by Jonathan McGaha | October 5, 2011 12:00 am
A team of national experts assembled by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) are heading to Alabama this week to assist storm damaged communities and residents in the development of a long-term recovery strategy. The team, which will be in Alabama from October 7-10, is serving at the invitation of the City of Birmingham, will be conducting a participatory planning process with the entire community.
The four day community process will include physical tours of the neighborhood and surrounding area, public workshops and focus groups to solicit the input of citizens and stakeholders, and a series of design studios that will culminate in a public presentation to the community highlighting key strategies moving forward. The team will also issue a formal report that captures its recommendations. The event will conclude with a press conference hosted by the City of Birmingham on Monday, October 10th, at 8:00 p.m.
“This is a critical step in rebuilding these communities and for the City of Birmingham,” says Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “We look forward to working with these experts, hearing from the communities and then the AIA’s recommendation and plan.”
The Regional and Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) project is a public service of the AIA. The multidisciplinary team of national experts will be providing pro bono services for the event. “Our team includes experts in a range of disciplines that have decades of experience working with thousands of citizens on revitalization issues in a host of communities around the world,” says Joel Mills, director of the Center for Communities by Design.
The team consists of nine national experts who are volunteering their services on a pro bono basis. As objective outsiders, they are able to listen to community input and provide professional expertise free from any hidden agendas or political context. The result in many communities is the development of recommendations that have enhanced credibility with local stakeholders, as well as momentum for partnerships and implementation.
“We want this vision to come from the people that live there and work there and are part of the Pratt community,” says team leader Bert Gregory, FAIA.
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