Projects

  • In July 2022, The Ipswich Partnership engaged Harvard Graduate School of Design and Rick Peiser, Michael D. Spear Professor of Real Estate Development at Harvard University, in building out a field study course of Ipswich, MA. 

    This field study course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the dynamics and complexities of real-world development challenges that create contemporary physical environments. The course emphasizes the integration of design and financial feasibility with aspects of projects that respond to realistic market demand and political, environmental, and other regulatory constraints—how financial implications affect planning and design, and vice versa. 

    Students will pay special attention to the community benefits of any project and its alignment with the Ipswich Community Development Plan. Major components of this plan include natural resource protection, reduced consumption and emissions, climate-resilient infrastructure, and safe transportation.

    The course is intended for real estate professionals, architects, urban planners, urban designers, and landscape architects to broaden their understanding of urban development issues and public-private development implementation strategies, as well as to improve their skills in design and financial analysis.

    The students will engage with various stakeholders in the Town of Ipswich, including: the Ipswich Partnership, a nonprofit focused on partnering with the Town and the private sector to help revitalize the downtown; planning, housing and elected officials from Town government; business and property owners; business organizations; citizen volunteers, and others on a plan to create high-quality affordable housing solutions and revitalize the Town's downtown and town center, and address other needs and concerns of the Ipswich community, while leveraging and preserving the Town's unique elements (history, coastal community, location on Ipswich River, commuter train station in downtown). The project will involve coordination with the relevant entities—including site visits, updates, and visits to Harvard by Town officials— with the end result being pragmatic recommendations that look to re-envision the town's future. 

    More generally, the course will focus on stakeholder mapping and engagement with relevant entities to build consensus, promote transparency and welcome input. 

    Three important field visits to Ipswich include, (but are not limited to):

    • September 23rd: walking tour of Ipswich with Town Historian, Gordon Harris, followed by a Q&A Lunch with Town Planner, Ethan Parsons

    • September 30th: a full day of stakeholder interviews with 22 Ipswich residents, business owners, community & conservation groups, real estate & affordable housing experts, elected officials, town committees & council members. 

    • October 23rd: Clambake on the Marsh hosted by the Ipswich Partnership and GSD Cohort for Ipswich stakeholders and members of the town’s Community Development Plan steering committee

    At the end of the semester, the course will conclude with a presentation by students to the Town on its findings and review findings/plan.

    Specific tasks will include:

    • Support the Town's Public Safety Property Re-Use Working Group, which has been tasked by the Ipswich Select Board with identifying potential reuses for the Town's Police Station building and parcel at 15 Elm Street and the Fire Station building and parcel  at 55 Central Street, both of which will become surplus property when the Town' builds a combined Public Safety Building at a new location. A survey has already been sent seeking public input on potential reuse options.

    • Look into architectural integrity

    • Explore strategies for upgrading and possibly developing portions of the public/private Hammatt Street parking lot, in coordination with the Town, private property owners and the Ipswich Partnership. Upgrading the 180 space parking lot has been a Town goal for decades, but progress has been difficult because of the multiple owners' conflicting objectives. 

    • Coordinate with the Town on developing strategies to develop housing in the vicinity of the commuter rail station on Topsfield Road, while preserving parking for commuters.

  • In June 2022, the Partnership was awarded a grant by the Commonwealth to create additional outdoor community space in downtown Ipswich. We were also successful in reaching our matching crowdfunding goal, with the target to begin the project in early 2023.

    The Placemaking project scope includes:

    • The creation of a footpath immediately behind Gathr that will connect directly to the downtown riverwalk

    • Creating additional seating and landscape improvements in the vicinity of Zumi’s and Gathr

    • Provide a landscaped “living room” in front of 40-42 Market Street that will serve as a space for more community activities, such as outdoor screenings, concerts, and a place for families and professionals to gather

    The Partnership will be working with local committees in town to beautify the space and align with current town regulations and aesthetics.