Urban Industrial Futures - UWT Urban Studies Forum 2012

This Thursday. Open to the public.

The University of Washington, Tacoma is inviting you to join them for their Third Annual Urban Studies Forum. This year’s topic is Urban Industrial Futures.

The all day event, hosted by the Urban Studies Program at UWT will feature guest speakers from Tacoma and around the country. This year’s forum will focus conversation on the challenge of achieving balance between industrial and post-industrial urban development strategies. Speakers include experts in green cities, economic development, and water research and industry.

The forum will feature conversations on topics such as investment in green development in Tacoma; the possibilities for industrial development as a job creator and economic stimulant, while preserving the city’s history; and the importance waterfront development strategies in Tacoma’s future.

It’s about urban issues. It’s about community. It’s about Tacoma.
This is an area of conversation where the discussion is too often polarized: industry or preservation, development or green spaces. So this forum poses some interesting possibilities. We’re particularly intrigued by the idea of developing smaller manufacturing as a way of developing the economy and preserving Tacoma’s history (let’s face it, we do have industrial roots…). What intrigues you?

Urban Industrial Futures
When: Thursday, February 9th, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Phillip Hall, University of Washington, Tacoma
Cost: FREE, but pre-registration is required for the complimentary breakfast and lunch.
Details: Visit the event page.

Speakers for the conference include:
Joan Fitzgerald, professor and director of the graduate Law and Public Policy program and senior research fellow at the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University. Her third book, Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development (Oxford Univ. Press), examines how cities are creating economic development opportunities in several green sectors and discusses the state and national policy needed to support these efforts.

Brian Coleman, CEO of Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, a nonprofit industrial developer in New York City. His company creates and sustains viable manufacturing sectors in urban neighborhoods through planning, developing and managing real estate and offering other related services. Coleman recently led a development team that acquired and rehabilitated a historic 72,000-square-foot industrial property in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The $17.8 million project combined historic and new market tax credits and is the home of 12 businesses and almost 100 jobs.

Dean Amhaus, executive director of the Milwaukee Water Council, which was formed to grow the Milwaukee region into the world hub for water research, education and economic development. He has served in executive positions in The Spirit of Milwaukee, dedicated to enhancing Milwaukee’s image; Forward Wisconsin, the state’s economic development organization; the Wisconsin Sesquicentennial Commission; and the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Panelists include:
Parris Glendening, former governor of Maryland and president of the Smart Growth America’s Leadership Institute. In his two terms as governor, Glendening led the creation of a growth initiative focused on using the state budget as an incentive for smart growth.

Ian Munce, urban planner for the City of Tacoma Community and Economic Development department, tasked with stimulating Tacoma’s economic activity and strengthening Tacoma’s position as a thriving urban, cultural and economic center.

Jake Carton, Washington state organizer for Jobs with Justice, a 14-year-old coalition of more than 150 member organizations working for workers’ rights, and for economic and social justice.

Steve Moddemeyer, Collins Woerman Sustainable Development and Planning, a collaborative architecture, interior design and planning firm based in Seattle. He has more than 19 years of experience leading governments, planners, architects, land owners and project teams towards increased sustainability.

David Batker, chief economist and executive director of Earth Economics, which applies a whole systems economic analysis to benefit both human economies and natural ecosystems locally, nationally and internationally.

The forum is sponsored by AHBL, Inc., BCRA, Dwyer Pemberton and Coulson P.C., Gray Lumber Company, Helix Design Group, Inc., Korsmo Construction, KPLU, Neil Walter Company, Olson Kundig Architects, Port of Tacoma and Via Architecture.

The Urban Industrial Futures forum, presented by the Urban Studies program at UW Tacoma, is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The all-day forum will be held at William Philip Hall on the UW Tacoma campus. Registration begins at 7:30.

For more information and to register, visit tacoma.uw.edu/events/urban.