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On the Boards
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The first quarter was a busy one and brought with it lots of
interesting work. We've begun working with two Gateway Cities - Worcester Beacon Federal Neighborhood and Salem Bridge Neck
Neighborhood, are undertaking two campus master plans with our colleagues
Harriman Architects + Engineers - Bates College and Maine Maritime Academy, we've started putting together a Revitalization Plan for Spencer Town Center,
we're providing accessibility services to the Steamship Authority and we've
been selected to begin a Facilities Plan for the City of Somerville with our colleagues at Arrowstreet.
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Plan Views
from The Cecil Group
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Welcome to the inaugural issue of Plan Views, a newsletter where, once a quarter, we'll share firm news, insights on urban design and planning and other topics we think you'll find interesting. This issue includes information on an opportunity to work with WalkBoston, news of a recent award for our planning work in Aquidneck Island, a link to an article on institutional planning in communities for which Principal, Steve Cecil, was a round table participant and an update on our new office space. We hope you enjoy Plan Views, if you do please consider passing it along to a colleague.
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Put Your City on the Map
WalkBoston is accepting proposals from municipalities to
participate in a project to increase walking by providing neighborhood walking maps and creating safer walking conditions. Four
municipalities will be selected for the project. WalkBoston will work with the officials from the selected communities to develop a local walking map that illustrates walking routes
and themes that reflect the strengths of the city or town. Download the RFP now. Proposals due May 15.
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The Cecil Group has Crossed the Channel
 2009 brought an exciting change of location for The Cecil
Group. After a decade of residing in Boston's Back Bay, The Cecil
Group has uprooted itself to Boston's Fort Point Channel district. Our new home
provides us with an energizing light filled space, creative inspiration from
exposed brick walls, a timber ceiling and oil paint smudged columns and a new
outlook - that is, a spectacular view of Boston's skyline. If you haven't
taken note of our new address yet, it's 241 A Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA
02210.
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Them and Us
 Late last year Founder and Principal, Steve Cecil, participated in a round
table discussion for ArchitectureBoston
titled Them and Us. The article explores the implications of institutional expansion in traditional
neighborhoods.
Increasingly, the interests of institutions and the
communities in which they are located are focused on patterns of growth and
development. The traditional limits of institutional campus planning and
community development activities are becoming intermeshed. Institutions need a
high quality setting to attract and retain staff, patrons, clients, and
students, a requirement that the community in which the institution is located
provides.
As institutions grow and change, they often outgrow
the confines of their campuses, requiring the acquisition of more land, usually
within the same community they are already located in. While this creates
opportunity for both the institution and the neighborhood it can create
conflict as neighborhoods and institutions seek to balance goals. Click here to
read Them and Us and learn more about the thoughts surrounding institutional
growth within our communities.
The discussion was led by
Elizabeth Padjen FAIA, editor of ArchitectureBoston
and included participants Rebecca Barnes FAIA, Director of Strategic Growth
at Brown University, Omar Blaik, CEO and Founder of U3 Ventures, Kevin Carragee
PHD, Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Suffolk
University, Alison Pultinas, member of the board of Mission Hill Fenway
Neighborhood, Kairos Shen, Chief Planner of the City of Boston and David
Spillane AICP RIBA, Principal and Director of Urban Design at Goody Clancy.
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Recognition
The Cecil Group shared recognition with the Aquidneck Island
Planning Commission this past January at the Rhode Island APA Awards and
Holiday Party for its work on the Aquidneck Island West Side Master Plan. The
plan, completed by The Cecil Group in November of 2005, won the award for
Outstanding Comprehensive Planning Project. The plan focused on resolving key
growth issues and creating strategies for land use, transportation, economic
development, sustainable growth and the protection of natural and cultural
resources. Click here to read the award winning Master Plan.
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The first quarter of 2009 was a successful one. We moved our office, experienced growth in a down economy and brought new and interesting projects on board. Without our strong client base this never would have been possible, so to all of our clients - Thank You.
Sincerely,
The Cecil Group
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