March 2013 – NEW ORLEANS – The Mayors’ Institute on City Design was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana from March 6-8 for its 55^th National Session.  Hosted by Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu and the City of New Orleans, the event was attended by Mayor David Condon of Spokane, Washington; Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore, Maryland; Mayor Paul Soglin of Madison, Wisconsin; Mayor Tom Tait of Anaheim, California; Mayor Molly Joseph Ward of Hampton, Virginia; Mayor Miro Weinberger of Burlington, Vermont; and Mayor Sharon Wolcott of Surprise, Arizona.  Experts in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, real estate finance, economic development, transportation, and urban design joined the mayors in the two-and-a-half-day discussions and offered pragmatic advice on how the mayors could approach the urban design challenges facing each of their cities.

The 55^th National session began with a tour of downtown New Orleans led by William Gilchrist, FAIA, Director of Place-Based Planning for the City of New Orleans. The tour showcased significant downtown projects that have been instrumental to New Orleans’ transformation after Hurricane Katrina, including the Lafitte Greenway, Iberville housing, the new hospital district, and the Union Passenger Terminal Station.  Later that evening, a reception and dinner were held at the Patrick F. Taylor Library at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, located in the burgeoning warehouse district.  Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu welcomed participants to the city of New Orleans after remarks were made by the Mayors’ Institute on City Design Director, Trinity Simons and the United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran.

Burlington, Vermont Mayor Weinberger initiated design discussions the following morning by presenting on his city’s efforts to increase accessibility to the Lake Champlain waterfront.  The city has explored Cherry Street as a potential connection to the Lake, which could provide a second access point to the water in addition to College Street.  The resource team commended the Mayor on his efforts to gather community insights and suggested improving the design of Battery Street, particularly at its intersection with Cherry Street.

Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Paul Soglin followed with a discussion of the East Washington Avenue corridor.  With its terminus at the regal capitol building, the city would like to strengthen the light industrial corridor to become a mixed-use gateway into the heart of the city.  The resource team offered advice on how to take advantage of the industrial character of the area through branding, signage, and public art opportunities along the corridor.

Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake presented on her city’s efforts to improve the area around the stadiums and new waterfront casino.  The city is working to ensure that the new casino and corresponding parking facility are integrated into the fabric of the surrounding industrial area and near by stadiums.  The resource team offered suggestions on how to strengthen the pedestrian experience along Warner and Russell Streets through retail opportunities, streetscaping improvements, and waterfront accessibility.

Spokane, Washington Mayor Condon concluded Thursday’s discussions with a presentation on the Lincoln Heights District Center.  The city would like to work with the existing property owner to improve the strip mall shopping center to include a mix of uses and densities.  The resource team offered suggestions on potential program and complimentary uses for the site along with improving streetscape connections to the surrounding neighborhood.

Anaheim, California Mayor Tait commenced discussions on the final day of the Institute by presenting his city’s efforts to transition the Platinum Triangle district into the downtown of Orange County.  The city has many assets in the district including a transit center under construction and various sporting and entertainment venues.  The resource team focused on how to improve physical connections between these amenities and the adjacent neighborhoods.

Hampton, Virginia Mayor Ward followed with a presentation on the Goodyear redevelopment site located in the downtown of the city.  Several concepts have been designed over the years for the site, but none have been implemented.  The resource team offered suggestions on how to catalyze implementation of plans through existing groups and by increasing connectivity downtown and to the harborfront.

New Orleans, Louisiana Mayor Landrieu presented on his city’s efforts to redevelop Charity Hospital into a civic headquarters for the city.  The historically significant hospital is no longer able to function as its original use but the city is looking for a way to reuse the main structure of the building, potentially for city-related services.  The resource team gave guidance on phasing the redevelopment of the hospital campus while providing open space opportunities for the city.

Surprise, Arizona Mayor Wolcott concluded the Institute by presenting on her city’s efforts to improve Grand Avenue near the old town site of the city.  The city has been working on transit oriented development plans for the future of the growing Grand Avenue corridor along with significant gateway sites.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to engage the local community in the design process to help guide the future programming and needs of the site.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Candace Damon, Vice Chairman of HR&A Advisors; Julie Eizenberg, AIA, Principal at Koning Eizenberg Architecture; Norman Garrick, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut; Ana Gelabert-Sanchez, AICP, Principal of Gelabert-Sanchez & Associates; Doug Loescher, Principal of Civic Strategies Group; Stephen Luoni, Director of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center; Amit Price Patel, AIA, LEED AP, Associate at David Baker + Partners Architects; and David Rubin, ASLA, Founding Partner at Land Collective.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and the United States Conference of Mayors. The 55^th National Session was sponsored in part by United Technologies Corporation.  Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.  The Mayors’ Institute conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit www.micd.org.

NOVEMBER 1, 2012 — The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is pleased to announce an opportunity for universities and non-profit organizations to serve as partners for hosting 2013 regional Mayors’ Institute sessions. Since 1986, over 900 mayors from all 50 states have participated in sessions of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.

Many of these Institute sessions are hosted by universities and non-profit organizations around the country. The MICD is currently seeking leading design institutions to host a select group of mayors and city design experts for the purpose of strengthening our nation’s communities. The Mayors’ Institute is accepting qualifications for institutions to host future institute sessions, including three regional sessions that will be held in 2013.

Interested universities should review the Request for Qualifications.

Proposals in response to this solicitation should be emailed as a single attachment in PDF form to Trinity Simons, MICD Director, no later than 4:00 p.m. EST on December 12, 2012.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Trinity Simons, MICD Director, prior to submitting an application.

September 2012 – CHARLESTON – The Mayors’ Institute on City Design returned to Charleston, South Carolina from September 12-14 for its 54^th National Session.  Hosted by Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. and the City of Charleston, the event was attended by Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Missouri; Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford, Massachusetts; Mayor Robbie Perkins of Greensboro, North Carolina; Mayor Madeline Rogero of Knoxville, Tennessee; Mayor Pedro E. Segarra of Hartford, Connecticut; Mayor Greg Stanton of Phoenix, Arizona; Mayor Teresa Tomlinson of Columbus, Georgia; and Mayor Beth Van Duyne of Irving, Texas.  Experts in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, real estate, transportation, urban design, and sustainability joined the mayors in the two-and-a-half-day discussions and offered pragmatic advice on how the mayors could approach the urban design challenges facing each of their cities.

The 54^th National sessions began with a tour of Downtown Charleston led by Michael Maher, Director of the City of Charleston’s Civic Design Center. The tour showcased major downtown sites that have been instrumental to Charleston’s transformation as a destination city, including King Street, the waterfront park, and the historic preservation efforts of many of the city’s residences.  Later that evening, a reception and dinner were held at City Gallery, which prominently features Charleston’s waterfront revitalization.  Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. presented on the role of design in Charleston’s transformation after remarks were made by the National Endowment for the Arts Design Director Jason Schupbach, Mayors’ Institute on City Design Director, Trinity Simons; the United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran; and American Architectural Foundation President & CEO Ronald Bogle, Hon. AIA.

Kansas City Mayor James began design discussions the following morning, presenting on his city’s on-going efforts to improve the 18^th and Vine Historic District.  The city is looking for additional ways to attract visitors and residents to the area beyond the existing American Jazz Museum, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Gem Theater, and the Black Archives.  To address this, the resource team offered suggestions on how to increase neighborhood retail amenities and better connect the district to downtown along 18^th Street.

Irving Mayor Van Duyne followed with a discussion of the Las Colinas Urban Center, a major employment district within the region.  The city is looking to create an updated vision for the area that includes a greater density of retail, housing, office, and recreational opportunities.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to create a strong identity for the urban center and compliment the vision through programming, marketing, and branding of the area.

New Bedford Mayor Mitchell presented on his city’s efforts to redevelop State Pier, an eight-acre industrial site along the waterfront.  The city hopes to take advantage of the reconstruction of Route 18 into a multi-modal boulevard to better connect the site with the downtown.  The resource team offered various short and long-term design strategies to activate the site and attract tourists and locals to the waterfront.

Phoenix Mayor Stanton concluded Thursday’s discussions with a presentation on the city’s vacant lot activation strategy.  The city hopes to showcase various temporary vacant lot revitalization techniques on a prominent site in the midtown area in hopes of inspiring positive change throughout the city.  The resource team offered several suggestions of uses on the site and encouraged the Mayor to continue engaging adjacent stakeholders.

Knoxville Mayor Rogero initiated discussions on the final day of the Institute by presenting on her efforts to strengthen connections to the Old City District.  The district has many historical assets but remains disconnected from the rest of the city by extensive highway infrastructure.  As such, the resource team focused on how to improve pedestrian and vehicular circulation and connectivity throughout the district.

Hartford Mayor Segarra followed with a presentation on Albany Avenue, a local arterial corridor within the city.  The city hopes to take advantage of future sewer separation and streetscaping projects to reimagine the corridor.  The resource team offered suggestions on how to maximize and focus these investments along Albany Avenue to improve connectivity and the multi-modal experience.

Columbus Mayor Tomlinson presented on her city’s efforts to revitalize historic mill neighborhoods along the Chattahoochee River.  The River is poised to become the longest urban whitewater course in the world, and with this conversion, the city hopes to improve adjacent neighborhoods.  The resource team offered guidance on strengthening major corridors within the neighborhoods to provide better connections to the river.

Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins concluded the Institute by presenting on his city’s efforts to create a performing arts center and encompassing cultural district in the downtown.  The Mayor focused his presentation on the importance of locating the potential performing arts center adjacent to existing cultural assets downtown.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to continue with this idea, ensuring that he engage stakeholders in the design process.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Rodrigo Abela, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP BD + C, Principal at Gustafson Guthrie Nichol; The Honorable Stephen T. Ayers, FAIA, LEED AP, Architect of the Capitol; Barbara Brown Wilson, PhD, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at the University of Texas; Ellen Dunham-Jones, AIA, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the Georgia Tech School of Architecture; Timothy Griffin, AIA, Director of Urban Design at the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation; Paul Okamoto, LEED AP, Partner at Okamoto Saijo Architecture; Catherine Sloss Crenshaw, President and CEO of Sloss Real Estate Company; and Jennifer Toole, AICP, ASLA, President of Toole Design Group.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and the United States Conference of Mayors. The 54^th National Session was sponsored in part by United Technologies Corporation.  Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.  The Mayors’ Institute conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit www.micd.org.

New Mayors’ Institute on City Design Director Named

 Washington, D.C., June 25, 2012 Trinity Simons has been named director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD), a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) leadership initiative in partnership with The United States Conference of Mayors and the American Architectural Foundation. Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing more than 900 mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.

Simons joins MICD from Enterprise Community Partners, in Wellesley, Mass., where she was a program officer for national design initiatives and directed the Rose Architectural Fellowship. Enterprise’s mission is to create opportunity for low- and moderate-income people through affordable housing in diverse, thriving communities.

Prior to joining Enterprise, Simons was a leader in the national design community through her work as national vice president of the American Institute of Architecture Students. She has also served on the Boards of Directors of the National Architectural Accrediting Board, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In addition, Simons is currently treasurer of the Association for Community Design, a national network of individuals, organizations, and institutions committed to increasing the capacity of planning and design professions to better serve communities.

Simons directly demonstrated her strong commitment to the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and its mission while serving as MICD program manager from 2005 to 2007 and as a delegate to the 2011 National Mayors Summit on City Design. Held in Chicago in April 2011, the Summit marked the 25^th anniversary of MICD and brought together more than 300 alumni mayors, federal officials, and design professionals for a three-day event focused on the contemporary challenges and opportunities of city design.

Simons received her bachelor of architecture degree with high honors from the University of Arkansas and her master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, she focused her studies on city design and real estate development.

“The level of applicants for the director’s position was outstanding, and the selection was difficult,” said Ronald E. Bogle, president and chief executive officer of AAF.  “However, Trinity was a standout in the process, and we know she will be an excellent director for the program.”

On Simons selection, Tom Cochran, chief executive officer and executive director of The United States Conference of Mayors said, “The Conference is delighted to have Trinity back on the MICD staff as our new director. I am confident that she will represent the program and our partnership with distinction. We all look forward to the fresh leadership she will bring to this outstanding program.”

“MICD’s leadership in helping mayors find creative, innovative solutions to their most pressing challenges is unparalleled,” said Simons. “I’m delighted to return to this program and work with our nation’s mayors and top designers to explore ways design can impact the health of our cities and regions.”

“For more than a quarter century, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design has helped hundreds of mayors to use design as a catalyst for vibrancy, livability, sustainability, and economic success in their communities,” said Jason Schupbach, NEA director of design. “We look forward to working with Trinity and our partners at the American Architectural Foundation and United States Conference of Mayors to continue to elevate the impact of the Mayors’ Institute in cities across America.”

Press Release PDF

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. www.arts.gov.

About The United States Conference of Mayors

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The USCM promotes effective national urban/suburban policy, strengthens federal/city relationships, ensures that federal policy meets urban needs, provides mayors with leadership and management tools, and creates a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information. www.usmayors.org,

About the American Architectural Foundation

Established in 1943, the American Architectural Foundation (AAF), is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. AAF is dedicated to the vibrant social, economic, and environmental future of cities. In the past decade, AAF has provided design leadership training and technical assistance to hundreds of mayors, public-private partnerships, education leaders, business leaders, and other local decision makers in the design process. During this time, AAF has worked directly with leaders in every major metropolitan region and most second-tier cities in the United States. www.archfoundation.org.

Media Contact:

Mark de Groh
American Architectural Foundation
Tel.: 202.787.1008 | mdegroh@archfoundation.org

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May 2012 – ST. LOUIS – The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, for the first time in its history, headed to St. Louis, Missouri from April 25-27 for its 53^rd National Session.  Hosted by Mayor Francis G. Slay and the City of St. Louis, the event was attended by Mayor Peter Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana; Mayor Edna Jackson of Savannah, Georgia; Mayor Jean Quan of Oakland, California; Mayor Shelley Welsch of University City, Missouri; and Mayor William Wild of Westland, Michigan.  Experts in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, real estate, transportation, and historic preservation joined the mayors in the two-and-a-half-day discussions and offered pragmatic advice on how the mayors could approach the urban design challenges facing each of their cities.

The 53^rd National Session began with a tour of downtown St. Louis and the Old North neighborhood, led by John Hoal, AICP, Principal of H3 Studio and Chair of the Urban Design program at Washington University.  The tour showcased major projects instrumental to the renaissance of the City of St. Louis in downtown as well as in surrounding neighborhoods.  The tour’s first stop was CityGarden, a two-block-long sculpture park along the Gateway Mall constructed in 2007 featuring native plantings.  The group then walked to the offices of Bryan Cave, LLP to gain an overall perspective of the St. Louis Gateway Arch grounds from 350 feet above ground.  Here, the group learned about the CityArchRiver 2015 initiative, which will better weave the Gateway Arch into the fabric of the city.  The final tour stop was the Old North neighborhood, which received the 2011 National Award for Overall Excellence in Smart Growth Achievement from the Environmental Protection Agency.  Later that evening, a reception was held in the rotunda of the St. Louis City Hall, where remarks were made by National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman; American Architectural Foundation President & CEO Ronald Bogle, Hon. AIA; the United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director; and Mayor Francis G. Slay.

Oakland Mayor Quan began design discussions the following morning, presenting on her city’s efforts to revitalize the Kaiser Convention Center and create a cultural district for the city.  The city wants to ensure that the prominent building is reused with compatible uses while taking advantage of current improvements along 12^th Street and Lake Merritt.  To achieve this, the resource team offered suggestions on how to activate the surrounding site of the Convention Center while creating a list of complimentary uses for the building.

South Bend Mayor Buttigieg followed with a discussion of the St. Joseph Riverfront adjacent to downtown.  The city wants to attract residents and students affiliated with nearby colleges to use existing riverfront amenities while catalyzing additional development.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to capitalize on existing recreational successes, such as the East Race Waterway, to inform a vision and framework for reengaging the riverfront in the city of South Bend.

Savannah Mayor Jackson presented on her city’s efforts to improve traffic congestion on DeRenne Avenue while increasing the quality of life for nearby residents.  The city hopes to improve flow of traffic along DeRenne Avenue by introducing a new street along Poplar Place Boulevard.  As such, the resource team offered an approach to improving connectivity in the area through increased amenities and collaboration of stakeholders.

Westland Mayor Wild started discussions on the final day of the Institute by presenting on his efforts to relocate City Hall while strengthening a vision for a town center.  Due to water damage and degrading site conditions, the city must vacate the existing City Hall and relocate to a new building in the near future.  The resource team offered several alternative scenarios to relocation and siting of the new City Hall to promote the development of a civic center for Westland.

University City Mayor Welsch concluded the Institute by presenting on her city’s efforts to improve the pedestrian experience on Olive Boulevard while creating an identity for the specialty retail that resides along the street.  The Mayor focused her discussion on the regional draw of Olive Boulevard resulting from the abundance of international food stores and restaurants.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to support a plan for the area that is sensitive to the existing context and character of Olive Boulevard, while complimenting other retail corridors within the city.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Peter Cook, AIA, Principal at Davis Brody Bond, LLP; Betsy Jackson, President of The Urban Agenda, Inc.; Tim Love, AIA, Principal at Utile, Inc.; Steven McKay, Associate AIA, LEED AP, Senior Principal at DLR Group; Bonnie Nelson, Principal of Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates; Margie Ruddick, Principal of Margie Ruddick Landscape Architecture; and Shin-pei Tsay, LEED AP, Director of Cities and Transportation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and the United States Conference of Mayors. The 53^rd National Session was sponsored in part by United Technologies Corporation.  Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.  The Mayors’ Institute conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit www.micd.org.

The 52^nd National Session began with a tour of downtown Las Vegas, led by Flinn Fagg, AICP, Planning Director for the City of Las Vegas.  The tour showcased major downtown projects that are instrumental to the renaissance of the city of Las Vegas, including the Fremont East District, the Neon Museum and Boneyard, the Mob Museum, the Bonneville Transit Center, and the soon to open Symphony Park, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and Las Vegas City Hall.  Later that evening, a reception and dinner were held at The Arts Factory, which is located in a burgeoning arts district in the city and showcased works by local artists.  At dinner, remarks were made by National Endowment for the Arts Design Director Jason Schupbach; Mayors’ Institute on City Design Director Story Bellows; American Architectural Foundation President & CEO Ronald Bogle, Hon. AIA; the United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran; Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman; and United Technologies Corporation Manager of Global Community Affairs Andrew Olivastro.

Denver Mayor Hancock initiated design discussions the following morning, presenting on his city’s efforts to capitalize on Denver International Airport as an aerotropolis.  The city wants to ensure walkability and implement sustainable design principles at potential transit stops near the airport along the FasTracks Eastern Line.  To achieve this, the resource team offered suggestions on how to promote regional cooperation and appropriate land uses that respond to existing context while complimenting the functions of the airport.

Tulsa Mayor Bartlett followed with a discussion of the Arkansas River development adjacent to downtown.  The city wants to attract development along the riverfront across from the city skyline while improving exiting trail and recreational amenities.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to invest in public realm improvements, including strengthening pedestrian connections, which will engage the right developer for the land.

Maui Mayor Arakawa presented on his city’s effort to revitalize the Wailuku town center.  The city hopes to reinvent Wailuku town and improve complex existing parking conditions in downtown through a new parking structure.  As such, the resource team offered a mixed-use approach to programming the structure in tandem with flexible parking strategies to reduce congestion and promote walkability in the town center.

Raleigh Mayor McFarlane described her city’s initiative to develop the historic Union Depot and Warehouse District.  As this area transitions into a multimodal hub and becomes more attractive to developers, businesses, and residences, the city would like to maintain the character of the arts district while promoting new development opportunities.  The resource team responded with suggestions on how to prioritize key structures within the district and identify areas for future growth.

Aurora Mayor Hogan started discussions the final day of the Institute by presenting on his efforts to catalyze development on the north end of the Havana Street corridor and the Fan Fare development site.  The city is looking to incentivize development at the site to continue the retail success further south along the corridor.  The resource team offered alternative suggestions to adaptively reuse structures on the development parcels and promote public interest in the site’s development through programming strategies.

Las Vegas Mayor Goodman discussed her city’s efforts to improve Eastern Avenue, a major north-south arterial corridor in the city.  The Mayor focused her presentation on the Hispanic demographics of the area and the cultural strengths of the corridor.  The resource team highlighted civic engagement strategies to gain integral community input on corridor improvements to increase walkability and promote comfortable gathering opportunities along the avenue.

Cheyenne Mayor Kaysen concluded the Institute by presenting on his city’s planning efforts to revitalize the downtown.  The Mayor focused his discussion on the many opportunities for redevelopment in the city center, including adaptively reusing the strong historic building stock.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to focus on a particular area of downtown to implement design and development efforts, which will catalyze future growth in the heart of the city.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Steve Benz, PE, LEED AP, Director of Green Infrastructure at OLIN; Reese Fayde, President of RFA Investments; Gabriel Metcalf, Executive Director of San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association; Julie Snow, FAIA, Principal of Julie Snow Architects; Alma Du Solier, Principal at AECOM; William Wenk, FASLA, Principal of Wenk Associates; and Christopher Yake, Senior Development Project Manager at Metro.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and the United States Conference of Mayors. The 52^nd National Session was sponsored in part by United Technologies Corporation.  Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities.  The Mayors’ Institute conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit www.micd.org.

The 51^st National Session began with a tour of downtown Charleston, led by Michael Maher, Director of the City of Charleston’s Civic Design Center.  The tour showcased major downtown sites that have been instrumental to Charleston’s transformation as a destination city, including King Street, the waterfront park, and the historic preservation efforts of many of the city’s residences.  Later that evening, a reception and dinner were held at City Gallery, which prominently features Charleston’s waterfront revitalization.  Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. presented on the role of design in Charleston’s transformation after remarks were made by the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman, Mayors’ Institute on City Design Director, Story Bellows; American Architectural Foundation President & CEO Ronald Bogle, Hon. AIA; and the United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran.

Lexington Mayor Gray initiated the design discussions the following morning, presenting on his city’s efforts to re-imagine an area of downtown called the Arena, Arts, and Entertainment District. The City wants to ensure connectivity and accessibility of the district to adjacent neighborhoods, Town Branch Creek, and the University of Kentucky and has organized an extensive civic engagement process to inform the urban design of the district. To achieve this, the resource team offered suggestions on how to activate surrounding areas with arena-related activities.

Anchorage Mayor Sullivan followed with a discussion of Ship Creek, a natural resource amenity adjacent to downtown. The City wants to improve the trail system along the Creek as well as improve overall connectivity of the waterfront to downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. The resource team encouraged the Mayor to pursue low-cost alternatives to trail development that can be upgraded over time while enhancing the historical and ecological context of the Creek.

Detroit Mayor Bing presented on his city’s efforts to revitalize the Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport. The City hopes that airport improvements will increase local economic development, particularly in the surrounding neighborhoods. The airport is city-owned and is required to stay operable by the Federal Aviation Administration.  To maximize the assets of the airport, the resource team focused their comments on how to diversify the usage of the airport through mixed uses and programming.

Fort Worth Mayor Price described her city’s efforts to encourage revitalization of the West 7^th Urban Village.  This area has been successful in attracting several new mixed use developments but they are disconnected from each other and, at times, from the nearby museum district.  As such, the resource team focused their suggestions on how to create better accessibility within the Urban Village by unifying the vision and urban design of the area.

Louisville Mayor Fischer started discussions on the final day of the Institute by presenting on his initiative to create an education district south of downtown and north of Churchill Downs.  The Mayor highlighted the numerous institutional assets located within the district and it’s potential to be the innovation heart of the City.  The resource team offered suggestions on how to create a common vision for the district to guide transportation, housing, and public realm improvements in the area.

Providence Mayor Taveras discussed his city’s efforts to redevelop land that has opened up as a result of the Interstate 195 realignment.  The Mayor focused his presentation on six acres of land on the east side of the Providence River that maintains excellent views of the waterfront and downtown.  The resource team highlighted the need for new development to be contextually appropriate and responsive to the fine grain of the adjacent neighborhood, including the street connections and block sizes.

Tampa Mayor Buckhorn presented his city’s efforts to redevelop the Old Federal Courthouse, which resides on the Zack Street Promenade of the Arts in the downtown area.  Although the Courthouse has been vacant for several years, the Mayor recognizes its historic significance and ability to energize the Promenade if put back to use.  The resource team offered advice on how to fund rehabilitation of the Courthouse while also engaging local stakeholders and institutions in the process of developing the Promenade as an asset for the City.

Minneapolis Mayor Rybak concluded the Institute by presenting on his city’s planning efforts in North Minneapolis, particularly after a spring tornado caused significant property and tree damage.  The Mayor focused his discussion on Penn Avenue, an important north-south arterial connection in the City.  The resource team encouraged the Mayor to focus on an identity for Penn Avenue that considers the context and demographics of the area to guide appropriate transit and housing development.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal at Deborah Berke & Partners Architects; Mark Dawson, FASLA, Principal at Sasaki Associates; Daniel Hernandez, LEED AP, Managing Director of the Planning Practice at Jonathan Rose Companies; John Inglish, Chief Executive Officer of the Utah Transit Authority; Michael P. Kelly, Administrative Receiver at the Philadelphia Housing Authority; Nicholas de Monchaux, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of California at Berkeley; Kennedy Smith, Principal at the Community Land Use and Economics Group, LLC; and Peg Staeheli, LEED AP, Principal at SvR Design Company.

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and the United States Conference of Mayors.  Since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. The Mayors’ Institute conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, and for more information, visit www.micd.org.

Chicago, April 27-29, 2011

Event Brings Together Mayors, Obama Cabinet Members, Top Design Professionals, and Special Guests To Examine the State of U.S. Cities and the Power of Arts & Design

Key sessions to be live webcast**

Washington, D.C. — Mayors and design and development experts will convene at the Chicago Hilton April 27-29 for a National Summit on City Design to identify challenges, opportunities and funding sources for cities that work well. Participants will examine the power of arts and design to transform cities while celebrating the Mayors Institute of City Design (MICD) – a collaboration of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), and the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) – and honoring the design legacy of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

For 25 years, MICD has been the only organization that provides mayors an opportunity to learn how smart design can help to holistically solve problems in communities to create livable cities. Smart design is, fundamentally, a language of problem solving and through MICD, mayors learn to use smart design to identify ways to creatively reduce costs through innovation in areas such as public transit, downtown development infrastructure and sustainability.

During the two-day summit, mayors and design professionals will come together to discuss the successes and lessons from MICD, as well as the topics key to the future of American cities. The highlight of the session will be on its final day, April 29, where more than 40 mayors and 80 design professionals and scholars will honor Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley as he receives the Joseph P. Riley Award for Leadership in Urban Design. As Chicago’s longest serving mayor, Daley is described by UCSM’s CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran as a “Mayor’s Mayor.”

On the first day, April 28, the mayors and design experts will discuss design in relationship with struggling budgets and growing demands for transportation, development, and other challenges. On April 29th, Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Charleston, South Carolina Mayor Joseph Riley, along with Marilyn Taylor, Chris Leinberger, Toni Griffin, and other design professionals, will present their joint conclusions to a panel of federal officials, including NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Transportation Under Secretary Roy W. Kienitz.

Also on April 28, summit participants will release an NEA Research Report that measures the economic impact of performing arts institutions on local economies and details the degree of citizens’ investment in the arts. Among the report’s findings is that the U.S. performing arts industry is supported by the nearly 8,840 organizations and generates nearly $13.6 billion in annual revenues.

The opening keynote address, titled “Culture Now: The Contemporary American Condition,” will be given by Thom Mayne, of Morphosis Architects and President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Through his work, Mayne seeks to spark transformative change on struggling U.S. cities.

SUMMIT SCHEDULE

** Indicates live webcasting of key sessions. Please join the Twitter conversation at #MICD50 and watch the daily mini interviews with mayors at www.usmayors.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

9:00 –10:45 a.m. **OPENING PLENARY

Welcome

• Jason Schupbach, NEA Design Director & Summit Moderator
• Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
• Rocco Landesman, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts
• Elizabeth Kautz, Mayor, City of Burnsville and President, U.S. Conference of Mayors
• Ronald Bogle, President and CEO, American Architectural Foundation

The Legacy of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design

• Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor, City of Charleston

Video Presentation: 25 Years of the Mayors’ Institute of City Design

Keynote Address: Thom Mayne, Morphosis Architects

“Culture Now: The Contemporary American Condition”

11:00—11:45 a.m. PRESS CONFERENCE

Release of NEA Report that Shows the Tremendous Economic Impact of the Arts on Communities – “Time and Money: Using Federal Data to Explore the

Value of Selected Arts Activities.”

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. **LUNCH

How Design Has Shaped Chicago

• Lee Bey, Executive Director, Chicago Central Area Committee
• Gerald Adelmann, President and CEO, Openlands
• Barbara Gaines, Artistic Director, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

2:00 – 4:15 p.m. AFTERNOON FORUMS: The following forums take place simultaneously.

Design and Transportation: Parking, alternative transportation, transforming old transportation infrastructure, greenways and blueways. Panel includes:

• Manny Diaz, Former Mayor, City of Miami, USCM Past President (moderator)
• Gabe Klein, Transportation Expert
• Jeff Tumlin, Principal, Nelson\Nygaard
• Peter Park, Manager of Community Planning & Development, City of Denver

Roundtable Facilitator: Marilyn Taylor, Dean, University of Pennsylvania School of Design

Design and Development: Transit-oriented development, downtown development, historic preservation and adaptive reuse, creative placemaking, leveraging waterfronts. Panel includes:

• Michael A. Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia (moderator)
• Mary Margaret Jones, President/Senior Principal, Hargreaves Associates
• Richard Baron, Co-founder/Chairman, McCormack Baron Salazar
• Mitchell Silver, Director, Department of City Planning & Urban Design, City of Raleigh

Roundtable Facilitator: Chris Leinberger, Visiting Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution

Design and 21st Century Challenges: Sustainable infrastructure, aging in place, smart cities, climate adaptation, safety and security. Panel includes:

• Joseph P. Riley, Jr. (moderator)
• Teddy Cruz, Estudio Teddy Cruz
• John Tolva, Director of Citizenship and Technology, IBM
• David Burney, Commissioner, Department of Design and Construction, City of New York

Roundtable Facilitator: Toni Griffin, President, Urban Design and Planning for the American City, Adjunct Associate Professor, Harvard GSD

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

9:00 – 11:30 a.m. **PRESENTATIONS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Refining the Message: Working Session on Key Challenges and Opportunities in

Creating Complete Communities

• Jason Schupbach (moderator)
• Manny Diaz
• Marilyn Taylor
• Michael A. Nutter
• Chris Leinberger
• Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
• Toni Griffin

Forum Recommendations and Federal Response

• Rocco Landesman
• Shaun Donovan, Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Roy W. Kienitz, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
• Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles, USCM Vice President

11:30 a.m. PRESS AVAILABILITY

Participating Mayors to Honor The Design Legacy of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. **LUNCH: The Design Legacy of Mayor Richard M. Daley

Moderator, Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director

Remarks of Appreciation of Mayor Daley:

• USCM President Elizabeth Kautz, Mayor, City of Burnsville
• USCM Vice President Antonio R. Villaraigosa
• USCM Second Vice President Michael A. Nutter, Mayor City of Philadelphia

Presentation of Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Award for Leadership in Urban Design to Mayor Daley (Annual Award Sponsored by USCM and AAF for Mayors who display leadership in City Design).

• USCM President Elizabeth Kautz, Mayor, City of Burnsville, USCM President
• Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Mayor, City of Charleston, USCM Past President
• Ronald Bogle, President and CEO, AAF

Remarks by Richard M. Daley, Mayor, City of Chicago, USCM Past President

Keynote Address by Rocco Landesman, Chairman, NEA

Capital Public Radio Features Downtown Design

Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 2:58pm PST – Last Modified: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 3:02pm PST

Top thinkers on urban planning and design, who weighed in Wednesday on design options for a revamped J-K-L corridor, agreed that Sacramento’s top planning priority for the central city should be figuring out what to do about the Westfield Downtown Plaza.

The struggling mall would be, in the expert panel’s view, a good place to start — or “ground zero” — in planning efforts for downtown, said landscape architect Mark Dawson of Sasaki Associates in Boston. “It’s the right place to put a lot of energy.”

Read more: Westfield Plaza key to downtown renaissance | Sacramento Business Journal