Don't regret missing a session! Check out our sneak preview of the conference sessions to plan out which sessions you wish to attend. Note that there are both concurrent sessions and plenary sessions. During the early-bird registration, times are currently subject to change and new sessions will be added.

Sessions noted with a * are eligible for AICP credits.

Main Street Track:

Main Street 101 Track, Part 1: 8:15-9:50, Marc Cittone, DOLA, Becky Parham, City of Victor, Scott Shine, Montrose Downtown Development Authority, Steve Turner, State Historical Fund

Overview of the Colorado Main Street Program

Economic Development in the Context of Historic Preservation

This session will focus on the Colorado Main Street program and what our diverse Main Street communities are doing to further economic development and downtown revitalization that preserves their historic downtowns.  We will discuss the structure and benefits offered by the Colorado Main Street program. 

Organization 101

The organization point will focus on building volunteers and fundraising; maintaining working boards and committees; the importance of strategic workplans; and organizational models available to Main Street programs, including stand-alone 501(c)organizations, Downtown Development Authorities, Chamber-Main Street organizations, etc. 

Design 101

The Design 101 point will focus on the elements of successful public and private sector design, including cost-effective solutions for the public realm, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and parking solutions, rehabilitation of historic buildings, and catalyzing appropriate infill development.

 Main Street 101 Track Part 2, 10:00-11:30, Laurie Findley, Greater Granby Area Chamber of Commerce, Kari Linker, Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, Stephanie Troller, DOLA, Cassandra Wilson, Morgan County Economic Development Corporation

Promotions 101

The Promotions 101 point will focus on getting the most out of your downtown promotions, including: analyzing your annual events calendar; the importance of image, special and retail events; tying special events to retailers; promotional campaigns and cross-marketing; and partnerships.

Economic Restructuring 101

 The ER 101 will focus on assessing economic assets, identifying niches, asking targeted market questions, and enhancing opportunities for entrepreneurship, retention and expansion.

*Main Street 201: Real Estate Development Revolution, Denise Balkas, Wheat Ridge 2020, Scott Shine, Montrose Downtown Development Authority, Jesse Silverstein, Colorado Brownfields Foundation

As we consider the life-cycle of community organizations, Main Street programs, and downtown revitalization groups, it becomes clear that the foundation laid through grass-roots efforts has potential to drive a real estate redevelopment process that emerges from the historic character and community driven objectives. Attend this session to better understand how and why community organizations evolve into community development entities, how community groups can serve as a catalyst to stimulate private sector investment, and how area-wide planning and improvement models are being used in communities of all sizes and income ranges.

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Creative District Track:

Formation, Funding, and Function:  Understanding the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), 8:15-8:50, Nancy McCamey, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District; Jane Hansberry, Think 360 Arts

In Denver the SCFD serves as an amazing resource, coordinator, and venue for furthering the arts, cultural, and heritage programming. Find out more about the process for creating this district, what the SCFD does in the community, and how to duplicate this resource in your community.

Capturing Stories through Numbers: Get Creative with Data Collection and Analysis Description, 8:50- 9:50 Theresa Cameron, Americans for the Arts, Wade Kloos, Account Executive, ESRI Denver Regional Office,

Data collection and analysis are a key component in telling the story of success in a district. Learn about some innovative tools and practices for understanding the numbers and translating them into the tale of your community’s success.

Innovative Financing Strategies 10-11:30, New Market Tax Credits, Masouda Omar, Colorado Housing and Financing Authority, Microloan Programs using CDBG Funds, Patty Spencer, Fort Collins Local Development Company, Microloan Funds using USDA Grants, Bill Bell, Montrose City Manager, Crowdsourcing and Community Funded Projects, McCabe Callahan, Community Funded

In today’s changing economic environment, it is important to stay ahead of the curve in understanding the resources and tools that are available. This session will review some innovative and sustainable options for financing in your district.

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8:50 am

2012 Mid-Year Economic Update, Patty Silverstein

Hear an economic update for the State of Colorado.

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10:00 AM

*How to Prepare Downtowns for the Tidal Wave of E-Commerce, Chris Haller, Urban Interactive Studio; Mark Heller, GURA

E-commerce has taken consumers by storm and is putting pressure on local retailers. To highlight these challenges we will begin the session by summarizing the trends of e-commerce versus traditional downtown shopping. Participants will learn strategies and techniques to help maintain a physical storefront through e-commerce, followed by suggestions to local governments on how to maintain vital downtowns into the age of e-commerce. The second half of the session will explore the key challenges and possibilities when using location-based services to bring your main street to life. The rise of location-based services is undeniable, with millions of people using Facebook, Foursquare and other mobile platforms to help them shop, search, interact, and enjoy their travels. This is an exciting new opportunity for main streets and downtowns to engage with citizens, shoppers, and tourists! It is vital for downtown organizations and main streets to adopt these technologies for historic tours, reward programs, entertainment and more.

 12:00 PM Lunch Plenary

Five Years Out. Rich Kylberg of Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 150 company with 15,700 employees worldwide, is well known for their innovative thinking to shape the future. Arrow works to build Colorado communities through support for education, arts and culture, and the environment. In this special plenary luncheon, Rich Kylberg, vice president of corporate communications at Arrow will discuss the importance of private sector giving and partnership in order to build and maintain innovative and vibrant communities in Colorado with their "Five Years Out" approach.

Please note that this session requires the purchase of an additional ticket to cover lunch costs. Click here to purchase this ticket.

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1:30 PM Concurrent Sessions

Mobile Tour: Historic Neighborhood

*Pedestrian Safety while Navigating Virtual Corners in Downtown Denver, Claudia Folska, Virtual Vanguard, Tareq Wafaie, DOLA

This session will articulate the safety problems associated with virtual corners to the pedestrians in Downtown Denver and begin a conversation to provide viable solutions.  The presentation will examine cases around the country including Denver via slide show presentation.  The session will conclude with a vigorous group discussion.

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2:50  PM Concurrent Sessions:

Alleys, Breezeways & Public Art: Creating Gathering Spaces While Navigating Public Improvements, Kimberlee McKee, Longmont DDA

Downtown Longmont will be breaking ground on a $3 million alleyscape, breezeway and parking lot improvement project in March 2012. Planning for this project has spanned several years, including significant business and community input. With a state highway running through the center of downtown, public parking lots are accessed via alleyways, often visitors’ first impression of downtown.  This project addresses infrastructure problems, as well as incorporating placemaking principles. Learn how this project progressed and how it navigated the lofty task of moving 12 public art pieces to a new location to increase gathering spaces

Community Marketing Trials and Successes, Steve Glueck, City of Golden

The City of Golden's Award Winning Community Marketing Program was established in 2000.  In this session we will present it's structure, successes, and lessons learned about marketing an entire downtown area along with associated cultural attractions.

Mobile Tour: Pedestrian Safety II: Golden Walkability Audit, Kristin Cypher, Britina Design Group

After a brief introduction into "What is a Walkability Audit?” and "What Value Does it Have for My Downtown”, session participants will be led through an analysis of a section of Golden.  

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4:20 PM Concurrent Sessions:

 Mobile Tour: Foothills Art Center 

*How a School Served as a Catalyst for a Town: The Silverton School Rehabilitation, Elizabeth Hallas, Anderson Hallas Architects

This session will cover the story of the Silverton School Rehabilitation and how it engaged the community of Silverton emotionally and economically.  Located within the Silverton National Historic District, this campus sits one block off of Main Street.  As the central community hub for this small town, the School District was devastated when in 2008, the 97 year old boiler died leaving the District in a bind in how to educate their students. Learn about how the District shaped their project from five differing funding sources (ranging from grants to a mill levy) that each had differing goals and expectations for the project and how these were resolved along the way. The end result is a fully revitalized campus suited for 21st century learners of all ages. 

*Citizen-Powered Policy Changes & Home-Grown Public Outreach, Kristin Cypher, Britina Design Group; Mark Heller, GURA; Theresa Worsham, City of Golden.

Local government can be a leader in raising today’s pressing issues, but ultimately the community must be empowered to make the tough decisions. Who solves the issues facing your community? Is your community proactive or reactive? How can we craft policies and programs that accurately reflect the wishes of the community? This session will explore ways that local government can enlist the participation of the public to tackle big issues and craft solutions that are representative and appropriate. Five recent case studies will highlight Golden's approach: sustainability initiative, bicycle master plan, housing affordability, walkability improvements, and a controversial residential waste and recycling (pay as you throw) program. Additionally, one of the biggest challenges when planning or designing within a downtown is how to authentically and effectively reach out to stakeholders and the public. Building on the idea that empowered individuals and groups can chart amazing and inspirational designs, this session will outline the structures and methodologies communities can use to engage their public and create projects with social and cultural relevance.

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6:15pm Opening Reception and Networking Dinner, Table Mountain Inn.

Enjoy Golden's welcoming hospitality and locally sourced fare, visit with conference sponsors and vendors, and network with conference attendees! Please note that the networking dinner requires the purchase of an additional ticket. Please click here to purchase the additional ticket if it was not purchased during original registration.

Mayor's Welcome

Community Development & Legislative Redistricting: How Community Development and Its Shared Impacts Changed Colorado's Legislative Map, Brad Segal, PUMA

For the first time in the history of Colorado, community planning and development were fundamental to the prevailing rationale for shaping congressional districts. Learn about the recently completed redistricting process where expert testimony on community development trends cut through political gridlock to shape the new districts. The arguments were non-political, and established "communities of interest" based on similar development trends and challenges. These arguments apparently resonated with the court, as the testimony was cited heavily in the rendered judgment. Planners and community development professionals should take note: because the approach was successful, members of our profession may be called upon to weigh in on redistricting in the future in Colorado or elsewhere in the nation.

Networking Activity, Marilyn Manning, SENA Marketing.

8:15 AM Plenary:
 

Destination Downtown!, Jon Schallert, The Schallert Group 

As a downtown business revitalization consultant and speaker, Jon Schallert works with downtown development groups around the world who want to create Destination Downtowns.  Jon's trademarked 14-point process for reinventing a business into a consumer destination has led to Jon consulting with hundreds of downtowns across America.  Jon believes that the easiest way to create a Destination Downtown is to teach downtown business owners how to turn their businesses into consumer destinations, and to teach them how to collectively pull customers to their businesses for repeat visits.

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9:25 AM Concurrent Sessions:

Mobile Tour: Downtown Sustainability & Energy-Efficiency Initiatives

*Market-Based Planning and Implementation, Brad Segal, PUMA; Pam Bricker, Greeley DDA

Emerging from recession, downtowns are seeking a new roadmap to prosperity.  Market-based planning is a cost-effective approach to develop a vision, a doable action plan and gain stakeholder support to guide the future of downtowns and other business districts.  This session will provide a brief overview of the market-based planning approach, including analysis, community engagement and priority setting.  We will then provide a detailed case study from Greeley, Colorado.  The session will illustrate the application of plan priorities and investment filters to several real-world, market-driven opportunities through the first year of plan implementation.

*Sustainability Toolkit for Family-Friendly Cities, Jennifer Ranville, Human Life Project

How can we reshape our cities to better support residents of all ages? Designing cities for 1 to 2 adults per household is easy. The real challenge is accommodating families with children and aging adults. Families raise the next generation of residents, ensuring cities endure over time. Approximately 80 percent of all resident needs are addressed if a city is designed for family households. Senior adult-specific considerations add another 15 percent with couples and singles accounting for the last 5 percent. The sustainability toolkit covers areas in: mobility, housing, education, social, and resources. Key concepts include creating family centers closely tied to a city's business center, dramatically reducing work commute and resource usage. The goal is to achieve an eco-friendly and family-friendly city.

Round-Table Forum: Destination Downtown! Mini-Bootcamp, Jon Schallert, The Schallert Group

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10:55 AM Concurrent Sessions 

Mobile Tour: Clear Creek Path Revitalization

*Parking: A Strategic Community Asset, Robert Ferrin, City and County of Denver; Troy Russ, City of Louisville; Tim Ware, City of Aspen

Roadways account for 30% of the total land use in an average North American city.  The public right of way presents a great opportunity to help shape our urban centers, in particular through the utilization of on-street parking.  Parking management policies impact local economic development and transportation strategies and can be leveraged to achieve the goals of districts and municipalities.  Learn how cities across our state are using Parking as a community asset to achieve these visions and goals.  Hear from Denver, Louisville, and Aspen on how parking strategies affect more than just the curb lane.

*Public Participation, Part 1: Techniques for Community Engagement, Jacob Smith, PlaceMatters, Darin Dinsmore, Crowdbrite, Jocelyn Hittle, PlaceMatters

Participants will experiment with motion-sensitive technologies (like the Wii and Kinect), touch tables, brainstorming and prioritizing tools, scenario planning, interactive mapping, and visualization tools. 

*Round Table Forum: Understanding Options for Special Districts, Anna Jones, PUMA; Vicki Mattox, Stifel Nicolaus; Anne Ricker, Ricker|Cunningham

In these tough economic times, special districts are becoming more important than ever to encourage new investment, support small businesses and even provide basic services in downtowns and communities.  Come and learn about different kinds of districts, how they can be best utilized, when you might need to use more than one special district, what the best uses for different districts can be in your community, and how you can use SIDs, BIDs, and GIDs to finance public improvements in your community. Strengths and weaknesses of each of these tools will be discussed using real-world examples.

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12:30 PM Dine-Arounds

 Lunch-time Dine-Arounds. Experience the local fare and join conference-goers and colleagues for this informal lunchtime discussion held at various restaurants throughout downtown Golden. Each dine-around will feature a downtown revitalization topic and be led by a facilitator with expertise in this area. The dine-around is an optional conference session and is not included in the regular conference registration. The purchase of a $30 ticket is required for attendance.

*Creative Districts, Facilitated by Maryo Gard-Ewell, Colorado Creative Industries

Healthy Communities by Design, Facilitated by Vickie Berkley, Colorado Center for Community Development

Healthy Foods Initiatives, Facilitated by John Plakorus, Colorado Housing and Financing Authority

Public Participation, Facilitated by Jacob Smith, PlaceMatters

*Special Districts, Facilitated by Vicki Mattox, Stifel Nicolaus, Anna Jones, PUMA, and Anne Ricker, Ricker|CunninghamLocavesting, Facilitated by Amy Cortese, author of Locavesting

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2:15 PM Concurrent Sessions:

Mobile Tour: Public Participation, Part 2

Take a tour of Golden's main street, and learn how to do Walkshops, asset mapping, and other outdoor interactive techniques. Participants to the cutting-edge in mobile apps, including photo sharing, augmented reality, and location-aware tools.

*Asset Mapping and Real Estate Transactions With Municipalities: Eric Heil, Heil Law & Planning; Jesse Silverstein, Colorado Brownfields Foundation 

*This session is available for CLE Credits.

Downtown vibrancy is integrally linked to the people and businesses that occupy space and the buildings that provide that space. This session provides a perspective on asset-based community revitalization wherein the physical environment is evaluated to develop a strategy to fill vacant buildings, create shovel-ready sites, and prepare business-ready buildings.  An effective asset-based approach will be discussed not as a stand-alone plan but rather how addressing the physical environment compliments and balances with community and economic development strategies.  Identifying opportunities, prioritizing catalyst sites, and creating spaces to activate, are a foundation for a vibrant downtown.   The second part of this session will address all legal aspects of real estate transactions with municipalities and URA's including: general legal authority, statutory versus home rule authority, procedures for action, fee conveyance versus lease, implications of TABOR, actions subject to referendum, and overview of case law in Colorado and other states concerning real estate transactions.  This session would provide a comprehensive and in-depth discussion and would be accompanied by a legal memorandum which would serve as convenient reference for the topic.

Creating an Incentive Strategy to Stimulate Development, Redevelopment & Historic Preservation, Marty Hudson, Town of Castle Rock

This session will focus on how to create an economic incentive toolbox for downtown development and redevelopment as well as historic preservation. This comprehensive approach includes: creating zoning codes that become economic incentives tools; structuring public input that most effectively captures the needs of the citizens and the development community; integrating historic preservation into these efforts; developing a streamlined "one-stop shop” approach for the review of development applications; and discussion of the unique economic redevelopment idea in the Town of Castle Rock to create the Colorado Wedding District.

*Placemaking to Revitalize Mixed-Use Neighborhoods, Richard Marshall, NV5, John Desmond, Downtown Denver Partnership, Kate Haher, Downtown Denver Partnership, Julie Bender, Cherry Creek North, Will Coffield, NV5, Dennis Rubba, StudioINSIGHT

This session will address the collaborative process led by the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), City and County of Denver, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) and studioINSITE, LLC, which resulted in the 12-block streetscape revitalization of 14th Street in Downtown Denver, a true public-private partnership. Highlights will include the formation of the General Improvement District as a funding and management source, respect for the corridor that resulted in creative design, project milestones and overall reasons for success despite challenging economic conditions. This session will also present a case study in the recently completed Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District including stakeholder involvement, methodology, timelines, communication, and budgeting specific to working with a BID.

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3:45 PM Concurrent Sessions:

Mobile Tour: MillerCoors VIP Tour 

*CDFIs-Filling Financing Gaps Jeff Seifreid, Mile High Community Loan Fund; Joe Rowan, Funding Partners; Ceyl Prinster, Colorado Enterprise Fund; Jesse Golland, ACCION Colorado

Representatives from Colorado's four most active CDFIs will discuss the technical assistance services and loan products offered to entrepreneurs, small business owners, non-profit organizations and developers.  CDFIs work just outside the margins of mainstream finance to create opportunities for the people, organizations and businesses that live and work in low-moderate income communities.  CDFIs open these opportunity markets to mainstream institutions and often leverage investments with conventional lenders.  CDFIs based in Colorado have total assets over $82 million and have done over $55 million in new loans since 2008. Panel members will discuss types of projects financed, loan projects, loan terms, applications processes and the technical assistance services provided to potential borrowers. 

*How to think like a Developer: Understanding Real Estate Development Process in your Downtown, Mike Scholl, City of Loveland; Troy Peterson, Flagstone Partners

Understanding the real estate development process can be a daunting task. This session aims to demystify the development process and teach downtown managers how to put together a real estate pro forma, identify the financing gap, and plot a strategy for redevelopment. Downtown managers who plan to attend the session will be asked to identify a critical project in their downtown and complete a pre session questionnaire that includes basic information on commercial rent rates, residential rent rates, proposed usage, building condition etc. The information is critical to help complete the project pro forma that participants will work through during the session.  Participants will be asked to bring a calculator and work through the project financials and identify potential funding gap with the assistance of session managers. Session participants can then use the information to develop strategies for redevelopment unique to their downtowns.  The session will be taught as a workshop.

Click here to download the Developer Questionnaire

*Round-Table Forum: Attracting Investment to Your District, Hillarie Portell, Portell Works

Most districts have a strong focus on consumer promotions to drive local spending. Are you doing the same to attract investment? This session will address how to position and market your district as a good investment to business owners, developers, funding agencies and others. Topics will include district branding, market research, key strategies and marketing tools, with case studies from Colorado communities.

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6:30 PM The Governor's Award for Downtown Excellence Gala and Plenary

Featuring plenary speaker Amy Cortese, author of Locavesting

Governor's Awards for Downtown Excellence Gala, American Mountaineering Center, Golden, Don't miss the highlight of the 2012 conference! This year's Governor's Awards will celebrate outstanding projects and people dedicated to community revitalization in Colorado. Speakers to be announced. Gala tickets are included in the price of conference registration and are also available for individual purchase.

Policy + Place: An Interactive Discussion to Shape Policy Affecting Colorado’s Downtowns

This is your chance to learn about AND shape policy that could affect your downtown. This plenary session will feature an interactive discussion on three key policy areas facing Colorado’s downtowns today: Energy and the Environment; Regionalism and Connectivity; and Locally Grown Resources. The plenary will begin with an interactive panel discussion engaging industry leaders in these key policy areas who will present on key issue areas and seek feedback from plenary attendees. In-depth roundtable discussions will then follow as plenary attendees will work together to voice issues, ideas and opinions on these important policy topics. Following this important plenary, DCI will consolidate the feedback into policy papers to be distributed out to DCI members and important policy leaders.

8:00am- 9:00am Panel Discussion

9:00am- 10:35am Roundtables

10:50 AM Plenary

Steve Mouzon: Locally Grown: Agrarian Urbanism Commercial districts, neighborhoods, and the buildings within them need to be built in different ways to encourage local food. Agrarian urbanism goes far beyond occasional farmers markets and is built on the foundation of edible gardens, sustainable economies, and must be designed to be lovable as well as nourishing.

 

All cancellations or refund requests must be submitted in writing. Written cancellations received by August 10, 2012 will receive a full refund minus $25 administrative fee. Cancellations received after August 20 will not receive a refund.