Deck the Highways with Plazas, Plazas...

APA Texas Chapter

#9275919

Thursday, November 9, 2023
9 a.m. - 10 a.m. CST

CM | 1
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Overview

Understand challenges & steps to achieve a successful deck plaza over an interstate: Position your community and marshal resources through partnerships; Establish a vision and planning goals through community engagement; Coordinate TxDOT; Conduct feasibility studies; explore TX-specific factors.

Do you want to walk across your local highway? Deck plazas are a unique way to help communities bridge  highways and reconnect neighborhoods. They are growing in popularity across the United States, but Texas is currently home to just one completed deck plaza, in Dallas. However, several others are currently in the planning stages including a second deck plaza in Dallas, one in El Paso, one in Austin, and several in the Houston area.



Stantec is leading the current deck plaza planning and feasibility study project in El Paso and will guide a brief presentation on deck plazas across Texas, followed by a facilitated panel discussion from representatives of the Downtown Austin Alliance and the City of El Paso. We will explore lessons and takeaways from these multiple deck plaza-planning initiatives.

Who Should Attend: Municipal and private community planners and implementors interested in proactively responding to opportunities for growth and redevelopment in their cities.

Speakers

Emily Reisinger

Invited Speaker

"Emily guides visionary projects that meet at the intersection of design, civic engagement and placemaking through the lens of equity and inclusion to make the heart of our community a better place for all. Emily also helps lead our Place & Planning and Urban Mobility Committees. Emily is a SITES … Read More

Sean Garretson

Invited Speaker

"Sean always knew he wanted to give back to his community, leading him to earn a college degree in anthropology, join the Peace Corps, and eventually become an urban planner focused on revitalization and economic development. Sean’s passion for helping neighborhoods thrive has only grown in his more than 20 … Read More

Joaquin Rodriguez

Invited Speaker

Lead for the current Deck Plaza initiative, and a long-time municipal planner who works to leverage capital planning projects to advance long-term planning and urban design goals. Read More

Peer Chacko

Invited Speaker

Principal, Planning & Urban Design Leader, Community Development - US Texas "Peer is a Principal at Stantec Consulting Services Inc. and leads the Planning & Urban Design discipline for the Texas Region. Peer has over 30 years of professional urban planning and design experience and is passionate about working at … Read More

Contact Info

Barbara Holly, bholly@rockdalecityhall.com