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H-GAC's Livable Centers Workshops provide resources, training and information to help communities and local governments enhance their quality of life. You can find information on upcoming workshops in various topic areas at the links below, as well as presentations and materials from past workshops.
Upcoming Workshop
Steps Toward Transportation, Environmental, & Social Equity: H-GAC's Livable Centers Workshop
Date and Time
Thursday, September 19, 2024
8 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Are you passionate about creating a more sustainable future? Do you want to learn how transportation, environmental justice, and social equity intersect to shape our communities? Then mark your calendar for our upcoming workshop!
At the annual Livable Centers Workshop: Incremental Steps Toward Transportation, Environmental, and Social Equity, we'll bring together experts in transportation, environmental sustainability, and social equity to share insights and explore how we can create transportation systems that serve everyone's needs while protecting the environment and promoting equity.
Join us as we:
- Explore the intersectionality of transportation equity, environmental justice, and social equity.
- Share incremental successes in working toward a future where transportation systems are inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
- Hear from experts on project-specific strategies for integrating environmental and health considerations into transportation planning and policy.
- Learn about initiatives that put equitable planning in practice.
Registration is requested, but not required, to attend.
CM Credits
This event is eligible for 2.00 CM Credits from the American Planning Association.
Workshop Speakers
Presenters for the day include:
Rushka Tcholakova, Director of Community Programs, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Houston – Rushka has dedicated her career to transforming systems that yield pathways for prosperity for all by leading coalitions toward collective impact and helping nonprofits and governments design ecosystems of financial inclusion and mobility. Before LISC, she worked at the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, modernizing the global financial regulatory system, and building operational infrastructure. Rushka worked for the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, where she was responsible for the creation and execution of the agency’s housing and economic stability work and legislative affairs. She’s also served in philanthropic roles overseeing millions of dollars in community investments.
Bill Ervin, Senior Planner, Community and Environmental Planning, Houston-Galveston Area Council – Bill leads H-GAC's Homeowner Wastewater Assistance Program, which provides funding to qualified homeowners for the repair and replacement of failing conventional septic systems or aerobic on-site sewage facilities. Bill also works with the Water Resources team to develop water quality management plans and strategies. Before joining the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Bill accrued experience as a project manager in wastewater, groundwater, and soil geology with local municipalities and public and private companies.
Peter Eccles, AICP, Director of Policy and Planning, LINK Houston – Peter is the Director of Policy and Planning for LINK Houston, a non-profit organization that advocates for a robust and equitable transportation network. He leads the organization’s research efforts, helping community partners better understand how to shape transportation decision-making. He has over seven years of transportation planning experience across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Peter has lived car-free in Houston since 2016 and relies on public transit, his bike, and his feet for his daily needs. He is an instructor certified by the League of American Bicyclists, has completed over 4,000 miles of cross-country touring, and spends his weekends giving historical bike tours of Downtown Houston.
Past Workshops
Applying Human-Centered Metrics for Successful Transportation Planning - June 20, 2024
Applying Human-Centered Metrics for Successful Transportation Planning
At this roundtable, pwe were joined by 3 speakers who were consultants for recently completed Livable Centers studies. The speakers lead discussions around metrics for successful engagement, human-centered metrics in design for transportation planning, and comparing and contrasting community driven and data driven decision making.
Exploring Dynamic Engagement Strategies - April 18, 2024
Exploring Dynamic Engagement Strategies
At this roundtable, participants attendees participated in both plenary and small-group discussions around successes and challenges related to community engagement strategies.
Elements of Placemaking Beyond Aesthetics - September 13, 2023
Elements of Placemaking Beyond Aesthetics
At this workshop participants learned about Livable Centers projects that have been implemented around the region. Local sponsors described elements of placemaking beyond aesthetics, such as safety, economic development, and environmental impact. This event was eligible for 3 CM Credits from the American Planning Association.
Finding the Money - September 16, 2022
Finding the Money: Getting Projects Prepped for Funding
At this workshop participants learned innovative strategies that leverage existing resources and expand active transportation projects' funding potential. Local area experts described how to evaluate projects using performance-based criteria for project planning and highlighted pilot projects and programs being implemented in the Houston-Galveston region today. H-GAC staff also gave an overview of H-GAC resources including future grant opportunities the agency is actively tracking.
Agenda
Recording from Finding the Money workshop
Presentation
Active Transportation Handouts
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Funding and Partnership Opportunities
Funding Sources
Self-Screening and Preparation
CM Credits
This event was eligible for 3CM Credits from the American Planning Association.
Elements of Placemaking - August 20, 2021
Elements of Placemaking
Placemaking is the act of fostering communities that allow everyone to thrive, prosper, and enjoy themselves in inspiring settings.
At this workshop Fred Kent, a pioneer of the placemaking movement, and local partners in the Houston-Galveston region shared their insights. Participants heard about projects in alleyways and on sidewalks, tips to re-energize underutilized buildings and open spaces, and quick placemaking solutions available to all communities.
Agenda
Recording from Elements of Placemaking Workshop
Presentations
Activating Alleyways
Kelly Violette, Executive Director, Tomball Economic Development Corporation
Activating Bikeways
Irma Sanchez, Vice President of Projects, Westchase Management District
Activating Transit Stops
Jorge Bustamante, Planning Manager, Harris County Precinct 2
Re-energize Underutilized Buildings
Derrick Dees, Financial Advisor and Developer, Dees Financial Services (Angleton)
Activating Bethel Church Preservation and Open-Air Park
Vanessa Sampson, Executive Director, Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority
Activating Art for Placemaking
Elia Quiles, Co-Founder and Public Art Administrator, Up Art Studio
Activating Space with Temporary Popups
Rik Adamski, Principal, ASH+LIME
Facilitating Parking Workshop - September 17-18, 2020
The Future of Parking and Mobility Kickoff
September 17, 2020H-GAC, local parking experts, and community partners explored how the current environment and future innovations are affecting how we plan for parking, and how parking may change how we develop in the Houston-Galveston region. Participants learned about topics are changing the way we think about parking and heard from an expert panel regarding COVID, Autonomous Vehicles, Rideshare, and more.
Presentations
Parking to the Future
Brian Lozano, PMP, Director of Parking Services - Walter P Moore
Parking and Curb Management
Maria Irshad, CAPP, Assistant Director - Park Houston
Parking Future in METRONext
Priya Zachariah, Manager - METROHouton
The Future of Parking
Lisa Nisenson, Vice President - WGI
Facilitating Parking for Livable Centers
September 18, 2020During this half-day webinar, participants learned how to invigorate Main Streets, Downtowns, or Town Centers with parking solutions that leverage a community’s existing resources, enhance community context, and build community partnerships that incentivize new investment based on community needs. Gain free-expert insight, hear local case study examples, and find opportunity for future partnership.
Presentations
General Trends in Parking and Why Parking Reforms Matters
Travis Liska, Senior Transportation Planner - North Central Texas Council of Governments
Parking Considerations at a City Level
David Fields, Chief Transportation Planner - City of Houston
Parking Consideration for the H-GAC Region
Nicole Chinea, Senior Project Manager - WGI
Right Size Parking and What You Need to Consider
Jeremy Rocha, Senior Project Manager - WGI
Parking from an Investment Perspective, Main Street Parking vs. Montrose Collective Parking Garage
Evan Peterson, Development Director - Radom Capital, LLC, Real Estate
Parking from a Municipal Lens and Toolbox
Kirk Myers, Associate Engineer and Planner - The Goodman Corporation
Shared Use Parking and Pedestrian Connectivity for Small Towns
Craig T. Meyers, Community Development Director - City of Tomball
Town Center Special Zone for Parking and Future Development of Old Sugar Mill Site
Doug P. Schomburg, City Planner – Development - City of Sugar Land
Midtown Parking Adaptations to Induce Development and Investment
Marlon Marshall, Director of Engineering and Construction - Midtown TIRZ
Pattern Zoning and Pre-approved Housing Development Templates in Midtown, Bryan
Lindsay Hackett, Project Planner, City of Bryan
Facilitating Housing - September 20, 2019
Facilitating Housing
Participants in this workshop gained insight on how to incorporate housing into planning strategies and learn about the tools available in our region to help promote successful housing development. They also had a chance to join in a conversation with an expert panel to see what it takes to make a housing development “pencil,” and ask questions about localized housing strategies in their communities.
Presentations
H-GAC's Livable Centers Program
Jeff Taebel, FAICP, H-GAC
Plan Development: Livable Centers Study
Nick Finan, Executive Director of Management Services, City of Texas City
Toolbox Development: What's available in our region?
Alexandra Miller, Managing Principal, Asakura Robinson
Resources and Upcoming Events
Toolbox Implementation: 3 Tools & 3 Partners, Houston Examples
Community Redevelopment Corporation (CRC)
Kathy Payton, President, Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation
Community Development Corporation (CDC)
William H. Merrick, Real Estate Projects Coordinator, Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation
Community Land Trust (CLT)
Ashley Allen, Executive Director, Houston Community Land Trust
Toolbox Test Case: 1 Developer & 1 Property, A Small-town Example
Lance Gilliam, Partner, Waterman Steele Real Estate Advisors
Future of Retail - September 21, 2018
Future of Retail: Your Community Destination
Participants at this workshop gained insights from experts on retail trends and future opportunities. They learned how communities like Navasota, Rosenberg, Huntsville are attracting and retaining retail tenants while rebranding their retail destinations through practical policies, programs and projects.
Presentations
H-GAC's Livable Centers Program
Jeff Taebel, FAICP, H-GAC
Retail Trends
Steven R. Spillette, CDS Community Development Strategies
Local Examples - Navasota
Brad Stafford, City of Navasota
Local Examples - Huntsville
Aron Kulhavy, City of Huntsville
Retail Toolbox
Austin Farmer, The Retail Coach
Instant Impact Workshop - September 29, 2017
Presentations
Uses and Benefits of Instant Impact
Layne Ferguson, Team Better Block
Instant Impact in Small Towns
Tanvi Sharma, Huitt-Zollars
Instant Impact through Partnerships
Luis Guajardo and Alexandra Miller, Asakura Robinson
Introduction to the Instant Impact Guide
Clint McManus, Houston-Galveston Area Council
Instant Impact Resources
Creating Walkable Places: Sustainable Transportation Workshop - September 30, 2016
Participants at this half-day workshop learned how communities can create more walkable places by investing in sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities.
Private Development Workshop Series
The Houston-Galveston Area Council hosted a three-part workshop series focused on how to attract private development for our Livable Centers Study Sponsors. Workshop 1 'Land/Property and Regulation/Permitting' was held on Friday, May 10, 2013 followed by 'Finance, Incentives and Value Added' on June 21st. A third workshop was held on September 7, 2013. Workshop presentations have been posted below.
Private Development Workshop 3
Livable Centers Speed Dating
Friday, September 27, 2013
Private Development Workshop 2
Finance, Incentives and Value Added
Friday, June 21, 2013
This workshop focuses on the financial side of development and funding mechanisms and concludes with a reality check.
The Competitive Edge: The Added Value of Livability
Jeff Taebel, Houston-Galveston Area Council
Amy Harbert, SWA Group
We Are Open for Business: Getting Public Infrastructure Right
Rebecca Leonard, Design Workshop
Reality Check: Your Communities' Development Market
Doug Childers, Morris Architects
Terra Firma: Land as an Incentive
Todd LaRue, Robert Charles Lesser & Co.
The Basics – The Development Financing Process
Bill Odle, Cobb, Fendley & Associates
The Role of Public Entities - Cities, Counties, 4A and 4B Corps and Special Districts
Alan Mueller, Marsh-Darcy Partners
Non-Traditional Finance: CDFIs, CDCs and more
Amanda Timm, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Private Development Workshop 1
Land/Property and Regulation/Permitting
May 10, 2013
Creating your development team, Land and Property, Regulations and Permitting.
What is the purpose of this workshop and what should you expect?
Jeff Taebel, Houston-Galveston Area Council
The Livable Centers Coach
Bill Odle, Cobb, Fendley & Associates
Just Do It: Case Study - Nassau Bay Town Center
Sue Darcy, Marsh Darcy Partners
Property Acquisition, Assembly, and Partnerships
Matt Stovall, Crosspoint Properties
Livable Centers Reunion - March 30, 2012
Local project sponsors and interested parties discussed Livable Centers challenges and opportunities in a roundtable forum.