By: Renee Espiau and Aurash Khawarzad

“Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination,” was a visionary statement made by President Obama during the April 17th announcement of America’s first national high-speed rail initiative. Obama calls for high-speed rail in 10 regions across the US that will become “a system that reduces travel times and increases mobility, a system that reduces congestion and boosts productivity, a system that reduces destructive emissions and creates jobs.”

What is missing from the President’s statements are the potential of rail to improve our communities, and to contribute to better places. In cities where quality transit exists, rates of car ownership tend to decline, which means less land is required for road space and parking, and more land can be devoted to residential and retail development, which combined with quality public spaces, creates great communities. When thoughtful land use, urban design, and public space management are coordinated with transit investment, transit stops can become corner stones of cultural activity and economic growth. An example is along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor in Arlington, Virginia, where development has been focused around several transit stops since the early 1980s. As a result, 73% of riders in the corridor travel to and from Metro stations on foot. The corridor is now a regional destination that has a current assessed real estate value of over $10 billion, and accounts for over 32% of Arlington’s real estate revenue from only 7.7% of its land area.

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What: An expanse of mosques, rose gardens, pools of sacred carp, tea gardens, and people.

Why it Works: Sanliurfa is a city of contradictions. Beneath the relatively modern, commercial center lies the bazaar district, a mass of market alleys and paths spilling out in all directions, with local merchants hawking anything and everything. Immediately adjacent to these two areas is yet another extreme - Dergah. One of the most visited pilgrimage areas of Turkey, the Dergah district is a complex of mosques and gardens centered around the birth cave of the Prophet Abraham and the pool of sacred carp. The beautifully landscaped gardens are the most popular place in the city - a perfect respite from the chaos of the bazaar and the bustle of the downtown. Dergah creates a strong identity for the city and is a huge tourist draw, but more importantly, it enhances the surrounding neighborhoods and serves a valuable role in the everyday lives of residents.

Read the entire profile here.

Click here to nominate your favorite public space!

The latest in urban planning, placemaking and citizen action:

• The Environmental Defense Fund’s Reinventing Transit highlights a new generation of innovative public transit. [EDF.org]

• In the greater Toronto area, the Tower Renewal Project looks to transform post-war, high-rise, concrete towers with sustainable, suburban development. [Worldchanging]

• A bill recently passed by New York’s state Senate will provide a boost in funding for farmers markets facilities. [Watertown Daily Times, The Gouverneur Times]

• After five years in a New Urbanist community, residents of Glenwood Park reflect on visibility, neighborhood involvement, access and businesses. [The Atlanta-Journal Constitution]

• Joanne Arnay makes the case for including preservation in urban planning efforts. [The City Newspaper]

• At the Green Cities Conference and Expo, officials, planners, architects and advocacy groups discussed how to pitch a ‘green’ agenda. [NY Times Blog]

• In San Francisco, the Great Streets Program (a PPS collaboration) hits the ground running. [Streetsblog]

In the Opening Plenary of the conference, attendees were asked to brainstorm in small groups around the question, “What are the roles and responsibilities of public markets in reconnecting communities and local economies?”  Answers were written onto index cards, and collected throughout the three-day conference.

At Closing Plenary, the top ten answers - the most recurring themes submitted - were presented to conference attendees:

1. Catalyze neighborhood and downtown revitalization
2. Build community and create a sense of local ownership and pride
3. Educate members of the community, especially schools and local businesses, about the myriad benefits of markets
4. Promote economic development
5. Build and enhance social capital: markets as places which draw people together
6. Support local products and the local exchange of goods
7. Provide accessible food to all members of the community through EBT, food stamps and other programs
8. Inspire a feel-good ambiance
9. Create opportunities for small businesses
10. Support, educate and sustain farmers

What’s your take on the above?  Does your local public market accomplish these goals in your community?  How can we move towards meeting the needs of the local communities we serve?

Our first full day of the Public Markets Conference was a success!  An opening session, plenary, breakout sessions on a variety of topics and a delightful opening reception brought people together from around the world in their support of public markets and sustainability.

A highlight of the morning’s opening remarks was a live video address by USDA-second-in-command Kathleen Merrigan, the leader in creating stiffer regulations for the labeling of organic foods.  A champion for farmers and preservation of farmland in the United States, Merrigan is highly respected in her field.

Kathleen Merrigan addresses the crowd via live video feed

Addressing us on just day eight of her new position, Merrigan spoke from Washington, DC, lauding the works of conference attendees.  She spoke of the partnership with PPS on creating a comprehensive resource guide about public markets and EBT benefits, and the importance of creating and assuring access to healthy, fresh food.  Additionally, she relayed the support of markets work on behalf of President Obama and Dept of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

She closed noting the joy and celebration that occur at farmers markets, saying she was off to visit the First Lady’s new White House garden.  (That, of course, drew a round of applause!)

The view from DC: Merrigan sees the conference via live video feed

This morning at my brief tech announcement, I forgot to mention that ALL sessions and workshops will be available after the conference in podcast format!  Also, we plan to provide brief recaps at the end of each day about the sessions that took place.

We’re currently welcoming attendees from 38 states and 10 countries at the 7th International Public Markets Conference in San Francisco, California!

Please join us here as we blog about the event, upload photos, Twitter and discuss group sessions on the Placemaking Movement Social Network.

According to the scientific community, our society is at an ecological tipping point. Humanity is faced with urgent decisions that will determine the health and well-being of future generations, and the window for action is closing fast. One key opportunity we have is to make better decisions about how we invest in our transportation system. Will many streets remain the embodiment of pollution and danger, or will we reclaim them as public spaces that enhance the community? continue…

What: Former empty retail fronts now filled with artists’ installations.

Why it Works: Three vacant buildings lining the street on San Fernando and half a dozen more continuing around the corner on South First Street are now filled with artists’ displays and installations. Phantom Galleries was created to both renew the magic in the daily journey downtown and increase the awareness of the importance of our local artists in the cultural/economic development of San Jose. It’s rare not to pass down either San Fernando or South First Streets while either working or playing downtown. The San Jose Museum is directly across the street on San Fernando, some of our nicest restaurants are either across the street from the Phantom Galleries or just around the corner. Another plus is that the street itself is beautiful and features very clean, wide sidewalks with light rail passing along the historic buildings.

Read the entire profile here.

Click here to nominate your favorite public space!

The latest in urban planning, placemaking and citizen action:

• President Obama reveals a vision for a high-speed rail in America. [Washington Post, TIME, Next American City]

• Delaware farmers markets bring fresh food to the table and communities closer together. [Delaware Online]

• Envisioning sustainability in the year 2025 for Greater Phoenix, AZ. [The Arizona Republic]

• In the wake of Ike, Ohio suburbs bring native plant life back to public parks. [The Columbus Dispatch]

• In Buffalo, NY, an urban farm may take root in the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. [Buffalo News]

• In San Diego, CA,  a case for investing in local transit system improvements. [The Union Tribune]

• Lamenting resistance to change, Roger Lewis argues for smart growth development. [The Washington Post]