Registration is now open for the 2011 Neighborhood Summit, which will be held April 2 at Xavier University's Cintas Center.

This year's program, Thriving Neighborhoods=A Vibrant City, will be dedicated largely to Plan Cincinnati, providing neighborhood organizations and stakeholders presentations from local and national experts in the three general category tracks of public policy, character and place making, and strategies for making an impact.

Specifically, the sessions include:

• Policy: "Solutions for the Future", examining the effects of Section 8 vouchers on neighborhoods; and "Solutions for the Future", putting Plan Cincinnati into practice.
• Character: "Physical Form and Character Workshop Part 1", an introduction to the basic principles of vibrant public spaces; "Physical Form and Character Workshop Part 2", a discussion on how to create and maintain great places through the use of such tools as form-based codes and Complete Streets; and "Physical Form and Character Workshop Part 3", the creation of a concept map from the work done in parts 1 and 2.
• Making Impact: "Living the Plan: The Land Development Code", an interactive discussion on sustainable implementation of Plan Cincinnati; "How to Reclaim Your Public Space", an examination of how residents of East Walnut Hills and Evanston revitalized Owls Nest Park; "Promote Empowerment and Involvement Through Block Clubs", how to engage small groups to address larger neighborhood issues; "Opportunities for Sustainable Communities", a look at sustainable infrastructure such as the --> --> --> Project Groundwork initiative; "Neighborhoods Collaborating – Working Toward Common Goals", a look at how neighboring communities can work together instead of competing against each other; "Attacking Blight In Your Neighborhood", strategies for dealing with the foreclosure crisis and general neighborhood eyesores; "Build Cincinnati: Strategies for Urban Redevelopment Beyond Zoning", a look at how adoption of a form-based code can make the development process more easily navigable for residents and developers; "Visions for Neighborhoods in 15 Years", a panel discussion by five community leaders on challenges neighborhoods face in reaching their vision; and "Using Data to Build Healthy Neighborhoods", a presentation by the Cincinnati Health Department on what we can do to improve health and life expectancy.

Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls will provide opening remarks. The keynote speaker will be Mitchell J. Silver, planning director for the City of Raleigh and president elect of the American Planning Association.

The day will wrap up with a discussion on the policies recommended for adoption in the new comprehensive master plan, the City's first since the Coordinated City Plan of 1980.

A box lunch will be provided free of charge. To assure your seat and lunch selection, registration is required by March 25.

Tickets are also available for a kickoff dinner featuring guest speaker Shelley R. Poticha, director of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will be held from 6 P.M.-8 P.M. on April 1.

They can be purchased for $25 per person, and registration is required by March 25.

Silver photo courtesy of the American Planning Association. Poticha photo courtesy of event presenter Invest in Neighborhoods.

Previous reading on BC:
View, comment on Cincinnati's next master plan this Wednesday (1/31/11)
Final master plan learning forum this Thursday (8/23/10)
Cincinnati master plan forum to examine local planning efforts (8/2/10)
$110K, new staffer needed to administer neighborhood support funds (3/4/09)
Neighborhood Summit to be held January 24 (12/16/08)