Human Development–Overlay District: Planning Tools and Processes

Monday, April 27, 9:30am - 10:45am

The Human Development Overlay District (HD-OD, an initative of the Environmental Simulation Center and the Ford Foundation) will host a session focusing on the first year’s experiences of the four pilot communities in applying and adapting the HD-OD to their specific needs, situations, and conditions.

HD-OD addresses the need for human capital providers, planners, communities, policy-makers, and developers to work together, especially in communities undergoing rapid change due to major redevelopment projects (Hollywood), light rail (St. Paul), regulatory actions (Astoria), and public policy (Boston). Information technology represents a resource to address these needs, but only if integrated into a process of active engagement between all major constituencies, particularly low income residents, small businesses, the elderly and other vulnerable populations. These populations do not fully benefit from, yet are most affected by, the changes reshaping their community. They are the target of human capital interventions that will be coordinated with the physical development interventions through HD-OD.

The format will be a moderated panel to support engagement between the moderators, panelists, and attendees. It will be moderated by Michael Kwartler (Environmental Simulation Center) and Miguel Garcia (formerly Ford Foundation) principal collaborators of the HD-OD concept. Panelists will represent each of the pilot communities. The program will begin with a brief overview of HD-OD.  There will then be a sequence of three moderated questions, each followed by the experiences of two diverse pilot communities in implementing HD-OD processes and tools, and questions from attendees (20 minutes per moderated question).

The questions will address three core concerns:

• Integration of community-based planning and the catalytic project(s), and reaching consensus;
• Linking the aspirations of the vulnerable population to the community plan and catalytic project(s); and
• The creation of a Community Change Center that serves as a “commons” and information source for all stakeholders.

Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions prior to the session at the HD-OD website.  Sign up using the form at left to be notified when question submissions are open.  In the "Message" field, please indicate your interest in submitting a question for the panel.