DEPT. OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING TO SPONSOR PANEL ON NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR VIEWS ON SMART GROWTH
Concepts
of smart growth have the potential to positively impact communities in a
variety of ways. The views of just what smart growth means and how it
should be implemented are often just as diverse.
On
Thursday, May 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the Department of Community and
Regional Planning at Temple University Ambler will host a special panel
discussion that highlights smart growth, sustainability, and community
revitalization from the viewpoint of non-profit organizations and private
sector professionals. The event will be held at the revitalized Amber
Theater, 108 E. Butler Avenue, in Ambler.
“There
are a lot of innovative developers promoting smart growth concepts in
their developments. This program will provide them with the opportunity to
showcase innovate techniques and approaches,” said Dr. Jeffrey
Featherstone, Chairman of the Department of Community and Regional
Planning and Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities at Temple
University Ambler. “We’ll also have experts from non-profit
organizations, such at the Heritage Conservancy in Doylestown, present
their perspectives on smart growth and how to implement it in the
region.”
Smart
growth, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is
development that serves the economy, the community, public health, and the
environment. Smart growth includes concepts such as mixing land uses;
taking advantage of compact building design; creating walkable
neighborhoods; preserving open space, farmland, natural beauty, and
critical environmental areas; providing a variety of transportation
choices; and encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration in
development decisions.
“For
this event, we were seeking a good blend of builders, developers, and
non-profit organizations. Often these different facets of the community
are moving toward the same goal — smart growth and better planning,”
Dr. Featherstone said. “The Ambler Theater, where the event is being
held, is a good example of ways to promote smart growth; it encourages
revitalization of suburban communities.”
Michael
Frank, Director of Community Planning at Heritage Conservancy, hopes to
explore that common ground and ways to achieve “mutual goals with
minimal conflict.” Frank, along with Heritage President Clifford David
Jr. and legal counsel Debra Wolf Goldstein, will be part of the first
panel discussion.
“We’ll
be talking about the types of services that non-profits can provide to
local governments in relation to natural resource and farmland protection,
preservation of historic recourses, and community planning,” Frank said.
“I am looking forward to hearing what the developers’ side has to say.
I think they are likely interested in what non-profits can do with regard
to smart growth as well.”
The
second panel will consist of members of Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Philadelphia. Established in 1936, ULI’s 18,000 members include
developers, builders, property owners, architects, public officials,
planners, and a variety of other land use and development disciplines. The
ULI Philadelphia District Council encompasses more than 450 members
throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Northern
Delaware.
The
panelists include: Marc D. Brookman of Duane Morris LLP; Jason Duckworth
of the Arcadia Land Company; G. Barry Esslinger of Cope Linder Architects;
Richard Farley, of Kling; Barbara Kleger of Senior Living; and John
Westrum of Westrum Development Company.
“My
hope is that there is communication between municipal leaders and
developers to promote sensible and high quality re-development in our
regions, cities, towns, and boroughs,” said John Westrum, who was part
of a group of individuals who purchased the Ambler Theater building with
the hope of revitalizing it. “The theater, which is now overseen by a
non-profit organization, opened in February with two of its proposed three
screens. Fundraising for the third screen — the showpiece of the
original theater — is ongoing. Ambler is very fortunate to have an art
deco, 1928 movie theater that could be revitalized to be the hub of its
town center.”
Following
the panel discussions, Westrum will provide a tour of the theater’s
ongoing revitalization efforts.
Limited seating is available for this event. To ensure a seat, please RSVP at 215-283-1540. For more information on the Ambler Theater, visit www.amblertheater.org. For more information on ULI Philadelphia, visit www.uli.org. For further information on the Heritage Conservancy, visit www.heritageconservancy.org.
Temple University Ambler College is dedicated to promoting sustainable communities, effective land use, and environmental awareness. Students can choose from a B.S. and M.S. in Community and Regional Planning; B.S., A.S., or credit certificate programs in Horticulture; or a B.S. in Landscape Architecture. Students may begin over 100 Temple undergraduate programs and complete a variety of degree programs in areas such as liberal arts, business, education, communications, and nursing at Ambler. For more information on Temple University Ambler’s undergraduate programs, call 215-283-1500 or visit www.ambler.temple.edu.
CONTACT: James Duffy, (215) 283-1290, duffyj@temple.edu, release available by e-mail
