Recap of Creating Great Places for All Workshop

The APA Florida Atlantic Coast Section, the Space Coast Association of Realtors, the Titusville Housing Authority, and the Florida Planning and Zoning Association's Surfcoast Section hosted a lecture featuring  hosted an event for local professionals to introduce them to the concepts behind making cities great neighborhoods to live. Participants should learn about how neighborhoods can be designed to allow residents to live close to employment rather than fight traffic, understand the benefits of living in small neighborhoods rather than large subdivisions, and appreciate good urban form over low density sprawl.

The goal was  to better educate professionals on housing and neighborhood development options. Several Atlantic Coast communities consider any growth as good growth without understanding the human and financial consequences. Low density, sprawl type development is encouraged by local comprehensive plans and zoning codes that may lead to expensive and dangerous development patterns. The Titusville/Melbourne MSA was recently ranked 3rd most Dangerous by Design by Smart Growth America. Local planning organizations and public works departments are scrambling to identify safety projects without understanding the connection between transportation and land use.

The two presenters shed light on what we should be doing to make our communities safer and more livable for all residents and visitors. 

Laura Cantwell is an Associate State Director for Advocacy and Outreach. She leads AARP Florida's work on livable community issues and is the State liaison on AARP's Network of Age Friendly States and Communities, which currently includes 31 Florida communities and the State of Florida. Laura serves on the Florida Transportation Plan and Strategic Intermodal System Plan Steering Committee. Previously, she worked as AARP Florida's lead on health care and consumer policy issues. Laura holds an M.S. in Aging Studies from Florida State University. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida's Connect Class VII.

You can download Laura's presentation here. 

Tim Hernandez, AICP, is a Principal of New Urban Communities Corporation, a builder/developer focused on infill, redevelopment and traditional neighborhood development opportunities in South Florida. Prior to forming New Urban Communities Corporation, he spent 16 years with Pulte Home Corporation in Illinois and South Florida as a Director and Vice President in marketing, land acquisition, and land development. Mr. Hernandez holds a BS in Urban Planning from Michigan State University and an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. 

You can download Tim's presentation here.