appointment.
Detailed Syllabus and Readings
Week 1. January 13. Introduction to course (meets in 112 Shideler) Readings: 1. Over-the-Rhine Census and Subareas. 2. Over-the-Rhine Goals. 3. Coolidge, Sharon, “A Culture of Gun Violence,” Cincinnati Enquirer, December 11, 2005, p D1.
Week 2. January 20. Field tour around Over-the-Rhine. Pat Garry, Director of Cincinnati NDC. Readings: 1. Doug Trapp, “The Fight for Over-the-Rhine: Can the neighborhood survive so many good intentions?” City Beat, December 13, 2001.
Week 3. January 27. Low income housing developments in Over-the-Rhine. Andy Hutzel, Director of ReSTOC, and Mary Burke, Director of Over-the-Rhine Housing Network. The two organizations are in the process of merging. Readings: 1. Tony Cook, “Idealistic landlords: Are nonprofit agencies a solution or part of the problem?” City Beat, May 26, 2004. 2. Race Street Tenant Organization Cooperative. 3. Over-the-Rhine Housing Network.
Week 4. February 3. Homelessness. Georgine Getty, Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Readings: 1. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless
Week 5. February 10. Upscale and mixed income development. Chuck Downton, Citizens for Civic Renewal; Marge Hammelrath, Director of Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce Foundation (Over-the-Rhine property owner and former Chair of the Chamber of Commerce); and Jim Tarbell, Cincinnati Vice Mayor and founder of Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce (tentative). Readings: 1. Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. 2. Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, “Over-the-Rhine Overview.” 3. Rose, Maria Matzer, “Nonprofit Spent $8m in OTR,” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 11, 2005, p. D1.
Week 6. Feburary 17. Enlightened architectural development. Frank Russell, architect, and Tom Dutton, Miami Professor (tentative). Readings: 1. Jonathan Diskin and Thomas A. Dutton, “Cincinnati: A Year Later and No Wiser,” NHI Shelterforce Online, May/June 2002. 2. Donna Covrett, “Knitting Us Together: Community organization and civic engagement transform citizens from passivity to leadership, City Beat, January 5, 2005.
Week 7. February 24. A life dedicated to treating OTR residents with dignity. Bonnie Neumeier, Director of Peaslee Neighborhood Center and Over-the-Rhine Peoples Movement, community organizer. Readings: 1. Peaslee Neighborhood Center. 2. “Buddy Gray: Serving the People in Over-The-Rhine,” Revolutionary Worker, January 5, 1997.
Week 8. March 3. Low income housing in OTR and beyond and the future of Section 8. Elizabeth Brown, Executive Director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), and Alice Skirtz, Chair of Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA). Readings: 1. Housing Opportunities Made Equal.
Week 9. March 10. No formal program Optional meeting with Prof Thompson or other OTR leaders concerning term paper. Attend Association of American Geographers meeting in Chicago.
Week 10. March 24. Program to be determined based on term paper topics.
Week 11. March 31. Program to be determined based on term paper topics.
Week 12. April 7. Program to be determined based on term paper topics.
Week 13. April 14. Program to be determined based on term paper topics.
Week 14. April 21. In-class PowerPoint presentations.
Week 15. April 28. In-class PowerPoint presentations.
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