News & Views

The Newsletter of the Economic Development Division

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Summer 2011

Contents include:

APA Economic Development Division — Annual Business Meeting Highlights
Editor's Column
Thoughts from the Chair
Calendar of Events
List of New Members

...and the following feature articles:

Peninsula Town Center: A Catalyst for Redevelopment

by Amy B. Jordan, Redevelopment Manager, Hampton, VA

There is an emerging definition of blight that is being applied in communities resulting in a strategy which repositions underutilized, inappropriate and obsolete land uses to facilitate revitalization. In an urban built-out city, such a strategy must take precedence to disrupt a descending spiral of disinvestment that often occurs with underperforming properties. This strategy must be holistic by taking a comprehensive approach to promote both physical revitalization and financial reinvestment in distressed areas. The redevelopment of the Coliseum Mall into Peninsula Town Center embraced this strategy and is now serving as a model for future redevelopment in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia...

Irvine Business Complex Vision Plan

by Bill Jacobs, AICP, Principal Planner, City of Irvine Community Development Department

The Irvine Business Complex IBC Residential/Mixed-Use Vision Plan and Overlay Zoning Code development standards ("the Vision Plan project") have been developed to facilitate the continued evolution of the IBC from a primarily office and industrial center into a fully mixed-use business and residential community. The IBC Vision Plan, adopted as a new element in the City's General Plan, represents policy direction to create both a neighborhood and economic growth framework for the IBC. A companion overlay zone and related code amendments create development standards for new residential and mixed-use development to ensure proper integration of these uses into the planned neighborhood framework...

Marana Economic Roadmap – APA EDD Hunter Award Article

by Josh Wright, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Town of Marana, Arizona

Determining the real meaning of the term "economic development" in a troubled economy can be challenging. Everyone in the community wants more of it, but few can articulate how that thought translates into a plan of action. Such was the case in Marana, Ariz., which had benefitted from several years of growth in the manufacturing and high-technology sectors despite having no formal plan of action for economic development and little interaction with its major employers. The local government didn't even have an economic development department or staff, despite a population of nearly 35,000 and recent major successes, including the opening of the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain resort in 2009. That same year, the Town of Marana embarked on a new approach to economic development, taking advantage of a lull in new construction activity to plan smartly for a strong rebound...

Urban Retail: Inside, Outside and All Around

by Jill Griffin, Arlington Economic Development

Arlington, Virginia, located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, is a metropolitan area which has seen increased population growth and has managed its infrastructure needs well. In planning and smart growth circles, Arlington is often considered a standard bearer: In fact, Clarendon and Wilson boulevards received the prestigious "Great Places in America: Streets" designation by the American Planning Association. Many elements foster a great street and one crucial part is successful retail. However, recently, a retail task force was convened by the Arlington Economic Development Commission to address retail in Arlington – specifically urban retail – to address retail policies.