APA National Capital Area Chapter’s June 20 event at Catholic University focuses on planning challenges in region
SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is participating in a one-day conference being held by The National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Catholic University’s School of Architecture and Planning.
Rick Liu, an economic and development specialist, will be one of three speakers to address the challenges confronting the office market in the greater Washington, DC area. The recent economic downturn, advances in technology, changes in the way people work and evolving tenant preferences have led to shrinking demand for office space across the region. For many communities, these trends have resulted in higher than average vacancy rates and underutilized office buildings, delayed new development and weakened revitalization efforts.
Liu will discuss how Montgomery County plans to adapt to these changes. The County recently completed a study on office space and found that enhancing such environments through mixed-use, transit-oriented developments can improve their competitiveness. This report also recommends reducing the supply of non-competitive office space by converting vacant office buildings to housing, hotels or other uses, and increasing office demand through aggressive economic development efforts.
At the APA conference, senior planner Molline Jackson will participate in a panel discussion focused on demystifying public art projects and programs. Jackson, a regulatory lead reviewer, acts as the public art liaison, coordinates the review of public art projects by the Art Review Panel and represents the Montgomery County Planning Department on the Public Arts Trust Steering Committee.
She will explain the potential benefits and challenges typically faced during collaboration between the community, developers, governmental entities and public artists. Her presentation will highlight a range of art installations that have enhanced communities throughout the County, and explain how they contribute to quality placemaking.
For more information about conference registration, go to: http://ncac-apa.org/events/chapter-conference/