Describe Urban and Street Planning as a Wicked Problem
Describe Urban and Street Planning as a Wicked Problem.Wicked urban problems are all around us. They also appear in the news…often surrounded by controversy. Such wicked problems help illustrate the politically-charged nature of urban planning. This assignment requires you to conduct an analysis of the news to identify an example of a “wicked” urban problem that is making headlines.
Completing the Report
Search the news for articles addressing urban issues that fit the four criteria for “wicked” problems discussed in class. Your task for this assignment is to identify a real-life example that illustrates the political, and often controversial, nature of the planning process. The example you find can be local or in another city, can relate to any of the functional areas of planning (e.g. transportation, housing, economic development, environmental planning, etc.), and may be project-specific or focused on larger comprehensive planning activities. Pick a case study (NOT the South Mountain Freeway discussed in class) for which you can find adequate details and information about the urban problem being addressed. You must find a minimum of three sources of information about your case study. All sources must be properly cited and referenced.Write an analysis report that clearly addresses the following for the wicked problem you identified:
–Explain the background of the urban planning problem being addressed
–Discuss why the problem is a “wicked” one:
–Why is the problem itself difficult to define?
–Why are the causes of the problem uncertain?
–Why is there no obvious solution to the problem?
–How is the problem (or solution) linked to other problems?
–Discuss the public sector and private sector stakeholders involved, and their conflicting values
Your written report should be roughly 2-3 single-spaced pages in length, with a space between paragraphs. Your report must be structured using the following headings and subheadings:
Background
Wickedness of Problem
Defining the Problem
Uncertainty of Causes
Lack of Obvious Solutions
Links to Other Problems
Stakeholders and Conflicting Values
Use complete sentences, and be clear, concise, and to the point.
Answer preview:
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