Rightsizing Cities Track
1A - Populations to Footprint: What’s the Right Ratio?
So-called “shrinking cities” were once thriving, industrious places requiring vast infrastructure to support the resulting population and economic activity. However, they now face a vastly reduced population and stagnant economies. What remains is an infrastructure footprint that no longer matches the population or economic base creating a much higher per capita cost to maintain infrastructure.
The tax and maintenance burden required by the “old footprint” cannot be supported by a city trying to regenerate itself. This situation creates an excellent opportunity to right size city services and implement sustainable initiatives to make older industrial cities clean, green and competitive in the new global market. This panel of diverse experts will explore the social, environmental and economic issues associated with putting this evolving theory into practice.
Moderator, Robert Colangelo, Executive Director, NBA
1B - The Green Ring
Around the turn of the 20th century, the “City Beautiful Movement” was an effort in several cities to address increasing population densities to make urban areas more livable. The movement promoted urban plans that emphasized parks and open space for recreation, open space and beatification.
A growing number of older urban areas are facing problems of decreasing populations, and infrastructure that it can no longer afford to maintain. New urban plans examine the issue of building greater density in the urban core with outlying areas planned for new open space, farming, renewable energy farms and green infrastructure.
As cities consider right sizing, what sustainable initiatives can be put in outlying areas once the urban infill space is reclaimed. This panel will explore the sustainable uses that can support future growth.
Moderator, Jeff Edstrom, Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc.
1C Funding Right Sizing Cities
Taking good ideas from concept to action takes more than just hard work, it requires funding. What funding sources are providing capital to right-size cities? Find out whose funding research, planning and projects to make rightsizing a reality.
Moderator, John Dondanville, Principal, D5 Group
Sediment Cleanup and Waterfront Redevelopment Track
2A - The Economics of a Waterway
Contamination in sediments and upland areas adjacent to waterways can result in a stigma and depressed property values and results in limited recreational and commercial uses. Conversely, a cleaned up waterway translates into economic activity, as people want recreate, live and do businesses next to a vibrant waterfront.
A wide variety of panelists will describe the economics of waterways (ports and rivers) and explain how contamination and cleanup can affect the commerce of waterways.
Moderator, Brooke Furio, Sustainable Local Government Lead, U.S. EPA
2B - Upland Development and Sediment Cleanup
Liabilities associated with sediment cleanup and cleanup of soil and groundwater at land adjacent to waterways is very complicated. Partitioning these liabilities between buyers and seller further complicates the issue especially as it pertains to waterfront redevelopment. A diverse panel of property owners and developers will discuss water front redevelopment issues.
Moderator, Dave Flynn, Attorney, Phillips Lytle
2C Funding Cleanup and Waterfront Redevelopment
Securing project finance is difficult and even more complicated when there is contamination present in water ways or in areas adjacent to waterways. Learn what sources of government and private sector financing is available to fund cleanup and redevelopment
Moderator, Bruce Rasher, VP Brokerage Services, CBRE
Great Lakes Legacy Act, Great Lakes Action Plan
Canadian and Americans have more similarities then difference we share a border, a language and the protection and management of the Great Lakes. Each country has established programs and policies for dealing with sediment cleanup and each have similarities in that the federal government will provide funds but require a cost share match. In these economic times it is becoming increasing difficult for regional and local government to meet the cost share match for sediment cleanup. Do you have creative ideas for solving the cost match problem? Then attend this moderated discussion and share your thoughts and insight.
Moderator, Charlie Bartsch, Senior Program Advisor to the Assistant Administrator, USEPA