UF Urban and Regional Planning Kicks off Strong Fall Semester at Florida Planning Conference in Orlando
September 14, 2022
The Urban and Regional Planning Department had a great week at the Florida Planning Conference 2022 in Orlando last week. The department was represented in all facets of the conference, from tabling and sponsorship to presenters and awards:
Exhibitor Booth
The URP department once again was a sponsor at the FL APA conference. Planning students assisted in tabling efforts and connected with alumni and those interested in UF’s planning programs.
A special thanks to URP Advisory Council member Howard Nelson, who donated two pairs of Gator Football tickets. Silas Achidago and Stella Souza received the tickets through a prize drawing.
Outstanding Student Project Award Recipients
Students from the Fall 2021 Urban Planning Project Studio, instructed by Dr. Ruth Steiner and Dr. Emre Tepe, received the APA Florida Outstanding Student Project Award for their project, Connectedness: Suggestions for Planning Best Practices in East Gainesville. The students discovered a common thread in obstacles that residents of East Gainesville face in the early stages of the project – a lack of connectedness between the community and major institutions that influence city development. The report analyzes existing conditions and previous planning efforts in order to make recommendations, like improving the organizational structure of future planning efforts to consider how communities and populations are affected. The report’s use of equity planning techniques is transferable to any city experiencing spatial segregation.
Students involved in the project include Jeremy Griffith, Jessica Hayes, Rama Hiba, Alejandro Ramos, Ian Siljestrom, Elisabeth Staten, and Catherine Stout.
Annual UF Reception
Like years past, the department hosted a reception on Wednesday evening. In attendance were URP Advisory Council Members, the new department director Dr. Ivy Hu, current students, alumni, and faculty. Students from University of South Florida’s Student Planning Organization attended and engaged with the University of Florida’s Student Planning Association. Overall, the event provided a relaxed atmosphere for all in attendance to network and discuss the planning profession.
UF Speaker Sessions
Alumni and Faculty of the department were well represented as presenters at the conference. Notable UF sessions include:
- Dr. Ruth Steiner’s contribution to a two-part presentation titled Florida’s Post-Pandemic Growth: Planning Implications for the Future,
- Dr. Laurel Harbin and Devan Leavin’s Engaging with Diverse Communities: Examples from the City of Tallahassee’s Southside Action Plan, and
- Nathaniel Chan, Juan Castillo, Andrew Persons’ ImagineGNV: How Gainesville is Advancing Racial Equity Through Their Comprehensive Plan
- Samantha Kanach AICP C’s, contribution to Not Your College Dorm: An Analysis of Co-Living and Affordable Housing Options