URBAN PLANNING PORTFOLIO
LILLIAN SIDER
WORK EXPERIENCE
COLLABO Planning Intern | Chicago, Illinois
August 2024 - December 2024
Worked directly with public housing sites and residents, developed federallyfunded Choice Neighborhood plans, created 3D models and sketch graphics, conducted shareholder and resident engagement meetings
UEMI Planning Intern | Berlin, Germany
January 2024 - April 2024
Wrote electric vehicle feasibility reports, worked on gender mainstreaming in mobility, coordinated with international coworkers and clients, conducted data research, organized funding methods, mapped mobility and biking patterns, designed a bike share system and kiosk.
Ayres Urban Planning Intern | Fort Collins, CO
August 2022 - Present
Updated client graphics and reports, analyzed and edited code language, participated in Main Street efforts, wrote requests for proposals, worked with federal and state grants, analyzed plats and neighborhood site plans, conducted data research.
Community Development Intern | Sharonville, OH
January 2022 - April 2022
Updated city ward map, updated zoning code map, created transit and signage map, managed phones to process building permits and schedule inspections, organized monthly Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals meetings.
EDUCATION
University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning | Minor in Sociology Class of 2025 | 3.99 GPA
CONTACT
siderlf@mail.uc.edu
(630) 818-6531
28w705 Rogers Avenue
Warrenville IL, 60555
SKILLS
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Microsoft Suite
ArcGIS Pro
ArcMap
SketchUp
Hand Sketching
AWARDS
◊ Segoe Scholarship
◊ Dean’s List
◊ Cincinnatus Scholarship
◊ Seal of Biliteracy
◊ Pen and Quill Award
◊ Illinois State Scholar Award
◊ National Honor Society
The initial base map was created using Google API data to find all public and commercial destinations located within the municipal boundary. These were cross-referenced with existing mobility hubs, rail lines, and bus stops to determine where social centers were clustered, with the philosophy that mobility hubs should be integrated with these social spaces for maximum usage and to promote livability surrounding mobility systems.
For the second map, cluster points were placed in areas with larger collections of destination points. Areas with a higher number of assets were given priority, but given the constraint of choosing only six hub locations, an even spread of hubs across Rudersdal also became important. The red cluster points are the final recommendations for mobility hub locations to maximize social and connectivity benefits.
This project was completed for the Municipality of Rudersdal, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. The client sought a greater plan for determining where to place mobility hubs, and an eventual design for a bike sharing program. By using a method guided by comprehensive data about local attractions and social patterns, these maps were created to show the most logical place for mobility hubs.
Out of six recommended hub locations, four had existing mobility structures. The client then asked that a small bike station be designed for an easily implementable mobility strategy at those existing locations. The design is simple to act within budget constraints,
and is built for a capacity of around eight bicycles. Through enhanced signage, information on the bike share program is readily available. The sign layout was meant to give consistent theming to each bike share station, and information is clearly provided about local attractions,
best routes, and continued efforts for mobility. The size and simplicity of this design means it can be easily applied in other hub locations for a more complete overall bike share connection.
02.
English woods is a neighborhood in Cincinnati that has sat mostly vacant for over 20 years. In an effort to rejuvenate the neighborhood, we were tasked with creating a site master plan. The final plan was influenced by the need to have a commercial district and a mix of housing options. The road layout is gridded to make use of as much of the space as possible given the steep slopes surrounding the neighborhood. Traditional blocks also made the neighborhood easier to navigate. Green space was given to apartment residents and senior housing facilities to combat the lack of private yards.
The goal of this design was to achieve density and an active downtown while also considering the surrounding context and needs of the community.
Concept Land Use
Senior Housing
Single Family Housing
Multi-Family Housing
Apartments
Commercial
Institutional
Green Space
Open Commercial Space
Parking Lot
Basic concept planning and diagramming allowed for a more complete understanding of the site. In the concept, the aim was to make the mix of housing stock apparent at a glance. It also highlighted major through-ways and connections to make the most of the given space and move people through it as efficiently as possible.
Further breaking down the final design showed its key aspects. Connections, block patterns, and public spaces are the main elements that a resident or user of the space will take note of. In this design, the connections and block patterns are in a grid for easier wayfinding, but less dense uses are place on streets that lead to a dead end or curve. This should cut down on traffic moving through these areas for reduced noise.
While public spaces do not appear plentiful, the entire site is buffered by intense forest, which will contain a few pathways and create a buffer for wind and noise as well.
03
.The Mill Creek Trail project was a group effort to restore the natural environment of the Mill Creek in Cincinnati and transform it into a space with a strong identity. Our group decided to emphasis the local tourism opportunity and destination-making aspects of design. We split our solutions into five categories: connection, ecology, growth, recreation, and housing protection.
These strategies are shown spatially on the rendering below. Alongside these strategies was the actual creation of the trail, which was split into two phases as shown on the next page. Phase one would be the clean-up of the existing path and the repair of natural systems. Phase two would include more design-focused work which would transform the trail into a destination.
Strengths
1. Existing storefronts that have been consistently occupied
2. Open park space for social gatherings
3. Proximity to residential areas
4. Proximity to open space
5. Social gathering buildings
Weaknesses
1. Vacant commercial buildings
2. Poorly used open space
3. Run-down store fronts
4. Unused parking lots
5. Excess amount of strip malls with parking lots
6. Unclear signage at intersections
Opportunities
1. Creating more pedestrian friendly roads
2. Adding more ammenities to existing parks
3. Reviving store fronts
4. Replacing parking lots with pop-up stores and markets
5. Removing eye sores from around social green spaces
Threats
1. Heavy traffic and thin roads make pedestrian safety low
2. Crime targeting commercial spaces
3. Vandalism targeting vacant spaces
4. Disconnect from nearby residents
.
The Warsaw Avenue commercial district in Lower Price Hill mainly faces the problem of heavy through-traffic on the road but little to no engagement with businesses or spaces on the street itself. This project
aimed to implement creative solutions that fit within the context of the rest of the neighborhood. After identifying the problems, it was determined there was a need to introduce pedestrian safety measures and create social opportunities off the street. The first problem can be
combated by adding trees and parking lanes as buffers between pedestrians and moving vehicles, which is shown further into the project. To garner more activity, parking lots could be converted into social spaces on select days to draw in locals.
Empty space locations along Warsaw Avenue
Empty space locations along Warsaw Avenue
To make pedestrians along Warsaw Avenue feel safer, the road can be narrowed with an added parking lot and a row of trees can be placed next to the sidewalk, as shown above. A dedicated parking lane also allows parking lots to be free for events. An example of a converted space. The parking lot has been dedicated to food trucks while the green space around the lot has been renovated to be more inviting for pedestrians. The green space acts as a bridge between the commercial and residential areas of East Price Hill. A rendering of the same space shown above but used for a farmers market instead of food trucks.
To make pedestrians along Warsaw Avenue feel safer, the road can be narrowed with an added parking lot and a row of trees can be placed next to the sidewalk, as shown above. A dedicated parking lane also allows parking lots to be free for events. An example of a converted space. The parking lot has been dedicated to food trucks while the green space around the lot has been renovated to be more inviting for pedestrians. The green space acts as a bridge between the commercial and residential areas of East Price Hill. A rendering of the same space shown above but used for a farmers market instead of food trucks.
To make pedestrians along Warsaw Avenue feel safer, the road can be narrowed with an added parking lane. A row of trees provides a natural barrier between the pedestrians and vehicles. The parking lane can also act as added parking for the additional free events downtown.
This simple SketchUp model shows how one of these spaces can look different for each event. Having the flexible space next to existing or enhance amenities such as this park can make the area even more attractive.
05.
This ongoing project seeks to create a site plan for the neighborhood of Queensgate. What was once a vibrant area housing over 25,000 people is now an empty husk of industrial uses. With the repair of the Brent Spence Bridge, our studio was tasked with working in tandem with the highway project to redefine the neighborhood. The concept plan shown was formed from three major tenets: connection, equity, and
environmental remediation. Smaller block sizes and more complete through-ways make the area more walkable and traversable. A mix of uses provides multiple housing options, and the central linear park acts as an activity and mobility hub for the entire neighborhood. The industrial will be entirely removed and all sites will be cleaned.
The collages shown here are interpretive images that illustrate how the site may look after intervention. More complete streets, mixed use facilities, and adaptive reuse create an environment that connects to downtown but separates itself in character. A central greenway acts as a funnel for pedestrians and activities.
The concept plan led to more precise on-ground work shown on this page. Here, we refined some landscaping details and sidewalk layouts.
The site sections to the right show individual street typologies, while the sections above show the building massing in comparison to the new streets and greenways, giving the potential site plan a more human-scale perspective. While the project is not complete, the eventual site plan will be a refined image showing buildings, land use, streets, sidewalks, and landscaping.
