See examples of brownfield redevelopment, adaptive reuse, farmland preservation (with wine tasting), and many more!
Mobile Workshops are $15 (in addition to your conference fee).
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Mobile Tour 1: Innovative Recreational Planning
This walking/canoe tour will begin at Millennium Park and follows a pedestrian/bikeway trail that passes through a nationally recognized storm water drain project that demonstrates exceptional collaboration between planning, recreation, environmental protection, and engineering design elements. The tour will proceed to the Celery Flats Historic Area, where participants will learn about how several historic structures in the community were moved from dispersed locations throughout the city to a central site. A 40-minute canoe trip will follow taking participants through the linear Portage Creek Bicentennial Park and will conclude with a stop at the awardwinning Milham Avenue bike/pedestrian overpass. Transportation to and from the site will be provided.
Christopher Barnes, P.E.,
Engineer, City of Portage Christopher Forth, AICP, Deputy Director of Planning and Development Services, City of Portage
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Mobile Tour 2: Maybe Kermit Was Wrong - It's Not Hard to be Green!
Sustainability, green building, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification - these have become particularly hot topics lately, but what do they really mean and what can we as planners do about them? On this tour, we will visit a variety of LEED certified and "green building" sites and learn from a LEED certified architect and construction manager about the process and how we planners can become a part of it. Transportation to and from the site will be provided.
Michelle Wreggelsworth, Construction Manager, Miller Davis
Shawn Parshall, AIA,
Architectural Designer, Associate AIA, LEED AP, Tower Pinkster
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Mobile Tour 3: Lofts - Uniquely Kalamazoo
Successful downtowns have a strong residential component. This walking tour showcases four residential units within downtown. Each has a distinct style and features intriguing design concepts of urban living including loft-style floor plans, contemporary amenities, and characteristics that are uniquely Kalamazoo. This tour will be led by Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated staff.
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mobile Tour 4: The Life Cycle of Brownfields
The City of Kalamazoo has an established, award winning Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA) with active and completed sites; the City of Portage utilizes a site-based Brownfield program; and Kalamazoo County has a fledging BRA that is developing a county-wide presence. See examples of brownfields in different stages of the development process within the Kalamazoo region and learn how each jurisdiction's program is successful. Transportation to and from the site will be provided.
Marc Hatton, Redevelopment Project Manager, City of Kalamazoo
Christopher Forth, AICP, Deputy Director of Planning and Development Services, City of Portage
David Artley, Director of the Office of Resource Development, Kalamazoo County
Martha Aills, Special Projects Coordinator, Community Planning and Development, City of Kalamazoo
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mobile Tour 5: What's Old is New Again - Adaptive Reuse TourThis walking tour highlights five historic buildings that have been smartly adapted to modern uses, while retaining the character of the original spaces. We will visit buildings whose former lives were as a train depot, a filling station, and two factories. This tour will be led by Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated Staff.
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mobile Tour 6: Sip, Savor, and Save: Agri-Tourism and Farmland Preservation
Visit local wineries and orchards on the nearby Southwest Michigan Wine Trail and an area orchard/fruit farm to learn about new and innovative ways that agriculture is interfacing with urban life through agri-tourism. We'll sample wines from local vineyards and hear from practitioners working with Purchase of Development Rights and other tools for farmland preservation. Transportation to and from the site will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required.
Dave Foerster, Chairman, Land Preservation Forum
Chuck Eckenstahler, AICP, Senior Consultant, McKenna Associates, Inc.
Julie Pioch, Van Buren County Extension Director
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mobile Tour 7: Hats Off to a Successful Entertainment District
Revitalization efforts in the downtown have created a viable entertainment district. Venues ranging from the performing arts to a country western inspired venue complete with a mechanical bull. Cowboy hats are optional on this walking tour led by Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated Staff.
This page last updated on 8/27/2008.
