GPA Election Results

Debbie Miness was recently elected President-Elect of the Georgia Planning Association (GPA). GPA also wishes to recognize Ellen Heath of EDAW who also ran for the position and will remain an excellent Treasurer on the GPA Board.

Debbie's 2 year term as President will begin in Fall 2007. Debbie has recently announced her resignation from Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to begin a job as VP at the Georgia Conservancy.

We look forward to the continued leadership from both Debbie and Ellen.

World Town Planning Day

The Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Student Planning Association is hosting an event in association with World Town Planning Day, on Wednesday, Nov 8th. World Town Planning Day is an annual event designed to bring attention to the field of urban planning and its role in making great communities. Our theme for this year is "Planning and the Environment", or more specifically, "Urban Planning Responses to Climate Change."

As part of our World Town Planning Day celebration, we are hosting a luncheon with a keynote speaker and following expert discussion panel. Our keynote speaker is Pam Sessions, president of Hedgewood Properties, a higher-end "green" residential developer in Metro Atlanta. She will be talking about energy-efficient design, traditional neighborhood
development, and other "Smart Building/Growth" techniques that her company has pursued.

The luncheon is from 12 - 2:30pm on that Wednesday, with the keynote speaking from approximately 12:15 to 1:15, followed by a short break, with the discussion panel scheduled for approximately 1:30 to 2:30 pm. The panel will not only have planners but also scientists, engineers, and other professions that are affiliated with climate change and the built environment.

We anticipate there will be 100 - 200 people in attendance, including many professionals such as yourself! Please visit our website to obtain more information regarding registration and cost at: http://cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/spa/wtpd.html

Thank you for supporting the student-planners at Georgia Tech. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Student Planning Association (SPA)
City & Regional Planning Program
Georgia Institute of Technology

November 4 – 8, 2006
Railvolution 2006, Chicago, IL
for more info please visit their website at www.planning.org

November 13 – 15, 2006
Brownsfields 2006, Boston, MA
for more info please visit their website at www.planning.org

November 15, 2006
Register to play in the 2006 "Green Legacy Golf Classic!" a pre-conference activity kicking off the 16th Annual Georgia Urban Forest Council Conference and Awards Program
for more info visit their website at www.gufc.org or call 800-994-4832.

November 15-17, 2006
Georgia Urban Forest Council's 16th Annual Conference & Awards Program
for more info visit www.gufc.org or contact Mary Lynne Beckley at 800-994-4832 or email gufc@gufc.org

November 30, 2006
Quarterly Newsletter Deadline
for more info please email Bill Ross

December 1, 2006
Southface – Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable, Atlanta, GA
for more info please visit their website at www.southface.org

December 6 – 9, 2006
NLC Congress of Cities,  Reno, NV
for more info please visit their website at www.nlc.org

Visit the GPA Calendar of Events website page for a full listing...

District 7 – Revitalizing MidTown

by Patti Cullen, District 7 Director

We hear so much about revitalizing downtowns but just what do you do when a main artery through your community begins to deteriorate and all the commercial establishments move across town? As planners, we have a variety of tools at our disposal, but choosing and implementing the best strategies for our individual communities can be challenging.

Like many of our communities, Columbus has been facing this dilemma of flight and deterioration for the last several years. One particular area of Columbus has become a focus for recent public and private revitalization efforts: MidTown. Encompassing over six square miles, MidTown sits in the heart of Columbus. It is a combination of several distinct residential neighborhoods and commercial nodes. At its core is the Wynnton/Macon Road corridor, bisecting the historic Village of Wynnton and the entire redevelopment area. Individuals who live and/or work in these neighborhoods have formed MidTown, Inc. The mission of this organization is the revitalization of the Wynnton/Macon Road corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods. The first major challenge of this redevelopment initiative has been the proposed land use around the new public library.

The former site of Columbus Square Mall, the new library property consists of approximately 55 acres abutting the Wynnton/Macon Road corridor. MidTown, Inc., assisted by Columbus Consolidated Government staff, held meetings throughout June, 2006, presenting three conceptual plans: High density development including 337 residential units and significant commercial development; Medium Density development with 288 residential units and little or no commercial development; and an All Passive Park design highlighting 50 acres of greenspace. Public consensus from these meetings favored the Medium Density design. However the debate is ongoing. Since that time another organization has formed advocating an All Passive Park or outdoor learning center.

The use of land surrounding the library continues to be debated both in public and around our dinner tables. Making the right decision is crucial for this once vital commercial and residential neighborhood!