March 13-14, 2009 - Designing Destinations Forum, Savannah

IBC has been invited by Projects for Public Spaces to participate at the Designing Destination Forum. "Placemaking puts people first. It is a holistic approach based on public involvement, on citizens working to make things better. Capitalizing on communities' often overlooked assets and can-do spirit, placemaking shows how we can advance everyone's health and happiness without spending huge amounts of money." This is how PPS is approaching each of its projects. With the same idea in mind, PPS, has invited 35 guest from US and Canada at Designing Destination Forum hosted by Charles Morris in Savannah, Georgia. IBC had the chance to share some of its experience in Creating Destinations and also to learn from the other participants. The goal of the forum was to convene city leaders, public space managers and enlightened developers to discuss and envision new models for significant public, mixed-use destinations that will unlock the economic potential of urban places by attracting both local residents and visitors back to the centers of cities. Now more than ever, it is important that developers and cities work together to create great places. The future will depend less on greenfield development – especially conventional shopping malls and single-family subdivisions -- and more on creating destinations that build on a city’s existing assets, and that reflect the values and aspirations of the people who live and work there. New ideas for process, programming innovations and unlikely partnerships that will create great places will be explored. We will examine exciting development models such as Vancouver’s Granville Island, Discovery Green in Houston, Texas, Campus Martius in Detroit, Michigan and developer Ron Sher’s new Harborside Commons in downtown Bremerton, Washington. These developments have succeeded because they combine cultural, educational, commercial, and even industrial uses with lively public spaces to attract people throughout the year. They serve as catalysts for economic revitalization by attracting significant private investment back to city centers.