🗞️ Dynamic Urban Renewal With Mark Christensen, Reader Survey, Launch of Resources Section, & more!
February 12, 2025 edition
EngagingCities shares outstanding work by our network of planners and changemakers, who actively involve their communities in creating better places and a brighter future.
🔥 Fireside Chat with Mark Christensen
“Meet people where they are, but you have to put the information where they are too.”
Mark Christensen, AICP is a Senior Planner with AVI. He discusses the challenges and successes of establishing an Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The conversation explores the nuances of community engagement, the significance of transparency, and the role of tax increment financing in urban renewal projects. Mark shares his journey with various planning roles, including his tenure with AmeriCorps. He highlight the importance of effective communication strategies and diverse engagement methods in achieving community buy-in for urban planning initiatives. Mark emphasizes the need for proactive public engagement, particularly when addressing sensitive terminologies like “blight,” and shares lessons learned from initial community pushback and the successful adoption of more effective engagement strategies in later projects.
📧 Contact Mark on LinkedIn or at mchristensen@avipc.com
Key Takeaways
⏰ The Importance of Early Engagement: Mark highlights that engaging with residents early in the planning process helps to build trust and understanding, which can lead to community buy-in for projects that may initially be met with resistance. Proactive engagement allows planners to address concerns before they escalate into opposition.
💬 Understanding Urban Renewal Terminology: The conversation sheds light on the historical context of urban renewal terminology, particularly “blight.” Mark points out that many residents may have negative associations with these terms due to past abuses in urban renewal practices. Educating the community about what these terms mean in a contemporary context is essential for gaining their support.
💻 Leveraging Technology for Engagement: The discussion underscores the role of technology in modern community engagement. Mark advocates for the use of tools like QR codes and GIS story maps to provide residents with easy access to information about urban planning processes and projects, thus enhancing their ability to participate in discussions meaningfully.
💡 Lessons Learned from Experience: Reflecting on his experiences, Mark emphasizes the importance of learning from past projects. His team’s approach to community engagement evolved over time, particularly in response to pushback they received during earlier urban renewal discussions. By incorporating feedback and improving communication strategies, they were able to foster more positive outcomes.
🔎 The Role of Transparency: Mark stresses that transparency in the planning process helps demystify what urban renewal entails. By clearly communicating the goals and potential impacts of projects, planners can alleviate fears and build a more supportive environment among community members.
📢 Diverse Feedback Mechanisms: The episode highlights the necessity of offering various channels for public feedback. Different individuals have different preferences for how they engage with planning processes, so providing options—such as open houses, online surveys, and direct communication—ensures a broader range of voices are heard.
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📅 Engaging Events
Are you facing a community engagement challenge? Sit in the "hot seat" as your peers collaboratively solve your challenge in real-time! Participants will learn from each other as they take turns sharing their challenges and offering solutions. Everyone is welcome, whether you are a community engagement novice or expert.
The session will be moderated by Kelly Hickler, AICP, IAP2
📅 Thursday, February 13, 2025
🕕 10:00 - 11:00 am MDT
👉 Register now at Eventbrite
🧰 New Resources Section on Website
We’re excited to introduce the new Resources section on our website and continue to build a space designed to collect, share, and grow the best tools, guides, and insights in community engagement. Whether you're a local government leader, a consultant, or a community organizer, you can submit your favorite resources—reports, toolkits, case studies, and more—to help strengthen engagement practices across the field.
Visit https://www.engagingcities.org/resources and contribute today!
📚 Plan Showcase
Get inspiration, explore trends, or gain insights by exploring our curated list of community-recommended or award-winning plans here.
💼 Job Opportunities
Explore our list of community-engagement related job postings here.
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