Not Your Average Speakers: P3s Shape Urban Living

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, a proponent of public-private partnerships in reshaping the city's urban spaces, will participate as a panelist in "Opportunity Knocks: Putting P3s To Work,'' 83 Degrees Media's next "Not Your Average Speakers'' series event on September 26, 2012.

Buckhorn leads efforts by the city and private developers to work with the Urban Land Institute in an Invision Tampa project  aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods along the Hillsborough River north of downtown and serves as a Rose Fellow at ULI's Rose Center for Public Leadership.

Since taking office in 2011, Buckhorn is credited with reviving investments and focusing attention in downtown, including landing a major federal grant to extend The Tampa Riverwalk, and encouraging retail and residential developments in neighborhoods within walking distance of city hall and the traditional commercial office district.

"We eagerly anticipate a larger community conversation around the opportunities for public-private partnerships in helping shape urban living that improves accessibility and walkability in downtown Tampa,'' says Diane Egner, publisher and managing editor of 83 Degrees Media. "As we as a larger community look to attract and retain talent, the city's urban spaces are becoming increasingly significant as magnets for creativity and innovation.''

Among Public-Private Partnerships in Tampa:

    •     Encore: a planned community of mixed income housing and small shops connecting downtown's more traditional commercial district with the creative businesses and industries of Ybor City.

    •     Channelside: a retail, restaurant, entertainment, cruise ship complex next to the Tampa Port that is currently in negotiations for redevelopment.

    •     The Tampa Riverwalk: an extended ribbon for public access to and from the Hillsborough River where it flows through downtown Tampa.

    •     Tampa Bay History Center: a jewel of a museum that adds historic perspective to the string of museums along the river from the Port and the Florida Aquarium to the Tampa Convention Center, the Florida Museum of Photographic Art, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Glazer Children's Museum, the Straz Center and the Patel Center for the Performing Arts.

    •     Zack Street: the Promenade of the Arts envisioned by former Mayor Pam Iorio is taking shape with widened sidewalks, plantings and extended curbs designed to slow traffic.

    •    The Classic Federal Courthouse: Tampa Hotel Partners are in the process of renovating the 1905 building into a boutique hotel.

In Addition To Buckhorn, Panelists Include:

    •   Architect Tim Baker is founding principal and chief executive officer of Baker Barrios Architects, a key development partner at Creative Village, a mixed-use, urban neighborhood in downtown Orlando, and master architects for the Encore! development, a mixed-use, designed community just north of downtown Tampa. Baker also serves as a board member of the Economic Development Commission of Central Florida in Orlando.

    •   Academic Karen Holbrook, senior VP for Global Affairs and International Research and professor of molecular medicine at the University of South Florida. Holbrook is a former president of Ohio State University and serves on several national boards related to science and health.

    •   Developer Ken Stoltenberg of Mercury Advisors, which built Grand Central At Kennedy, and is now planning the Martin at Meridian and The Delvillar in the Channel District. Stoltenberg donated space at GCAK for Stageworks Theatre, providing a model for private developers to nurture community by supporting nonprofits that provide arts and culture.

The NYAS event, moderated by St. Petersburg artist and philosopher Carol Mickett, will be from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at USF Health's CAMLS center, 124 S. Franklin St., in downtown Tampa.

Mickett, a former TV documentary writer and producer, also hosts a monthly "Our Town'' conversation with St. Pete mythmakers at the Dali Museum.

83 Degrees Media launched the "Not Your Average Speakers'' series in October 2011 with a panel discussion about "What's Working In [Tampa Bay] Cities.'' Since then, local topics have included "Champions for Change,'' "Community Building,'' "Placemaking,'' "Talent Squeeze'' and "Valuing Diversity.''

Videos of past events are posted on the 83 Degrees Media channel on YouTube, including the video attached to this story, which includes part of the NYAS "Community Building'' event in February 2012.

The series is underwriting by Tucker Hall and Baker Barrios with technical support from White Book Agency and Mighty Fine Production. The events have been held at a variety of cool places, including Jaeb Theater, Stageworks Theatre, Freefall Theatre, The Roosevelt 2.0, Walker Brands and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.

Diane Egner is the publisher and managing editor of 83 Degrees Media. To become a sponsor of NYAS events, suggest topics for future events or offer a venue to host an event, contact 83 Degrees.