The Economic Development Division of theAmerican Planning Association (APA) is pleased
to announce co-winners of the 2013 Donald
E. Hunter Excellence in Economic Development Planning Award: Central Market Economic Strategy, San
Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development; and Nathan Benderson
Park, Sarasota County.
Nathan Benderson Park, located in
unincorporated Sarasota County, Florida, is a former unimproved borrow pit lake
that is being transformed into a 600‐acre regional park with a world‐class
rowing venue. The project is a partnership of the county, state, private
developer, local economic development corporation, recreation experts, schools,
rowing clubs, and local citizenry. A sports tourism opportunity was identified
in the design of the park in which the rowing venue element plays an important
role in attracting international attention for world‐class aquatic competitive
events. The rowing events bring in economic, quality of life, and health
benefits that far exceed the financial investment. Sarasota County’s
conservative estimates of economic impact in today’s market are approximately $13
million of direct spending by participants and attendees with a total regional
economic impact of almost $25 million.
The panel was impressed
with the Nathan Benderson Park project’s innovative and unique approach,
establishment and pursuit of a vision, ongoing and incremental implementation
and results, and the collaboration of a wide-range of stakeholders to produce a
public-private partnership that is adding economic value to the community where
it may not have otherwise occurred. (Local contact: Adriana
Trujillo-Villa; (941) 861-5140; atrujill@scgov.net.)
The Central
Market Economic Strategy is the culmination of ten months of community
outreach, technical research, and collaboration of a diverse group of
stakeholders focused on creating a clear and unified plan to improve the
Central Market district of San Francisco. While the area has historically been
a regional center for arts, entertainment, and retail, the area has struggled over
the past several decades with high vacancy rates, physical blight, a lack of
private investment, and a variety of social challenges such as homelessness,
drug activity, and a concentration of extremely low income single room
occupancy housing. The Economic Strategy reflects a unified framework from over
a dozen entities that prioritizes activities, programs, and policies. The
approach has produced visible results over the past year such as: 9 tech
companies and one venture capital firm have occupied almost 1 million square
feet of space in the district; 8 new small businesses have opened and 2 have
expanded; 3,300 residential units are under construction; 9 performance/gallery
venues have either opened or are in the pipeline; and vacancy rates have
decreased significantly.
The panel was impressed with the Central
Market Economic Strategy’s attentiveness to local conditions, transferability, short-term
results, and the collaboration of a wide-range of stakeholders to produce
results that are overcoming challenges to produce long-lasting economic value to
the community. (Local
contact: Jordan Klein; (415) 554-6645; jordan.klein@sfgov.org.)
The Excellence in Economic Development
Planning Award will be presented at the Economic Development Division’s annual meeting
and reception on April 15 (7-8:30pm, Hyatt Regency Chicago) during the 2013
National Conference of the American Planning Association in Chicago.
The Economic
Development Division of the APA provides an opportunity for APA members to
join others who share an interest in and responsibility on matters related to
economic development. The mission of the Economic Development Division is to
advance the practice and state of the art of economic development by:
·
Increasing the understanding of economic development as a key
element of public policy formulation at all levels of government;
·
Promoting economic development as a critical element of
neighborhood community, regional, and national planning processes;
·
Disseminating materials and information about current economic
development practice and theory to members of the division;
·
Assisting APA in positively influencing economic development
policy; and
·
Promoting professional communication among members of the division
through a variety of member services, including, but not limited to
newsletters, web page, conference sessions, workshops, and other publications.
The Excellence in Economic Development Award
is named for Donald E. Hunter, who passed away in late 2009. He was a long time and very active member of
the American Planning Association, always urging greater attention for economic
development planning. He was President
of Hunter Interests Inc., and served as a board member of the International
Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the International Downtown Association
(IDA).
The awards committee consisted of members of
the Economic Development Division of the APA:
Julie Herlands, AICP, Principal, TischlerBise (www.tischlerbise.com)
and Chair, Economic Development Division of the APA; Lance Harris, AICP, Senior Associate, AECOM (www.aecom.com) and Secretary/Treasurer, Economic
Development Division of the APA; and James Stevens, Senior Associate,
ConsultEcon Management & Economic Insight (www.consultecon.com)
For more information:
Economic
Development Division
Julie
Herlands, AICP, Chair, Economic Development Division of the APA
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