2012 Urban Sustainability Sessions
Municipalities all over the world recognize that the urban development form is the most sustainable. Greenprints’ Urban Sustainability sessions explore the human connection to sustainability at the city level, touching on issues of livability, health and economic development.
TACTICAL URBANISM: Testing Livability Improvements Before Investing in Infrastructure
Wednesday, March 7 from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
From New York to Cleveland to Fort Worth, cities are improving their livability by testing “urban interventions” before making permanent investments. Pop-up cafés, traffic lane closures and temporary markets are all examples of improvements that can start out as temporary and, if successful, be implemented permanently. Our experts will show you the latest exciting ideas, demonstrate how they improve livability and teach you how to overcome regulatory barriers.
CEUs: 2 AIA LU/ HSW/ SD Units, 2 GBCI Units
Mike Lydon, The Street Plans Collaborative
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Mike Lydon is the founding principal of The Street Plans Collaborative, an urban planning and design firm based in Miami and Brooklyn. Also an author, Mike collaborated with Andres Duany and Jeff Speck in writing The Smart Growth Manual, published by McGraw-Hill in 2009, and honored by Planetizen as one of the top-ten planning books of 2010. Mike is also the lead author of Tactical Urbanism: Short Term Action, Long-Term Change and the Open Streets Project, two research efforts contributing to Pattern Cities, a larger project about cities and the ideas they incubate. He encourages you to trade four wheels for two.
Jason Roberts, Build A Better Block
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Jason Roberts is the president and founder of the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, originator of the Better Block Project and co-founder of the Art Conspiracy and Bike Friendly Oak Cliff. In 2005, Jason developed the Art Conspiracy, a project that brought 100 artists to a blighted, vacant theatre in Dallas and readapted the space as a temporary arts venue. In 2006, Jason formed the Oak Cliff Transit Authority to revive the Dallas streetcar system. He later spearheaded the city’s efforts in garnering a $23 million dollar grant from the FTA to help reintroduce a modern streetcar system to Dallas. In 2010, Jason organized a series of “Better Block” projects, taking blighted blocks with vacant properties in southern Dallas and converting them into temporary walkable districts with pop-up businesses, bike lanes, cafe seating and landscaping. The project is now being replicated throughout the country and was recently awarded a 2011 ASLA Award.
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HURDLES TO IMPLEMENTATION: The Flow of Water & Money in Urban Redevelopment Projects
Wednesday, March 7 from 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Big, urban redevelopment projects have even greater economic hurdles to overcome these days than ever before. Throw in environmental challenges, and you wonder how they ever get done. Come hear about Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, a local success story that is following the lead of New York’s Chelsea Market. Learn how the project was helped by Old Fourth Ward Park and how it is giving back through the Beltline Tax Allocation District and innovative water strategies.
CEUs: 1.5 AIA LU/ HSW/ SD Units, 1.5 GBCI Units
Walter Brown, Green Street Properties
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Walter Brown is co-founder and senior vice president of development and sustainability for Green Street Properties, a 10-year-old, Atlanta-based subsidiary of the German-owned real estate investment firm Jamestown Properties. Building on nearly 25 years of real estate and community development experience, Walter leads both development projects and corporate sustainability initiatives for Green Street. Prior to Green Street, Walter was a senior program manager at Southface, leading key environmental initiatives including establishing the Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable, directing Greenprints and co-founding the Atlanta USGBC Chapter.
Jim Irwin, Green Street Properties
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As Vice President of Development at Green Street Properties, Jim Irwin directs strategic market analysis, planning, financing and project development for sustainable and urban properties in the firm’s national portfolio. Irwin focuses on projects in the Southeast region, utilizing his strong foundation in real estate financing and development from both private and nonprofit sectors. Extending his professional background to serve the Atlanta community, Irwin is involved with the Center for Regional Leadership Development at the Urban Land Institute, the Young Alumni Real Estate Advisory Board at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and the Board of Directors for Road Safe America.
Brian Leary, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
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Brian Leary is the president and CEO of the Atlanta BeltLine, one of the largest urban redevelopment projects currently underway in the United States. Prior to joining the Atlanta BeltLine, Brian oversaw the design and development of Atlantic Station, the largest urban brownfield redevelopment in the nation and its 13.5 million square foot master plan. Brian is a Board of Trustees and Executive Committee member for Leadership Atlanta and the Livable Communities Coalition, as well as an alumnus of the Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute. He has served on the Mayor’s Institute for City Design and the Board of Directors for Georgians for Passenger Rail.
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VIBRANT CITIES: Rethinking Parks As Social Conveners
Wednesday, March 7 from 10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Traditional park equipment meant to entice exercise from park users is giving way to new thought: the park itself as “equipment.” Pull-up bars and log hops are maintenance problems, but a plaque with exercise ideas for a hill side has multiple, far-reaching benefits. This new approach, combined with the traditional social aspects of park settings and nontraditional “exercise” features, such as the long-needed skate park in Old Fourth Ward Park, represent the vanguard of thinking in park sustainability.
CEUs: 1.75 AIA LU/ HSW/ SD Units, 1.5 GBCI Units
Kevin Burke, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
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Kevin Burke is the senior landscape architect for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and has more than 29 years of professional experience on a range of institutional, roadway, college and university, and park projects. He oversees all day-to-day design and construction efforts for all public open spaces of the project. He, with the assistance of four great volunteers, is the lead organizer of ABI’s second Annual Organic Land Care Symposium. Mr. Burke has a Bachelor of landscape architecture degree from Utah State University and is a Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.
Meghan Injaychock, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
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Currently a fellow with the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Meghan is pursuing her master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Design from the University of Georgia and will graduate in July. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, she went to work for Southface as an intern and later returned as an associate to manage the EarthCraft Communities program.
Fred Yalouris, Atlanta Beltline, Inc.
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Fred Yalouris comes to the Beltline from Boston, where for eleven years he held the position of director of architecture and urban design for the $15 billion Central Artery/Tunnel Project (the ‘Big Dig”), directing the planning, design, public participation process and construction phase services for the surface restoration. This included overseeing the creation of 46 new parks in Boston and Cambridge, plus several miles of streetscape and over ten miles of trails; the restoration of several miles of harbor and river shorelines; the completion of a major public art program, archaeology program and hundreds of environmental remediation commitments; and the designs of various buildings, pedestrian bridges and other structures.
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BEFORE THE STORM: Resiliency Planning for Times of Urgency
Thursday, March 8 from 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.
Evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing in unprecedented ways, and these changes can pose significant challenges to all segments of society. This session will provide an overview of climate change and its potential impacts on the Southeast. We'll focus on some of the key efforts and approaches being undertaken at federal, state and local levels to anticipate and plan for future changes in climate in order to build resilient communities and ensure the ongoing protection of human health, societal assets and the environment.
CEUs: AIA
Ken Mitchell, Environmental Protection Agency
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Dr. Mitchell has 20 years of wide-ranging, multi-media environmental experience, including work in the private sector, federal and state governments, and international assignments on a wide array of environmental programs, including the Clean Air Act, RCRA, Superfund,water issues, and energy and climate change concerns. He is currently the special assistant to the director for EPA Region 4′s Air, Pesticides, and Toxics Management Division in Atlanta and leads the region’s climate change adaptation efforts. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill.
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MONETIZING LAND CONSERVATION: Wise Resource Management
Thursday, March 8 from 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Sustainable land-use practices and conservation policies have an enormous potential to improve the overall health of our region’s ecosystems and slow the rate of global climate change. By monetizing the effects of land conservation, government and business leaders are able to see the benefits and value of managing our natural resources. In this session, we’ll address the economic benefits of both land and water conservation – particularly as they relate to forestry, agriculture, public health and drinking water. We’ll also review conservation tax laws and credits, as well as the potential impact of conservation efforts in Georgia and throughout our region.
CEUs: 1.5 AIA LU/ HSW/ SD Units, 1.5 GBCI Units
Thomas Farmer, The Nature Conservancy
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Since July 2004, Thomas has been the director of government relations and real estate strategy for the Georgia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC). In this position, he manages the local, state and federal government relations strategies for the Georgia Chapter. During his tenure at TNC, Thomas has successfully lobbied the Georgia congressional delegation for over $18 million in federal funds for land acquisition projects. In addition to his federal work, Thomas worked with a broad coalition of conservation partners to help successfully persuade the Governor and the General Assembly to pass the Land Conservation Act in 2005, the Land Conservation Tax Credit in 2006 and 2008, and the Georgia Water Stewardship Act in 2010.
Curt Soper, The Trust for Public Land
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Curt Soper is the State Director for the Trust for Public Land in Georgia and Alabama, where he is responsible for carrying out the Trust’s mission of conserving land for people in an effective, visionary and financially sound manner. He joined the Trust in 2011 after serving 5 years with the State of Georgia as the Director of the Land Resources Division at the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. While with the State, Curt directed the land conservation program which was instrumental in securing permanent conservation for over 200,000 acres during his tenure. Prior to his role with the State, Curt served as the Director of Conservation Programs for The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, Washington, and California.
Will Wingate, The Georgia Conservancy
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Will Wingate serves as the vice president of advocacy for the Georgia Conservancy, where he is responsible for managing the advocacy efforts with federal, state and local governments. In addition, Wingate holds the title of land conservation director, assisting landowners in the preservation of their land and working diligently for a sustainable source for land conservation in Georgia. Prior to working at the Georgia Conservancy, Will served as president of W. O. Wingate & Associates, a public affairs firm specializing in lobbying and political strategy. His past victories include the passage of the Smoke Free Air Act of 2005 that banned indoor smoking in restaurants, the increase in the state tobacco tax and numerous other legislative issues. Wingate has a deep knowledge of the political landscape in Georgia, serving as the campaign manager for many members of the Georgia General Assembly.
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FARM TO TRUCK & TABLE: The Urban Agriculture Movement
Thursday, March 8 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The Atlanta food scene is booming with farmers markets, urban farms, food trucks and more fueled by interests in health, good food, environment and community. Jonathan Tescher will talk about the local landscape of farmers markets, including models, impacts and emerging trends based on his experience working with all of these players across Georgia. Mindy Goldstein will discuss a recently completed 16-city study of urban agriculture zoning issues and solutions, as well as her current work with the City of Atlanta on its initiative to support local food. Greg Smith will speak about the various incarnations food trucks take, the current status of food trucks in Atlanta and around the country and how food trucks impact communities. Greg will also delve into the regulatory and business issues entrepreneurs face when starting a food truck operation, specifically focusing on zoning and vending ordinances and trends in food trucks’ sourcing of local food.
CEUs: 2 AIA LU/ HSW/ SD Units, 2 GBCI Units
Mindy Goldstein, Emory's Turner Environmental Law Clinic
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Mindy Goldstein joined the Turner Environmental Law Clinic in 2008. Each year, the Clinic provides over 2,500 hours of pro bono representation to individuals, community groups and non-profit organizations seeking to protect and restore the natural environment. Mindy supervises students on all of the Clinic’s litigation, transactional and policy matters. Her work touches upon many environmental issues, including sustainable energy and climate change, access to information, urban agriculture and farming, water quality and coastal resource protection, natural resource allocation, environmental justice, land use and endangered species protection.
Jennifer Owens, Georgia Organics
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Jennifer Owens is the advocacy director for Georgia Organics. In this role, Jennifer conducts policy research and advocacy on issues supporting the expansion of organic farming production, healthy food access for all, farm-to-school and community food initiatives. Previously, Jennifer served as the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Georgia, where she focused on voter education and public policy advocacy in the areas of environmental protection, judicial election reform, tax reform, public education and election protection. In 2008, Jennifer became on of the youngest recipients ever to be honored as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40.
Greg Smith, Atlanta Food Truck Alliance
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Greg Smith is the president of the Atlanta Street Food Coalition, a practicing attorney specializing in small business matters and a co-owner of the Westside Creamery Ice Cream truck. Greg earned his law degree at the University of Georgia School of Law, his Masters of Science in international and European politics at the University of Edinburgh, and his Bachelors of Business Administration in economics at the University of Georgia.
Jonathan Tescher, Georgia Organics
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In May 2009, Tescher began working at Georgia Organics as the farmer services coordinator. He serves new and established farmers in Georgia through mentoring, educational programs, multimedia and networking. In 2006, Jonathan founded the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market, where he developed partnerships with state and federal agencies that enabled it to become the first farmers market in Georgia to accept food stamps. Past experiences also include managing the Morningside Farmers Market and working for Gaia Gardens in Decatur. Jonathan graduated with an MBA from Georgia State University in 2009.
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