Mayors Institute on City Design Alumni Present Success Stories

By Gina Cooper

Three alumni of the Mayors Institute on City Design (MICD) shared city design stories from their cities with fellow alumni and guests during an informal reception at the USCM Winter Meeting. Mayors Fred Kalisz, Jr., of New Bedford, MA; Alan Larson, of Schaumburg, IL; and William Heydt, of Allentown, PA, spoke about how their respective cities have benefited from their participation in the MICD.

Close on the heels of The Mayors‚ Institute and less than six months into his first term in office, Mayor Kalisz ordered the wrecking ball on a thirty-six year old, dilapidated steel and concrete parking garage. The building was an eyesore that detracted from the adjacent Custom House, an historic landmark designed by Robert Mills. And it occupied an important site at the center of the newly designated New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. The garage was replaced by a landscaped surface lot surrounded a granite wall, and a park that provides an urban oasis within the city’s densely populated downtown. A trellised walkway frames the park and frames the view the historic buildings that surround the square. The park, now known as Custom House Square, commemorates important events in the City’s history. Frederick Douglas once lived as a freeman in New Bedford, and an interactive display of his life and struggle was incorporated. In addition, the entire Square was dedicated in honor of the 54th Regiment in which men of color fought for the Union Army during the Civil War. “All of it came about by the challenge issued by the Institute to come with a meaningful project that could then be turned in to something that is viable,” states Mayor Kalisz. Custom House Square has sparked a series of projects now underway around this area, including a new $20 million bank, and a $60 million arts college. Serving as a catalyst, Court House Square has become the “jewel” of downtown New Bedford.

While most jewels are placed in the center, it is important to realize that not all cities have a center. This was the case for Schaumburg, IL. Mayor Al Larson of The Village of Shaumburg had a vision of transforming a crossroads in this “edge city” into a village center. He came to the Institute with a project plan that included only retail uses. In response, the resource team gave him a word of truth: a true town center would have to be more than a retail center. Mayor Larson recognized that they were right. “We decided if we were going to build something at that intersection, it had to fit our vision and our dream.”

The City purchased land in 1995 and the Olde Schaumburg Centre District was dedicated on May 31, 1998. The Village of Schaumburg incorporated new urbanist design principles into the project, including compact, walkable neighborhoods, a diverse mix of activities including retail, offices, housing, restaurants and a state-of-the art library. Following true town-building tradition, the Prairie-style library is the largest and tallest building in the Town Square. The new town square also features a 65-foot clock tower at the major roadway intersection to provide a strong landmark. The project, according to Mayor Larson, “is a wonderful example of intergovernmental cooperation,” he adds, “The Mayors‚ Institute on City Design, just really opened up my eyes about what good design is and what good design should be.”

Back in the 60‚s, Allentown installed sidewalk canopies with the intent of making Center City a shopping mall. Over the years, however, Allentown’s three department stores and many of its smaller stores closed and downtown became a ghost city. The canopies were dirty, dark and gave the downtown the perception of being unsafe. Mayor Heydt felt that to turn the city around, the canopies had to come down. His instincts were confirmed at the Mayors‚ Institute. Following his presentation, the design team agreed unanimously that the canopies were all wrong for Allentown’s Center City. Their modern design did not complement the Center City’s buildings, many of which dated to the Victorian era. According to Heydt, “the information received from the institute was instrumental in my obtaining Council’s approval to move ahead with the removal of all the canopies.” In 1998, the city removed a complete block of canopies, restored the old hanging garden streetlights and completely changed the streetscape. This year, they are completing the projects – removing the canopies and changing the streetscape in the remaining three blocks of the downtown district. In the last year and a half, over 80 new businesses have come into the area and vacancies are way down. A new privately funded downtown arena is being built and is scheduled for completion in October of 2000. “We are just, really pleased with the start we got from the Mayors‚ Institute,” states Mayor Heydt.

The lessons mayors learn at the Institute can provide inspiration for others. Carmel Indiana Mayor, James Brainard attended the reception and thanked Mayor Larson for his model of a successful new town square. Reading an article titled, Rebuilding a Sense of Community, in The Wall Street Journal in 1997, featuring Schaumburg’s town square, Mayor Brainard was re-motivated to move forward with his plans to create Carmel City Center.

The MICD is an initiative established by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1986. It is sponsored in partnership with US Conference of Mayors and administered by the American Architectural Foundation. The Institute brings together mayors, designers, and other development experts to enrich the lives of people in the communities they serve. For more information call (202) 463-1390 or send e-mail to: micdinfo@micd.org .