By Nicholas Foster, MICD Program Manager
June 2, 2008

In partnership with Bank of America, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) hosted its 41st National Session in Chicago May 21-23. Hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, the event was attended by Yonkers (NY) Mayor Philip A. Amicone; Hamilton Township (NJ) Mayor John F. Bencivengo; Madison (WI) Mayor David J. Cieslewicz; Oakland (CA) Mayor Ronald V. Dellums; Alexandria (VA) Mayor William D. ‘Bill’ Euille; Garland (TX) Mayor Ronald E. Jones; and Worcester (MA) Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes.

Experts in architecture, urban planning, and community development joined the mayors in a discussion, offering advice on how the mayors could approach the challenging redevelopment projects facing their respective cities with a keen eye towards supporting transit-oriented development.

The session is the fifth MICD national session sponsored by Bank of America. The Bank has made a sustained commitment to America’s communities — pledging $1.5 trillion in loans and investments for community development. Among its priorities are affordable housing, economic development, and urban redevelopment projects.

The 41st National Session commenced with a walking tour along Chicago’s famed South Michigan Avenue, led by Lee Bey, executive director of the Chicago Central Area Committee. Bey was a participant in a 2007 40th MICD session. Following a reception held at the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s CitySpace Gallery, resource team member Shelley Poticha, president of Reconnecting America, gave the keynote lecture for the evening. Discussing the successes of transit-oriented development across the nation, Poticha set the tone for the session by explaining that communities that are attempting to support a more sustainable development plan are finding it easier to do so by anchoring development around or near transit. Daley addressed the entire group during a reception on the second evening. The mayor spoke of the importance of design in American cities and encouraged the other mayors to make use of their executive powers to transform their respective cities into the livable communities that they are capable of being.

Euille opened the working meetings by discussing plans for creating denser forms of high-quality development around the Braddock Metro station. As the mayor explained in his presentation, Alexandria is focused on creating a safe, clean, and walkable environment around the city’s northern Metro station that respects the diversity of the surrounding community. The resource team supported the mayor’s vision and encouraged him to focus on evaluating the widest range of redevelopment proposals that make the best use of the land immediately adjacent the transit station.

Bencivengo presented Hamilton Township’s attempts to revisit a stalled plan to create a transit village at the Hamilton train station. The mayor stated that he is committed to resurrecting the plans that would bring a balance of housing, jobs, and services to the transit village that will serve both township residents as well as commuters. The mayor was met with a variety of design and planning solutions that the resource team offered as a means to contending with the under-utilized site.

Amicone shared with session participants his vision to rejuvenate parts of Yonkers’s downtown and waterfront. The mayor revealed current redevelopment plans and asked for guidance on various components of the plans. Designers encouraged the mayor to address the redevelopment of the waterfront in a manner that blends with the surrounding built environment while creating ample open space for city residents and visitors alike.

Dellums presented Oakland’s plans to redevelop a large tract of land on the city’s western edge. The mayor explained that while there are numerous design obstacles that will challenge redevelopment efforts, the site has the potential to host a range of uses and could ultimately become one of the greatest assets to the city. Members of the resource team suggested that one method for increasing access to the various parcels of land could be to implement a streetcar system that would afford better access without adding additional vehicular congestion to the surrounding neighborhood.

Lukes showcased plans to redevelop a parcel of land located downtown, adjacent to the Worcester’s train station. As the mayor explained, the parcel of land is under-utilized and is restricted by several structures that are limiting the site’s potential. Resource team members suggested that the city consider making alterations to the structures adjacent the site to unveil additional, unforeseen redevelopment potentials.

Jones discussed various planning and design issues facing Garland. The mayor explained that while the city benefits from two transit stations, the downtown area could be better utilized by residents. Members of the resource team suggested a variety of design concepts that would create a streetscape that would better connect the rail station with the downtown, encouraging additional patronage of downtown businesses.

Cieslewicz presented Madison’s plans to redevelop a large tract of primarily undeveloped land located on the city’s far eastside. As the mayor explained in his presentation, the city has tremendous opportunity to create a high-quality, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that could house several thousand residents over many decades to come. Several designers suggested that the city seek planning and landscape design proposals that would create a truly unique community that would justify developing on the land.

Joining the mayors at this national session were resource team members: Hilary Bertsch, AIA, associate principal at Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects; Paul Brophy, principal at Brophy & Reilly LLC; Liz Ferrer, senior vice president & community development executive at Bank of America; Rick Gustafson, executive director and chief operating officer of the Portland Streetcar Project, Inc.; Michael P. Kelly, AIA & AICP, executive director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority; Mia Lehrer, FASLA, founding principal of Mia Lehrer - Associates; Christopher B. Leinberger, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution; Marcy McInelly, AIA, senior urban planner at SERA - Urbsworks; and Shelly Poticha, president of Reconnecting America.

MICD is a partnership program of the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Architectural Foundation, and the United States Conference of Mayors. To date, the program has assisted over 750 mayors in transforming their communities through good urban design. MICD conducts several sessions each year. For a list of upcoming events, past attendees, or for more information, visit www.micd.org.