ULI-NNJ Announces Kenneth T. Jackson as Keynote Speaker for "Gritty Cities II"
By Mel Fabrikant Monday, April 06, 2009, 11:12 AM EDT
The Northern New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ) in conjunction with the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) announces that Kenneth T. Jackson, the Jacques Barzun Professor of History and Social Sciences at Columbia University in New York, will be the keynote speaker at its second annual New Jersey Urban Revitalization Conference on April 21 in Jersey City, N.J.
The conference, entitled "Gritty Cities II - The Future is Urban," will illustrate how local urban areas have confronted many of the most pressing issues facing the state regarding development and how other cities can benefit from their examples and apply those principles in their own communities.
ULI is a worldwide organization that provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities by bringing together leaders to exchange best practices. ULI is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
The conference was organized by Robert Antonicello, executive director of the JCRA and moderator of the event, who will introduce the program. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy will deliver the welcome address.
Jackson will kick off "Gritty Cities II" with a plenary session entitled "If All The World Were New Jersey: The Past and Future of Garden State Cities," from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Jackson is also the director of the Herbert H. Lehman Center for the Study of American History at Columbia, has chaired Columbia's department of history and is the editor-in-chief of the 1.4 million word Encyclopedia of New York City. He specializes in urban, social, and military history and is best known as an urban historian and a preeminent authority on New York City.
The panel, entitled "The Future is Urban: Cities in 2050, Creating Blueprints for Change," will be moderated by Antonicello and will explore the changes facing metropolitan areas. The panel will be illustrated by interesting facts and charts on topics such as the impact of capital markets, climate change, sustainability, transportation and infrastructure needs, demographic trends, housing, retail and technology.
Following the panel there will be a roundtable discussion moderated by Antonicello. Participants will include James W. Hughes, Ph.D., dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, one of the nation's key centers for the theory and practice of planning and public policy scholarship and analysis; Anton Nelessen, AIA, of A. Nelessen Associates LLC, an award winning visioning, planning, and design firm that believes in the development of high quality communities of place; and Petra Todorovich, director of America 2050, a national urban planning initiative to develop an infrastructure and growth strategy for the United States.
"We are bringing together the most influential leaders in New Jersey's real estate industry to show how what's taking place in Jersey City, Hoboken and New York City is a microcosm of all of the issues relating to development throughout the state," said Antonicello. "What these cities have done in transforming New Jersey's urban landscape can serve as models for future development."
"Gritty Cities II" will be held at the Liberty House Restaurant, located at 76 Audrey Zapp Drive, Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., with an optional tour of the "W" Hotel in Hoboken, N.J. and Canco Lofts, Curries Wood, The Beacon and Hamilton Square in Jersey City, N.J., from noon to 2 p.m. The tours will leave from Liberty House Restaurant.
Tickets for "Gritty Cities II" are $55 for ULI members, $85 for non-members and free for students. Ticket prices include a networking cocktail reception, the tour of local projects and a copy of the ULI publication, "The City in 2050." Admission for the media is free. To register for the event visit ULI-NNJ's Web site at www.nnj.uli.org. For more information visit the "Gritty Cities" Web site at www.grittycities.org.
"Gritty Cities II" will follow a morning event held in Jersey City entitled "Blight To Revitalization," sponsored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The event, which starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes to 1 p.m., will be an information session by League public officials, including keynote speaker Nina Mitchell Wells Esq., New Jersey's secretary of state. The event will be held at The Culinary Conference Center at Hudson County Community College, 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City, N.J. A boxed lunch, as well as round-trip van service to the Liberty House Restaurant is available free of charge to those attending the "Gritty Cities II" conference. Those needing van transportation should meet in the atrium of Hudson County Community College at 11:45 a.m.
"Gritty Cities" is sponsored by Landmark Developers Inc., Liberty House Restaurant, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, the American Planning Association and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
About Gritty Cities
Gritty Cities is the collaboration of the Urban Land Institute and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency to create educational events that showcase the positive transformation that cities are undergoing today. Now in its second year, Gritty Cities' mission is to accelerate the learning process for those who work in cities in order to progress from disinvestment and despair to models of prosperity and healthy urbanism. Gritty Cities believes that by illuminating smart positive development ideas, cities can model the successes of other cities. The Urban Land Institute and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency are committed to showcasing the most up-to-date practices of how to transform cities from both the public and private sector to further advance the quality and livability of our cities today.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute that is supported and directed by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute today has over 34,000 members and associates representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development disciplines. It is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
About the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency is an autonomous city agency whose responsibilities include project facilitation, site assemblage and clearance, environmental remediation and developer selection within redevelopment areas.
The conference, entitled "Gritty Cities II - The Future is Urban," will illustrate how local urban areas have confronted many of the most pressing issues facing the state regarding development and how other cities can benefit from their examples and apply those principles in their own communities.
ULI is a worldwide organization that provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities by bringing together leaders to exchange best practices. ULI is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
The conference was organized by Robert Antonicello, executive director of the JCRA and moderator of the event, who will introduce the program. Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy will deliver the welcome address.
Jackson will kick off "Gritty Cities II" with a plenary session entitled "If All The World Were New Jersey: The Past and Future of Garden State Cities," from 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Jackson is also the director of the Herbert H. Lehman Center for the Study of American History at Columbia, has chaired Columbia's department of history and is the editor-in-chief of the 1.4 million word Encyclopedia of New York City. He specializes in urban, social, and military history and is best known as an urban historian and a preeminent authority on New York City.
The panel, entitled "The Future is Urban: Cities in 2050, Creating Blueprints for Change," will be moderated by Antonicello and will explore the changes facing metropolitan areas. The panel will be illustrated by interesting facts and charts on topics such as the impact of capital markets, climate change, sustainability, transportation and infrastructure needs, demographic trends, housing, retail and technology.
Following the panel there will be a roundtable discussion moderated by Antonicello. Participants will include James W. Hughes, Ph.D., dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, one of the nation's key centers for the theory and practice of planning and public policy scholarship and analysis; Anton Nelessen, AIA, of A. Nelessen Associates LLC, an award winning visioning, planning, and design firm that believes in the development of high quality communities of place; and Petra Todorovich, director of America 2050, a national urban planning initiative to develop an infrastructure and growth strategy for the United States.
"We are bringing together the most influential leaders in New Jersey's real estate industry to show how what's taking place in Jersey City, Hoboken and New York City is a microcosm of all of the issues relating to development throughout the state," said Antonicello. "What these cities have done in transforming New Jersey's urban landscape can serve as models for future development."
"Gritty Cities II" will be held at the Liberty House Restaurant, located at 76 Audrey Zapp Drive, Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., with an optional tour of the "W" Hotel in Hoboken, N.J. and Canco Lofts, Curries Wood, The Beacon and Hamilton Square in Jersey City, N.J., from noon to 2 p.m. The tours will leave from Liberty House Restaurant.
Tickets for "Gritty Cities II" are $55 for ULI members, $85 for non-members and free for students. Ticket prices include a networking cocktail reception, the tour of local projects and a copy of the ULI publication, "The City in 2050." Admission for the media is free. To register for the event visit ULI-NNJ's Web site at www.nnj.uli.org. For more information visit the "Gritty Cities" Web site at www.grittycities.org.
"Gritty Cities II" will follow a morning event held in Jersey City entitled "Blight To Revitalization," sponsored by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. The event, which starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes to 1 p.m., will be an information session by League public officials, including keynote speaker Nina Mitchell Wells Esq., New Jersey's secretary of state. The event will be held at The Culinary Conference Center at Hudson County Community College, 161 Newkirk St., Jersey City, N.J. A boxed lunch, as well as round-trip van service to the Liberty House Restaurant is available free of charge to those attending the "Gritty Cities II" conference. Those needing van transportation should meet in the atrium of Hudson County Community College at 11:45 a.m.
"Gritty Cities" is sponsored by Landmark Developers Inc., Liberty House Restaurant, Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy, the American Planning Association and the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
About Gritty Cities
Gritty Cities is the collaboration of the Urban Land Institute and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency to create educational events that showcase the positive transformation that cities are undergoing today. Now in its second year, Gritty Cities' mission is to accelerate the learning process for those who work in cities in order to progress from disinvestment and despair to models of prosperity and healthy urbanism. Gritty Cities believes that by illuminating smart positive development ideas, cities can model the successes of other cities. The Urban Land Institute and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency are committed to showcasing the most up-to-date practices of how to transform cities from both the public and private sector to further advance the quality and livability of our cities today.
About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute that is supported and directed by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute today has over 34,000 members and associates representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development disciplines. It is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.
About the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency is an autonomous city agency whose responsibilities include project facilitation, site assemblage and clearance, environmental remediation and developer selection within redevelopment areas.
