The Mayors Institute on City Design (MICD) took place in New York City for the first time in its 24-year history April 14–16. Hosted by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the city, the event was attended by Wichita (KS) Mayor Carl Brewer, Grand Rapids (MI) Mayor George K. Heartwell, Miramar (FL) Mayor Lori C. Moseley, Worcester (MA) Mayor Joseph C. OBrien, Flint (MI) Mayor Dayne Walling, Memphis (TN) Mayor A. C. Wharton, Jr., and Youngstown (OH) Mayor Jay Williams. Experts in architecture, urban planning, and transportation joined the mayors in the two-and-a-half-day discussions, offering pragmatic advice on how the mayors could approach the urban design challenges facing each of their cities.

The 46th National Session commenced with a tour throughout lower and midtown Manhattan, led by Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation Janette Sadik-Khan, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Kate Levin, and Director of the Mayors Office of Capital Projects Andrew Winters. The tour showcased the design and development of various completed and ongoing capital improvement projects, spanning from the Hudson River Park through Times Square. Later that evening, at a reception held at Five Angels Theater at the 52nd Street Project, First Deputy Mayor Patricia E. Harris provided the keynote address following opening remarks by American Architectural Foundation President & CEO Ronald Bogle, AIA; Target Corporation Senior Vice President of Store Design Rich Varda, FAIA; The U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran; and National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman.

Heartwell initiated the design discussions the following morning, presenting his city’s efforts to redevelop a 16-acre, city-owned parcel along the banks of the Grand River, located along the southern boundary of the central business district. Grand Rapids’ vision for the redevelopment of 201 Market Avenue SW is an urban, mixed-use development that includes a highly pedestrian-oriented combination of housing, retail, office, and other arts and entertainment uses.

Walling discussed how his administration is looking to determine how investments in the public realm can support the stabilization and future development of its neighborhoods. One significant plan currently being considered is to use a series of rails to trails conversions to strengthen neighborhoods and connect them to each other and to downtown. Flint is working to acquire all of the land needed to create a trail system using the vacated rail lines.

Brewer presented Wichita’s efforts to create synergy between the downtown districts that flank the east and west banks of the Arkansas River, building upon the success of several recent downtown development projects. In addition to maintaining continuous open space along both banks of the river, complete with bicycle and pedestrian access, the city is considering mixed-use, in-fill development along the Delano Neighborhood’s eastern edge.

Wharton oriented his discussion around Overton Square, which is viewed as the underperforming center of a high density, demographically diverse, institutionally rich area where revitalization is long overdue. Today, Memphis is looking to take the lead in creating a vision for the redevelopment of the five-acre site that will make it the epicenter of the adjacent dense, diverse, healthy neighborhoods.

O’Brien explained that Main Street is the defining feature of Worcester’s downtown and that the city’s overall vibrancy is often hidden by the lack of activity in the downtown core. Currently, his administration is looking to create a more vibrant downtown in order to attract new businesses and residents. While the assets and developments are in place, the city believes a comprehensive strategy for managing and designing its streets and public realm could significantly contribute to the city’s reemergence.

As Moseley explained, while the establishment of three town centers has helped improve community access to goods and services, there is still a deficiency of non-automobile connectivity throughout Miramar. Today, the city is examining alternative methods of connecting parks and trails, cultural institutes, and commercial corridors. By seeking creative ideas to help promote better connectivity and circulation citywide, the city is working to create transportation alternatives for its residents.

Williams presented his administration’s efforts to rejuvenate the Wick Park Historic District, one of Youngstown’s most affluent neighborhoods of the early 20th century. Today, a grassroots effort to revitalize the park as a catalyst for broader neighborhood revitalization is being led by a diverse coalition of local organizations. This coalition has emerged with a plan to improve the design and programming of Wick Park, and the city is looking to support those planning efforts.

In addition to the design discussions around the mayors’ case studies, participants met with Bloomberg to discuss some of the ongoing planning challenges facing New York City, as well as state and federal policies that are influencing the city’s efforts to surmount those challenges. At the conclusion of the two-and-a-half-day session, participants were also treated to an exclusive tour of the tremendously popular High Line Park, led by New York City Planning Commissioner Chair Amanda Burden. The High Line Park, built on an abandoned elevated rail line along Manhattan’s Lower West Side, has shown the power of design and adaptive reuse to drive investment in the neighborhood.

Joining the mayors at this National Session was a distinguished group of resource team members: Robert Freedman, MRAIC, AICP, LSUC, director of urban design for Toronto; Gordon Gill, AIA, founding principal of Adrian Smith - Gordon Gill Architecture LLP; Toni L. Griffin, AIA, of Urban Planning & Design for the American City; Walter J. Hood, Jr., ASLA, principal of Hood Design; Michael P. Kelly, AIA, AICP, general manager of the New York City Housing Authority; Theodore C. Landsmark, M.Ev.D., J.D., Ph.D., Associate AIA, D.F.A. (Hon.), president of the Boston Architectural College and member of the American Architectural Foundation’s Board of Regents; Bonnie Nelson, founding principal of Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates; and Russell Perry, FAIA, LEED AP, vice president and managing director of SmithGroup.

MICD is a National Endowment for the Arts leadership initiative in partnership with the American Architectural Foundation and The U.S. Conference of Mayors. The 46th National Session was sponsored in part by Target. Since 1986, MICD has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. MICD conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit the website www.micd.org.

© Copyright 2010. The United States Conference of Mayors. 1620 Eye Street, Northwest - Washington, DC 20006 p. (202) 293-7330 f. (202) 293-2352 e. info@usmayors.org