NSCW Agenda
Announcing the 5th Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop - March 5, 2014
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Sustainability Deconstructed: Toward a Resilient Future
Keynote Speakers
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David Lloyd, DirectorUSEPA, Office of Brownfield and Land Revitalization Click here for David Lloyd's Bio |
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Jeffrey Logan, Executive Deputy Secretary PA DEP Click here for Jeffrey Logan's Bio |
Now in its fifth year, this event has grown in popularity with a record 375 attendees last year. Why? This conference takes on the real issues facing those engaged in regenerating our communities. With a unique format-engaging everyone who attends- in the conference, this year we will face the reality of unprecedented weather events battering our systems and shaking our confidence in the status quo. We will challenge assumptions upon which current sustainability principles are based, and seek to identify pathways to a future that can stand up to the challenges ahead. Starting from land recycling and the challenges of appropriate development, the conference topics will range from infrastructure development to renewable energy and new approaches to almost everything we now consider commonplace. We will engage policy leaders, practitioners, and visionaries who are working today to create a more resilient future.
NSCW Agenda
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Time/Location
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Event
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| 7:30 - 8:15Skyscraper |
Registration & Breakfast |
| 8:15 - 8:45 Joseph D. Williams Science Center |
Welcome to Conference - Sue Boyle, GEI Consultants
Sponsor Recognition Introduction to Conference Theme - Michael Taylor, Program Chair, Vita Nuova |
| 8:45 - 9:00 | Welcome to Jersey City - Mayor, Steven M. Fulop Introduction to Keynote Speakers - Geoffrey Forrest, Dresdner Robin |
| 9:00 - 10:00 Joseph D. Williams Science Center |
Morning Plenary Session Agency Changes at the Top: Looking ahead to the future for Brownfields, Redevelopment and Sustainability With recent changes in top regulatory agency positions at the US Environmental Protection Agency and at the PA Department of Environmental Protection, there is a curiosity with respect to how leadership changes may impact the agencies' “ways of doing business." What does this mean for communities, for businesses and for agency staff? What does this mean for existing programs? And specifically, what changes (if any) will there be in the areas of brownfields, redevelopment and sustainability? David Lloyd, Director of Brownfields and Land Revitalization at USEPA will discuss the impact of smaller budgets, sequestration, climate change adaptation plans, and with the appointment of Secretary Gina McCarthy, other EPA initiatives impacting this area. Jeffrey Logan, Executive Deputy Secretary at PA DEP will discuss the direction the agency is taking under the recently appointed PA DEP Secretary, Chris Abruzzo, focusing on new initiatives for the agency, the impact of the shale gas play on brownfield redevelopment and efforts underway to support sustainability. Moderator: Tim Kinsella, T&M AssociatesPanelists: David Lloyd, USEPA and Jeffrey Logan, PADEP Sponsor:
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| 10:00 - 10:15 |
Break – Visit Exhibitors |
| 10:15 - 11:30 | Morning Breakout Sessions |
| Interactive Theater - 1st Floor |
Workshop 1A Effect of and Adaptation to Climate Change: Stronger, Safer and More Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Climate change is affecting how natural disasters impact communities. This session will discuss the need for communities to invest in resilient infrastructure along with examples of how communities are implementing resilient infrastructure. The discussion will include cutting edge technologies, as well as tried and true strategies. The panel will discuss what was done to get New York City's transit system up and running after Superstorm Sandy and what future mitigation will be employed. Examples from around the world on how different countries deal with the threat of flooding and storm surge will also be given.Moderator: Elizabeth Limbrick, NJIT Panelists: Michael Tumulty, STV, Inc; Mitchell Erickson, US Dept of Homeland Security; Tom Abdallah, NYC Transit Sponsor:
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| Gamma Lab - 1st Floor |
Workshop 1B Energy Projects on Contaminated Sites Brownfields and landfills often have limited opportunities for interim or final reuse. Many of these sites can make an excellent location for an energy generating project. This session will explore tools to assess contaminated lands for energy generation potential; local land use concerns in siting projects and state and federal policies enacted to encourage energy projects in the region.Moderators: Amy Blake, JM Sorge and Lee Hoffman, Pullman & Comley Panelists: Fernando Rosado, USEPA; Kevin Hennessy, Dominion Energy; Mark Warner, Sustainable Jersey Sponsors:
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| Right Café Bank – 2nd Floor |
Workshop 1C Public/Private Partnerships This workshop will highlight two public/private partnerships that have resulted in successful redevelopments. A project in our host community of Jersey City will focus on the partnership forged between WCD and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency in the development of Berry Lane Park. The Walter G. Alexander Village, a three phase project of affordable and senior housing units, in the City of Orange, New Jersey, will also be presented by the Orange Housing Authority and their private development partner, The Alpert Group. Speakers will focus on how they created a strong partnership with their public or private counterpart, and the contribution of that relationship to their projects’ success.Moderator: Wanda Monahan, Sedita, Campisano & Campisano Panelists: Chip D'Angelo, WCD; Ben Delisle, JCRA; Dr. Walter J. McNeil, Orange Housing Authority; Joseph Alpert, The Alpert Group Sponsors:
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| Left Café Bank - 2nd Floor |
Brown Bag Session Financing Brownfield Deals 101 Practical tips from an experienced brownfield redeveloper on financing brownfield deals. Do you know the 5 areas of risk that you can manage in your efforts to control costs? Do you know how you can participate as a property owner in the redevelopment rewards? (even publicly owned sites!) Learn the 11 ways deals can be structured with varying degrees of risk to buyers and sellers.Presenter: George Vallone, Hoboken Brownstone Company Sponsor:
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| 11:30 – 12:30Jennifer A. Chalsty Center Forum – 1st Floor |
Luncheon & Visit the Exhibitors |
| 12:30 - 1:45 | Afternoon Breakout Sessions |
| Interactive Theater - 1st Floor |
Workshop 2A Sea of Change: Waterfront Development in the Post-Sandy Era Historically, urban waterfronts in the northeast were filled for industrial uses, creating long and continuous brownfields. In the last ten years, local government has put the framework in place to reclaim these areas for residential, commercial and recreational uses. Enter Hurricane Sandy –which wreaked havoc on urban waterfront communities, affecting the existing manufacturing uses, residents, properties under construction and properties planned for redevelopment. This panel will explore what is being done to create sustainable waterfront communities and to continue facilitation of growth in these areas. We will look at recent regulatory policies and practices surrounding waterfront development and at the technical alternatives to building safe communities within the new regulatory framework. And, we will also hear from an architect/developer prolific in urban waterfront development about how development in the post-Sandy era differs from a financial and insurance perspective from times before.Moderator: Robert Kulikowski, Langan Panelists: Claire Weisz, WXY architecture + urban design; Seth Pinsky, RXR Realty; Andrew Kimball, Jamestown Properties Sponsor:
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| Gamma Lab - 1st Floor |
Workshop 2B Looking Ahead: Brownfields in the New Administration While brownfields were not a front-page campaign issue in New York City or New Jersey, these jurisdictions will have to deal with ongoing cleanup issues and the need to make the best use of land to serve redevelopment priorities. What brownfield initiatives will the new administrations of Mayor DeBlasio and Governor Christie bring forth? What leadership is required for program success? How might proposed New York State brownfield changes, such as a hazardous waste disposal fee waiver, impact the City's program? This lively discussion features the perspectives of these administrations, the practitioners who navigate their policies and programs, and regional collaborators and planners.Moderators: Deborah Shapiro, NYC Brownfield Partnership; Lee Ilan, NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation Panelists: Daniel Walsh, NYC Mayor's Office of Environmental Remediation; David Kooris, City of Bridgeport; NJ Business Action Center; and Gerry Scharfenberger, Director of the Office for Planning Advocacy, State of NJ Sponsor:
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| Right Café Bank – 2nd Floor |
Workshop 2C Strategies for Creating Municipal Capacity for Development This workshop will focus on ways to create municipal capacity for development through empowering communities/small municipalities to partner with non-profits, local development corporations, and private sector stakeholders. Including non-governmental partners in the development process brings municipalities a myriad of benefits, including, but not limited to (1) streamlining the non-governmental decision-making and implementation process (2) offering direct access to State, Federal and private financial resources not available through municipalities, and (3)building resources and attracting a staff dedicated solely to the economic development needs of a city. This panel will be dialogue between the attendees, a featured municipality and two local development corporations from New York State and New Jersey that are utilizing these partnership structures to advance investment and economic development in their communities.Moderator: Lawra Dodge, Excel Environmental & Barry Hersh, NYU Panelists: Lourdes Zapata, SoBro; Andrea Smith, City of Ogdensburg; Meishka Mitchell, Cooper's Ferry Partnership Sponsor:
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| Left Café Bank - 2nd Floor |
Brown Bag Session Transferring Environmental Liability As many may have experienced, the presence of contamination at a site can stymie any real estate transaction. Contaminated sites with little or no productive use are a drain on all property owners-but they don't have to remain that way. This session will provide an overview of the concepts around transferring environmental liabilities and how they can be transferred to a third-party to allow property owners to divest of non-productive assets. Come with your questions! Presenter: Randall Jostes, Environmental Liability Transfer Sponsor:
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| 1:45 - 2:00 | Break - Visit Exhibitors |
| 2:00 - 3:15 | Late Afternoon Breakout Sessions |
| Interactive Theater - 1st Floor |
Workshop 3A Sustainability, Partnerships, and Equity: Jersey City's Innovative Approach to Sustainable Redevelopment The Canal Crossing Redevelopment Area encompasses some 30 brownfield sites across 111 acres near the center of Jersey City. Once teeming with industry, today the area suffers from heavy contamination and dilapidated infrastructure, resulting in significant blight and disinvestment. Despite these complexities, the redevelopment plan, adopted in 2009, reorganizes the land and calls for the development of a sustainable, new urbanist style mixed use community. Guided by the "Six Livability Principles" adopted by the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities (HUD/DOT/EPA), the sustainable aspects of the project as well as notable challenges will be discussed in this case study that is continuing to unfold.Moderator: Bob Cotter, Jersey City Planning Department Panelists: Ben Delisle, JCRA; Jaclyn Flor, T&M Associates; Fred Worstell, Dresdner Robin; Sabine Pendse, USEPA Sponsors:
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| Gamma Lab - 1st Floor |
Workshop 3B Where are the Brownfield and Economic Redevelopment Incentives and How Could Proposed Legislation Affect Them? Looking for Incentives: It's Not Just About the Money! Tools to be explored during this session include liability protection innovations, cutting red tape; standardizing remedies; privatizing the oversight of cleanups to move the process along quicker; moving the decision making to the municipal level for prompt, real-time responses; and area-wide redevelopment tactics targeting catalytic growth. All eyes are on New York State's upcoming legislative session, which includes proposed changes to the Empire State's Brownfield Cleanup Program, which may impact all of the tools being featured.Moderator: Gary Rozmus, GEI Panelists: David Freeman, Gibbons, PC; Beth Barton, Day Pitney; Margie Piliere, NJEDA Sponsor:
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| Right Café Bank – 2nd Floor |
Workshop 3C Looking Outward: The Redevelopment Perspective- Words of Wisdom from Successful Developers of Contaminated Sites This session will be a moderator-led, facilitated discussion on a wide-range of topics related to brownfield remediation and reuse. Discussion points will include:
Sponsor: |
| Left Café Bank - 2nd Floor (Regions 1 and 3)Teachers Learning Lab (Region 2) |
Brown Bag Session Technical Assistance for Brownfields Listen and learn about technical assistance grants available to municipalities and nonprofits and how they benefit brownfields. Bring your environmental issues/project needs to the session to discuss a potential gameplan for using this assistance. Presenter: Elizabeth Limbrick, NJIT (Regions 1 and 3) Presenter: Stephanie Shakofsky, CCLR (Region 2)Sponsor:
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| 3:15 - 3:45 |
Coffee Break Visit the Exhibitors |
| 3:45– 5:15 Joseph D. Williams Science Theater |
Afternoon Plenary Session:
Sustainability Deconstructed: Building a Resilient Future Join author and professor, Alex Washburn, and a panel of experts from across the region in the discussion of the challenges and opportunities when creating resilient communities. Alex will provide a short talk describing his experience as former chief urban designer for NYC and a resident of Red Hook, one of the hardest hit neighborhoods by Superstorm Sandy in New York City. He introduces the topic of “bottom-up” rebuilding based on his involvement in his own neighborhood and contrasts it with his experience of “top-down” managing change in America’s largest city. A panel discussion will follow, bringing perspectives from state government, private sector, and the cities of New York and Jersey City. Each will challenge your thinking to the point you may have to get involved in preparing your home, neighborhood or community for the changes that lie ahead.Moderator: Christian Michel, AKRF Plenary Speaker: Alex Washburn, Stevens Institute of Technology Panelists: Michele Siekerka, NJDEP; Mayor Steven Fulop, Jersey City; Eric Kaufman, The Natural Resilience Fund; Daniel Zarrilli, NYC Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainability Sponsor:
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| 5:15-6:45Observation Tower |
Networking Cocktail Reception Sponsor:
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