JAMES SASSER URBAN PLANNING + DESIGN
36C S 26th St ● Pittsburgh PA, 15203 ● 215.595.7139 ● jamessasser.planning@gmail.com
JAMES SASSER, LEED AP-ND Experience
Education
Associate Planner Michael Baker International Pittsburgh, PA October 2016 - Present • Collaboratively developed over 25 Master Plans providing illustrative rendering, GIS, technical writing, and community outreach services • One of several initial contributors to the Urban Design Studio at Michael Baker. Responsible for the creation of enhanced illustrations, GIS mapping, 3D rendering, street sections and all other planning related graphics • Notable projects: Area Development Master Plans, Community Planning Standards, Real Property Vision Plans and Capital Investment Strategies
University of Cincinnati Master of Community Planning Certificate in Urban Design 100% Academic Scholarship Graduate Teaching Assistantship Graduated May, 2016
Long Range Planning Intern Delaware Valley Regional Planning Comission Philadelphia, PA May 2016 - October 2016 • GIS, research, data collection, trends analysis, modeling and graphic design for Connections 2045: Plan for Greater Philadelphia • Published “Sustainable Transportation Actions”, a document that identifies actions that communities, businesses, governments and individuals can take to travel more sustainably • Co-authored a commissioned white paper “Transportation Network Companies in Philadelphia: Impacts on City Design”
Publications
Graduate Teaching Assistant The University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH August 2014 - May 2016 • Lab instructor for Principles of Planning Design Graphics II. Actively taught undergraduate students fundamentals of GIS, Illustrator and Photoshop
2016: Outstanding Graduate Student Award 2014: University Graduate Incentive Award (GIA) 2014: University Graduate Scholarship (UGS) 2013: Hankins Scholarship Award • Awarded to an undergraduate student pursuing a BS degree in Planning. This award is given annually to a student in the planning program at ECU that demonstrates leadership as well as academic success
Non-Profit Real Estate Development Assistant Over-the-Rhine Community Homes Cincinnati, OH August 2015 - Dec 2015 • Assisted with federal lead grant coordination in distressed areas of Cincinnati. • Facilitated the eradication of hazardous lead material in over 30 different low-income housing units. Urban Planning/Design Intern The Office for Planning & Architecture Harrisburg, PA May 2015 - August 2015 • Responsible for creating 2D and 3D Images for The “beHBG” Comprehensive Plan • Pivotal member of the planning consultant team and steering committee • Lead roles in facilitation of multiple community outreach events across the City • Research & analysis in planning effort: demographic, market, land use, employment, and transportation analysis County Planning/GIS Intern The Pitt County Planning Department Greenville, NC January 2012 - January 2014 • GIS, permitting & addressing, site analysis, development review, and zoning compliance
East Carolina University Bachelor of Science in Urban & Regional Planning Minor in Business Administration Graduated December, 2013
J.R. Sasser, 2015. Review of Tactical Urbanism: Shortterm Action for Long-term Change, by Mike Lydon & Anthony Garcia. Journal of Urban Affairs. J.R. Sasser, 2016. American Institute of Certified Planners-Certified Urban Designer Study Guide. Chapter: Agency. American Planning Association. Awards
Accreditations / Professional Organizations 2018 - AICP Candidate - Passed AICP exam on 5/20 2015 - Present: LEED AP Neighborhood Development 2014 - 2015: LEED Green Associate 2013 - Present: American Planning Association • 2016 - Present: Marketing Manager (Urban Design & Preservation Division) 2009 - 2013 - Student Planners Action Network • 2010 - 2012: Secretary • 2012 - 2013: Vice President Skills • GIS • ESRI Story Maps • AutoCAD • Sketchup • Photoshop • Illustrator • InDesign
36C S 26th St ● Pittsburgh PA, 15203 ● 215.595.7139 ● jamessasser.planning@gmail.com
• Community Outreach • Public Speaking • Data Collection & Analysis • Technical Writing • Project Management • Grant Processes • Charrette Facilitation
OXEN HILLS Summer 2015 Washington, D.C. Professional
Oxen Hills is a financially and socially distressed community in southwest Washington D.C. On my first day at the Office for Planning of Architecture in the summer of 2015 I was asked to create a residential site plan for the neighborhood paying special attention to: 1) the existing topography, 2) what the development group did and did not own/ possible land deals that could be made, and 3) attention to breathtaking views of our nation’s capital. After two nights in the office verging 2 a.m. this image was produced to satisfy the client as well as the residents in the neighborhood.
RURAL BY DESIGN Winter 2016 Southern United States Professional During a four day charette at a military installation in the Southeastern United States I had the opportunity to provide planning expertise to a wide variety of installation stakeholders including leadership, the local Department of Public Works, and invested Soldiers. Most planning decisions focused around building consolidation and mission expansion. However, the area did have a popular trail system complete with recreational activities and physical training elements. The goal that derived from this workshop was to create a system of trails and greenways that expanded not only throughout this district but across the entire installation. As design lead I prepared maps and vizualizations to further materialize this goal in the report. Trails and greenway networks can enhance quality of life for Soldiers, Families, and communities as a whole. Simple improvements such as pavement, lighting, and signage allows the District to become a center for training, recreation, and community. In addition, the envisioned trail system will highlight the District’s existing historic and cultural resources.
PORTO DI MARE Late Spring 2016 Milan, Italy Politecnico di Milano In the spring of 2016 I was selected along with 9 other students throughout the University of Cincinnati to compete in an internationally recognized planning and design competition. The project site known as Porto Di Mare is on the periphery of Milan city limits located towards the southeastern border. Our planning and design team received grant funding to travel to Lecco, Italy in order to work with Politecnico Di Milan architecture students as a part of a 4 day workshop. The workshop was an intense period of time where we developed strategies and goals at 3 scales: regional, intermediate and local. From here we identified 12 design ordering principles (DOP’s). Participants were broken into three teams to develop a master plan at all 3 levels simultaneously coordinating with each other for comprehension. The images you see in this spread are my contributions to the final product presented to politicians and city leaders in the city of Milan. The two images to the right graphically symbolize 2 of the 12 DOP’s including promoting cycling as well as fostering mixed use. The gradient in the image to the bottom right symbolizes a smooth transition from commercial and residential uses in the northern portion of the site to more agricultural uses traveling south through the project site. The images below were created to spatially show some of the proposed interventions such as mixed use, walkability and a canal system to alleviate flooding concerns on site.
MIXED USE
WALKABILITY
WATER SYSTEMS
AULT PARK Spring 2015 Cincinnati, OH Academic
Site Planning for the Urban Environment was a class I took in my first year as a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati. The class taught me that everything from wind to soil should be taken into account when creating a master plan for a given area. The location was Ault Park, a well utilized park outside of Cincinnati. The goal was to increase circulation in and out of the park in order to capitalize on the asset. Three different corridors were suggested that would help make the park become an even more attractive destination: 1) a local connector street with the addition of a bus lane as well as aesthetically appealing pedestrian features, 2) a green way serving the interior of the park that enhances the parks natural trails and views, and 3) an economic development corridor in the northwest portion of the park closest to main arterials that would promote further development and recreational use of the natural green space.
RAILS TO TRAILS Spring 2017 East Coast United States Professional
As a planner and designer at Michael Baker International I had the fortunate opportunity to be included as a part of the planning consultant team responsible for creating a comprehensive plan for a prominent east coast military base. This involved leading and facilitating a five-day charrette with installation leadership and area stakeholders. One of the major themes that resulted from the workshop was the need to improve pedestrian connections. An abandoned freight line was identified as one of the key corridors that could be further developed to promote pedestrian activity on the installation. As graphics lead I was asked to provide the client with visualization of this idea in the final comprehensive plan for future commanders to act upon. This rail line provides the opportunity to create a “rail-to-trail� multi-use path. The path will allow for bicycles, runners, and walkers to move within and through the district separate from vehicle traffic. The above graphic depicts one possible configuration of such a multi-use path. This depiction shows a path wide enough for bicyclists to pass pedestrians and for pedestrians to walk or run two or three abreast. The path should be provided with a smooth, all-weather surface, seating at points along the path, trash receptacles, pedestrian-scaled lighting, and trees and other landscaping. The crosssection of the path will vary along the route, depending on the context. In areas adjacent to a road and existing buildings or parking areas, the path may be narrower and landscaping may be more open to preserve views for safety. Where the path traverses open space it can be widened and a more natural style of landscaping can be used that provides more of a sense of enclosure.
THE HARRISBURG, PA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Summer 2015 Harriburg, PA Professional
The “beHBG” process is a clear, community-based vision for the city that is crucial to restoring Harrisburg’s vitality as a progressive urban foundation of the region. Through a public bidding process, in May 2015 the firm of Office for Planning and Architecture (OPA) was contracted to lead a team of skilled professionals through this significant task. The Consultant’s Team included: K&W Engineers and Consultants, Good Land Collaborative, ARUP Americas, CSPM Group &AB3 Development Advisory. However, every image you see in this portfolio was created by myself in progression of the plan. As a member of the consulting team and steering committee I had the opportunity to be involved in the early stages of the planning process. This involved public participation, data gathering and analysis, existing and future land uses, preliminary planning concepts, draft text, market studies, and graphic visualization. This Harrisburg Comprehensive Plan is intended to reflect the aspirations, ambitions, and dreams of the public. Comprehensive plans, are well… comprehensive. The outcome of this process is a public policy document guiding activity of everything from transportation to parks and recreation. Simply, a comprehensive plan can be used to address the constant change and evolution of a community. It’s a blueprint guiding public and private investment in: community and economic development, housing, transportation, parks and open space, and the environment.
UPTOWN SHOPPING CENTER
The uptown shopping center is the anchor for commercial activity in the northern part of Harrisburg. The shopping center is located at the tip of an economically distressed corridor along 7th street. Further commercial and neighborhood development in this area is key.
“THE CITY OF KNOWLEDGE”
A large portion of the city’s institutional uses belong to educational facilities. However, most of these educational facilities are under utilized or simply not used. By implementing a cohesive plan to connect all campus’s this part of the city can become a thriving destination for both students and residents.
RE-PURPOSING BISHOP MCD.
MARKET STREET CORRIDOR
Market Street is a key gateway into the city. There are multiple improvements that could be made along the corridor including: residential development, transportation improvements and further business investment.
COMMERCIAL = 9% OF ZONING DESIGNATION
The John Harris High School Building is a fantastic building in a prime location. Due to close proximity to Reservoir Park this building should seriously be considered for re-use. The building could potentially serve as senior housing, overlooking the beautiful views of the park, something the city desperately needs.
INSTITUTIONAL = 21% OF ZONING DESIGNATION
ENHANCING CITY ISLAND
Any visitor would tell you that City Island is a huge asset to the city. However, a large part of the community feels that is under-utilized. Possible reccomendations for the island include: concert venues, restoring the shower houses, completing the bridge to connecting to the West Shore and an overall increased presence in the city.
OPEN SPACE/ RECREATION = 1
ENVISION PAXTON CREEK
REGINA STREET DEVELOPMENT IMPROVING THE RIVER-FRONT
The river-front is used by thousands of citizens each day. It is a tremendous asset to the city and the open space system within it. A large group of citizens would like to take this piece of land one step further and make it a truly great area. Some reccomendations include: fixing the river-front steps, increased maintenace, further landscaping and economic activity overlooking the river.
18% OF ZONING DESIGNATION
Regina Street is a prime location for residential development. The area has a large area of un-used land perfect for housing in this portion of the city. The street itself forms a unique shape that funnels directly into the commercial activity of Market Street. The Regina Street development can be the first step in a long process of re-development in this area of the city.
Industry was once a large economic force in this city. However, as times have changed and industry has moved elsewhere it is time to envision new opportunities for old industrial land. Industrial land counts for 27% of zoning designation, we would like to see this number decrease in support of residential and commercial activity.
HARRISBURG TRANS. CENTER
The Harrisburg Transportation Center is one of the oldest buildings in the city, it is also a major transit hub for the state of Pennsylvania. The station could possibly serve as multi-modal hub not only for the city, but for the region with infrastructure supporting bicycles, bus, BRT, light rail and train.
TERRACES= HIGH DENSITY
This portion of the city has a unique topography providing views of the city and mountains. This is also a very distressed portion of the city. Creating high-density development in these unique areas will 1) increase the city housing stock and 2) provide enough density for commercial establishments to feasibly locate their businesses.
RESIDENTIAL = 24% OF ZONING DESIGNATION
INDUSTRIAL = 27% OF ZONING DESIGNATION
HARRISBURG CONNECTS Summer 2015 Harriburg, PA Professional
The consultant team decided to break down planning factors into 3 components. Simply put, Harrisburg will connect- take inventory in topics such as housing, transportation and demographics. Secondly Harrisburg will collaborate- by holding 9 different public engagement sessions, that I myself, have collaboratively and individually facilitated. Lastly, Harrisburg will compete- based on public ideas and participation the planning team will create concepts for the city in order to specifically increase: 1) Homeownership, 2) Home occupancy, 3) Economic Development and 4) Attractive public spaces. One of the more difficult tasks in my time at OPA, was surprisingly, simply creating a current land use map for the city of Harrisburg. A plan for Harrisburg had not been established in over 40 years, so therefore, some of the information sources were just as ancient. Through the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office I was able to determine what was occurring on each parcel of land. A land use map was created as well as a 3D land use vizualization for the downtown area shown above. The axonometric graphic shows commercial, mixed use, residential and civic spaces throughout the downtown core. 3D vizualization helps the resident more easily understand the current situation of their downtown environment. This kind of graphic also reveals spatial patterns. In this case it is evident that the further north you go, the more residential the built environment becomes. Also, you can clearly see the state capitol complex and other civic uses are surrounded by commercial buildings, a strong indicator that these commercial establishments are catering to our state government officials who work in the area.
HARRISBURG COLLABORATES Summer 2015 Harriburg, PA Professional
Over a ten-month period, the Comprehensive Plan process engaged local stakeholders – including residents, businesses, institutions, nonprofits, and property owners – through a nationally-renowned, interactive program called crowd-sourced place making. Crowd-sourced placemaking is a grassroots, social networking program that solicits ideas from the community, through a combination of in-person meetings, local events, online forums and ‘Likes,’ and establishes a conceptual groundwork for projects such as Harrisburg’s Comprehensive Plan. Crowd-sourced placemaking will encourage members of the community to get involved in the process by coming to OPA’s downtown informational office, participating in Public Engagement Forums and Community Workshops, and submitting and ‘Liking’ ideas on this website that they would like to see incorporated into the plan. Visit the Idea Section to see ideas proposed and to register to participate and submit your own ideas. Through these crowd-sourced placemaking efforts, OPA created the Harrisburg Comprehensive Plan with the public, ensuring that it contains elements (e.g., types of uses, businesses, amenities, etc.) that are proposed, supported by, and prioritized by a wide-range of stakeholders and simultaneously rigorously tested against market realities. Local residents and stakeholders had the ability to participate both online and in person to provide insight and ideas as to what they would like to see established throughout Harrisburg.
HARRISBURG COMPETES Summer 2015 Harriburg, PA Professional
Harrisburg was built to house a population of approximately 100,000. Its peak population was 89,544, in the 1950 census. By standard growth models, population is set to grow modestly from 48,879 to 50,192. The Comprehensive Plan positions the City for more intensive growth, through simple lifestyle-choice attraction by developing an unrivaled quality of life for a diverse population. To attract population in excess of normative growth figures, future developments must rival the most progressive cities in the world. The Innovation Zone shown in the graphic to the right plays a key role in the progression of the city. One of the proposed development projects in the Innovation Zone is the Harrisburg Transportation Center, a historic landmark in the State of Pennsylvania that continues to serve as a central transportation hub between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The building itself is architecturally beautiful and is a true asset to the city. However, the area around the transportation center seems to be lacking. Old industry and seas of un-used parking occupy space that could potentially be the focal point of the city. Towards the end of my internship at the Office for Planning & Architecture, we received a contract from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority to generate a plan for this underutilized area. Using GIS, autoCAD, and adobe creative suite software I was able to generate an initial concept sketch for the area in question. The plan contains mixed-use residential housing, new commercial activity, and various landscape features including pathways and gardens that direct the pedestrian to a 100% concrete skate park located under the Mulberry St. Bridge. INNOVATION ZONE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - HARRISBURG TRANSPORTATION CENTER
PHASE 1: RE ST. CORRID
PHASE 2: TR CENTER INF
PHASE 3: ZO SK M
To Rockville
Knowledge Hub Colonial Park
Residential Core Leisure
E-ACTIVATE CAMERON DOR Retail
Innovation Zone Business and exchange
RANSPORTATION FILL West Shore
ONE 2- RECREATION KATE COMPLEX UNDER MULBERRY ST. BRIDGE
To Middletown
Lemoyne
PARK CENTRAL, PARK SMART Summer 2017 East Coast United States Professional
As design lead for an area development plan at a military installation in the Northeastern United States I was responsible for creating all 2D and 3D graphics included in the document. The project seen below is one future planning idea generated from the charrette process. This project entails a parking structure to address current and future parking needs. The initial concept for the structure is a three- to four-level structure with 80-120 spaces per level, which would provide between approximately 240 to 480 additional parking spaces. The proposed structure not only addresses current parking needs, it creates capacity to support future growth and supports compact infill development and walkability. The current parking lot has many entrance and exit points, which creates congestion on surface streets. The new parking structure will improve vehicle circulation by limiting vehicular access to two entrance/exit points, which will reduce the potential for vehicle conflicts. The natural slope of the parking structure site partially screens the first level of the structure from views from the north, and reduces the north elevation and vertical mass. Providing a large number of additional parking spaces in a small footprint will preserve scarce and valuable land area for other uses. A parking structure also supports walkability by locating parking in a central area and encouraging people to park once and walk to multiple destinations.
North Elevation
South Elevation
DAYTON STREET NEIGHBORHOOD INFILL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FALL 2015 CINCINNATI, OH Academic The University of Cincinnati provided me with essential tools and skills to succeed in my planning career. As a graduate capstone project I served as project manager with a team of 4 to further develop a neighborhood in Cincinnati referred to simply as the “West End”. This project was a ULI competition style endeavor that involved planning, design, and finance. The final report included process, vision, goals & objectives, data analysis, public outreach, preliminary development concepts, phasing & programming, design standards, an implementation strategy, and pro-forma. “Dayton Street is a unique Street in West End, Cincinnati which was formerly known as “Millionaire’s Row”. The historic district is known for its architecturally unique Italianate style homes which were once the residences of wealthy Cincinnatians. The district and adjacent areas also contain several other designated historic structures as well as noncontributing structures that nevertheless play a vital role in giving the area a strong neighborhood character. More recently, there seems to be a decline in rehabilitation and investment, which is visible in the number of vacant properties within the district. This rich history and availability of space for redevelopment and new development is an opportunity that could be utilized to strengthen this area in the West End, help maintain its housing resources, help promote new market-rate housing development, and reshape the overall image of Dayton Street as a neighborhood of choice. The Zada Company’s recent acquisition of the two vacant schools, and their planned conversion to market-rate rental units would serve as a significant spark for regeneration and redevelopment. Our plans and recommendations will extend this development activity and will integrate it into our overall redevelopment plan with several site-specific proposals and recommendations.”
CORRIDOR NEIGHBORHOODS Winter 2018 San Antonio, TX Professional
More recently, I was asked to create streetscape renderings for a corridor improvement project in San Antonio, TX. The corridor had fallen out of repair and was not safe to travel along with anything other than an automobile. With the addition of safety improvements like bump-outs and paved crosswalks I was able to visually demonstrate what a underperforming street could possibly look like. One of the additional goals of the project was to highlight the neighborhoods along the street. Existing entrances were mundane and uninviting. By introducting pedestrian features such as benches, gathering spaces, and landscaping, this small intersection could act as a catalyst and gateway for different developments along the corridor. Visual aid including these images helped the consulting company win a large street improvement project preforming planning, design, and engineering services.
STREET RECONFIGURATION Fall 2017 Southeastern United States Professional
One result of stakeholders’ workshop was to develop viable alternatives for future development on Main District as depicted in the Preferred Alternative model below. This roundabout was selected because it showcases the gateway to the Installation at the intersection of X, X and X. The axonometric diagram depicts a construction variation that would alleviate existing congestion pressures and provide a smooth transition from other parts of Post to access nearby facilities. This axonometric snapshot in time meets X’s planning vision while adding greenscapes and utilizing, as much as possible, existing roadways rather than paving new roads. Roundabout construction stipulations include they be designed in accordance with the safe and sound engineering standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Federal Highway Administration (FHW), the X Department of Transportation, Unified Facilities Criteria and Department of Defense. Setbacks from roadways and other buildings must conform to minimum current anti-terrorism/force protection guidance. The roundabout where X, X and X converge will create a flow through area that is wide enough to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians on separated pathways and smoothly channel traffic in appropriate directions.
1 District Signage
2 Pedestrian Trail Network
3 Constructed Seating Areas 4 Pedestrian Lighting 5 Scenic Vegetation
6 Designated Open Areas 7 Natural Shading
8 Traffic Calming Features
9 Multiple District Gateways
10 Ease of Access
11 Tree-Lined Streets
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION ACTIONS Summer 2017 Philadelphia, PA Professional
Following the completion of graduate school in the summer of 2017 I received an internship with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in Philadelphia, PA. During this time I focused efforts on the 2045 Long Range Plan for the Greater Philadelphia Region. In addition to other research, writing, and graphic projects for the plan I created a graphically oriented brochure describing how regional citizens can help reduce their carbon footprint in terms of transportation. The document was a success and can be purchased/viewed in full at DVRPC.org in the products section. Referring to the organizations website “this brochure shows how Greater Philadelphia’s transportation network could be made more sustainable through decision making geared toward more efficient use of space, applying technology, using pricing, and design to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase community livability. It identifies actions that communities, businesses, governments, and individuals can take to travel more sustainably”.
P
P
P
30% OF TRAFFIC SOURCE: DONALD SHOUP-THE HIGH COST OF FREE PARKING
IN CBD’S IS FROM VEHICLES ‘CRUISING’ FOR PARKING
TRANSPORTATION IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Decreased dependence on the automobile for personal mobility is crucial to lowering levels of air pollution, fossil fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. As a region we should promote energy efficiency in our transportation network.
SOURCE OF GHG EMISSIONS BY SECTOR
COMMUTE TO WORK MODAL SHARE DATA SOURCE: DVRPC: HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL SURVEY, 2012-2013
8%
6%
BIKE/WALK
CARPOOL
9
72%
DROVE ALONE
10%
PUBLIC TRANSIT
4%
TELECOMMUTE
RURAL BY DESIGN Spring 2018 Southeastern United States Professional
The rendering below depicts a conceptual view of a proposed road extension. The additional road network creates a connected street network, and promotes development on a grid-like pattern. Upon demolition of outdated facilities, a large portion of land becomes open for development. An enhanced trail network including pedestrian furniture, lighting, and natural vegetation improves connectivity within the area. Landscaping promotes a welcoming atmosphere and visually assists the transition of an expressway to a boulevard. Land adjacent to the intersection is designated as a capacity growth area. This plan provides the framework to develop in the future. These additional roadway connections provide users with direct access to key parts of the area as well as create nodes for future development in the near future. Recreation opportunities also exist along suitable sections of the proposed boulevard system.
3’
Should
der
12’
Travel Lane
12’
3’
Travel Shoulder Lane
60’
Median
116’
Total Width
3’
Shoulder
12’
Travel Lane
12’
3’
Travel Shoulder Lane