Reimagining the Mall With Michael Gradis, Humanizing Public Conversation With Jeffrey Stec, & more!

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🔥 Fireside Chat with Michael Gradis

Reimagining the Mall: The Streets at SouthGlenn Story

Michael Gradis, AICP is the Planning Manager for City of Centennial Centennial, Colorado. He discusses the challenges of engaging the public in the Streets at SouthGlenn redevelopment project. Originally a shopping mall built in the 1970s, this center saw various changes over time, transforming into an outdoor lifestyle center in the late 2000s. Despite these efforts, the shopping center faced setbacks, including the closure of key tenants like Macy's and Sears. In response, the owner/developer proposed reimagining existing retail spaces and introducing additional multifamily residential options. Centennial's strategic planning approach demonstrates the importance of balancing redevelopment with community interests.

Key takeaways from the discussion include the importance of adaptive strategies in redeveloping aging shopping centers, with a focus on effective community engagement, building trust, and leveraging technology for transparent communication. Clear expectations, skilled facilitators, and flexibility to meet evolving redevelopment and market realities were emphasized as critical components for success.

Key Takeaways

• 🤝 Importance of Community Engagement: Engaging the community early helps build trust and gather valuable feedback, critical for project success.
• ⚖️ Balancing Interests: Understanding the overlapping interests of developers and residents is essential for creating a beneficial outcome for all stakeholders.
• 🔄 Iterative Learning: The redevelopment process benefits from learning from past mistakes, allowing for better planning and execution in future engagements.
• 🏘️ Need for Diverse Housing: Introducing multifamily housing can address community demands while revitalizing underperforming commercial areas.
• 📈 Adapting to Market Changes: Acknowledging the changing economic landscape is vital for planners to adapt their strategies for successful redevelopment.
• 🎤 Effective Communication: Clear communication in community meetings is crucial to prevent misunderstandings and to ensure productive discussions around development plans.
• 💻 Utilizing Technology: Digital platforms can facilitate broader engagement, especially when physical meetings pose challenges, enhancing participation and feedback.

“You need to be very clear in what the role of the resident is.”

👀 Watch or listen to the Fireside Chat.

📧 Contact Michael Gradis on LinkedIn.

🌐 For more information visit City of Centennial's website.

📅 Engaging Events

📌Masterminds: Methods for Humanizing Public Conversation

🗹 Are your public meetings filled with empty chairs instead of active citizens?

🗹 Are you struggling to build trust with a public that believes everything is “rigged” by special interests?

🗹 Are you constantly dealing with public criticism and pushback?

🗹 Is your team struggling to manage tough public conversations?

Join our next EngagingCities Masterminds discussion led by Jeffrey Stec , a Certified Facilitator and Executive Director at Citizens for Civic Renewal to learn how to deal with these issues and try out “humanized” meeting facilitation strategies with a group of your peers.

📅 Wednesday, December 4, 2024

🕕 12:00 - 1:30pm MDT

👉 Register now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register

📌Effective Community Engagement in Health & Social Services

Join Capire Consulting Group 's Sarah Roberts and Emily Mellon for a webinar on effective community engagement in the health and social services sector! This session will explore innovative approaches to inclusive community engagement that can improve consumer and client experiences and ultimately boost health and wellbeing outcomes.

📅 Thursday, November 28, 2024

🕕 1pm – 1:45pm AEDT

👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/g2WK76BF

📚 Plan Showcase

Get inspiration, explore trends, or gain insights by exploring our curated list of community-recommended or award-winning plans. Check out this example:

📒 City of St. Cloud Historic Preservation Plan: City of St. Cloud, FL sets the standard for future growth with a groundbreaking historic preservation plan, fusing community heritage and economic expansion in a blueprint for resilience and prosperity.

Consulting team: Ayres Associates

💻 Take a look at more plans and submit yours here.

💼 Job Opportunities

Explore our list of community-engagement related job postings, such as:

📎 Assistant Director of Community Partnerships

Battery Park City Authority

Under the supervision of the Director of Community Partnerships and Public Art, the Assistant Director will help develop and manage a varied portfolio of public engagement, artistic, and cultural activities in close partnership with local organizations, artists, and BPCA staff. They will plan and execute administrative steps required to execute them with efficiency, attention to details, and work across departments successfully.

🗃️ Find more jobs and submit yours here.

🙌 Support for APA Interest Group

We believe the practice of Community Engagement should have its own Interest Group within the American Planning Association (APA) as a place to network, find inspiration, and share best practices. Help EngagingCities make the case by filling out this online form to express your support and get updates along the way. You may view the existing Divisions and Interest Groups within APA here for reference.

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