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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.07.15_APA_IN_Holds_Conference_in_SBCITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR Office of the Mayor CONTACT: Kara Kelly, (574) 235 -5853 kkelly @southbendin.gov FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 APA INDIANA HOLDS ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN SOUTH BEND The American Planning Association Indiana Chapter, in conjunction with the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development, is holding their annual conference in South Bend this week. Mayor Pete Buttigieg will address the roughly 400 planners and community development personnel in town for the gathering on Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 am at Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph St. The conference is the largest yearly gathering for APA Indiana and IACED, and will address topics such as affordable housing, community development, asset building, and the delivery of services to persons experiencing homelessness. This year's theme is "Planning Prosperity for Indiana's Next 200 Years." Mayor Buttigieg will open the conference Thursday, discussing South Bend's neighborhood- based approach to planning. "Neighborhood -based planning is essential to a city's vitality," says Mayor Buttigieg. "Residents can best identify community needs and advocate passionately for local concerns. I also thank the planners for the opportunity to show off South Bend's ongoing infrastructure improvements." Attendees will take look at the South Bend's "Smart Streets" initiative, an effort to improve how city streets contribute to safe, efficient transportation and the overall quality of life. An essential part of Smart Streets is the conversion of one -way streets downtown into two -way streets, helping create a more walkable, mixed -use environment equally accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders. APA Indiana is an organization of professionals and resident planners providing vision and support for the development of Indiana communities.