Keynote Speaker Paul Beyer View Slide Show

Towns, villages and cities in Orange County received good news last week at a conference sponsored by the Orange County Citizens Foundation. A revitalization of urban centers is underway nationwide, according to the summit which featured speakers from the Congress for New Urbanism, the Project for Public Spaces, and a keynote address by Paul Beyer, Director of Smart Growth for the NYS Department of State. Held in Newburgh on March 13th, the conference attracted a hundred planning officials, professionals, and engaged citizens from across the County and featured panels of local trendsetters like Tricia Haggerty-Wenz, developer of Safe Harbors in Newburgh, and Denise Frangipane of Sullivan Renaissance, a Gerry foundation that funds revitalization efforts. “A desire for convenience, connectivity, and a healthy work/life balance are fueling the growing market for centers,” said presenter Monica Quigley of Urban Connections in Warwick. She suggested developing “urban pulse points” where within a 5 minute