Introduction
On May 7-8, 2026, FIBER’s Interdisciplinary Urban Design for a Resilient Future initiative (referred to as “Urban Futures”) hosted a collaborative workshop with local officials and leaders from six Florida communities to explore possible solutions to ongoing environmental, economic, and development challenges. This year, the participating communities were St. Marks, Madison, Williston, White Springs, Lake Helen, and Zephyrhills, selected from over 100 cities and towns that applied. This reflects an expansion of the program from last year’s four participating communities (Perry, Micanopy, Crystal River, and St. Pete Beach). The two-day workshop consisted of each community presenting the unique set of resilience issues they are currently facing, ranging from urban redevelopment to mitigating extreme weather events, followed by a multi-part workshop in which DCP, FIBER, and collaborating UF faculty—along with insights and guidance from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Forest Service, and the event sponsor, the Duke Energy Foundation—examined these challenges. Students and postdocs working with participating faculty were also in attendance to observe the presentations and workshop, gaining valuable experience in community engagement.
Day 1
Day 1 began with an introductory presentation by Dr. Carla Brisotto, PI of the Urban Futures program, and Evelyn Calle, graduate research assistant for the project. The presentation outlined the Opportunity Zones 1.0 program, its urban impact, and its specific characteristics in Florida, while introducing the upcoming transition to Opportunity Zones 2.0. It also framed the project’s focus on small communities and the distinct challenges they face, including fiscal vulnerability, limited funding, lower population density, fragile communication networks, and the need for resilience-oriented development strategies. Mayors and other representatives from the six participating communities then gave a round-robin series of presentations on the challenges their communities are currently facing, such as economic hardships, low population density, limited city funding for resilience improvements, and fragile communication networks. The community case studies were then workshopped to home in on specific local issues and develop proposed solutions to promote sustainable development and positive change.
The case study for the City of Madison is a prominent example of the multidisciplinary and varied approach taken to solving community challenges. This case study took aim at the historic neighborhood of Setzer’s Quarters, an underserved area that has grappled with the impacts of flooding, hurricanes, and the presence of illegal and unsafe activities. One proposed solution that addresses several of these challenges is the sustainable and resilient restoration of abandoned and hurricane-damaged homes, drawing on strategic partnerships, equitable funding, and resident input to ensure success. The City of Williston was another case study that incorporated resilient redevelopment, identifying areas of opportunity that surround the Williston Regional Airport. With more than 1,000 acres available for development, this case study looked at existing infrastructure and how it can be leveraged to generate new development, industry, and economic growth that could generate community-wide benefits. Similarly, the other four communities worked through their respective case studies, delving into the options available to build community and built environment resilience and explore potential funding mechanisms city leaders could pursue, with support from FIBER and the University of Florida.
To conclude Day 1, representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Forest Service grant programs gave presentations on available funding opportunities. These presentations were intended to inform participating communities about potential resources and alternative funding pathways that could support projects aimed at strengthening local development, resilience, and long-term community growth.
Day 2
Moving into day 2, the workshop adopted an open discussion format, encouraging discourse between community representatives and UF participants in response to the case studies presented the day prior. During these discussions, city representatives provided feedback and additional context and nuance regarding the current state of their communities and the experiences of those who live in them. Topics included how their communities have changed in recent years and the steps they’ve already taken to mitigate the issues they are grappling with. In response, Urban Futures participants proposed pathways for supporting redevelopment and residents’ quality of life, while also considering environmental and resilience factors and the role they play in future changes. These open discussions allowed for direct feedback and input from both sides, building the foundation of relationships to be maintained and drawn upon in future collaborations.
Following these discussions, a reflection session was held where representatives shared what they had learned and any remaining questions or concerns regarding future implementation of the proposed solutions. To close the day, participants and representatives visited the Bruno E. and Maritza F. Ramos Collaboratory to explore the new technologies and tools that FIBER and the College of Design, Construction and Planning are developing that could be utilized in their own communities as well.
Moving Forward + Faculty Profile
This workshop was spearheaded by FIBER faculty member and Urban Futures PI, Dr. Carla Brisotto, who has organized and led the program for the last two years. When asked about her takeaways from this year’s event, Brisotto emphasized the importance of collaboration between community representatives and UF faculty. Brisotto also noted the potential that each community has for improvement and growth, highlighting how they contribute to the richness of Florida’s communities through historic and cultural preservation, as well as stewardship of the natural resources for which the state is known. Community representatives shared similar sentiments, with one anonymous respondent expressing that “due to all the fiscal constraints on all smaller local governments, interacting with the faculty and hearing the problems of other small towns, this experience was a great breath of life knowing that we are not alone in our endeavors for funding.”
Looking to the future, Brisotto and other UF Urban Futures participants plan to continue discussions around additional paths to solving the problems presented, offering ongoing support to community leaders to help ensure that these solutions can successfully be put into practice. Brisotto hopes this ongoing work will continue to provide hands-on educational opportunities in community engagement and service, expanding options for student involvement and participation. On a larger scale, these two-day Urban Futures workshops not only open doors to new collaborations with local governments and underserved Florida communities, they also directly contribute to advancing FIBER’s mission to build resilience across Florida and empower people to thrive in a complex and changing world.