On October 26th the Council hosted it’s fourth reception with the Emerging Leaders Initiative (Click HERE to learn about the ELI Program) at the City of Atlanta’s Design Studio at Ponce City Market with Atlanta Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Community Development Tim Keane. The Atlanta City Studio is the first pop-up urban design laboratory which is focused on shaping the future of city neighborhoods with rotating exhibits about Atlanta neighborhoods and innovative urban design concepts. The studio is a part of a plan to rotate the project every six months to different parts of the City to allow all residents the chance to interact and share their views through various exercises. The studio plays host to lecture series, book talks, urban art presentations, film series and other activities and is staffed with city planners and architects.
Commissioner Keane discussed the work in launching the Studio and the positive impact it is having with residents and the public who come by throughout the day and provide their input in how to shape the future of the City. Surrounded by maps of the City, notes from the public on a variety of topics, from transit to bike paths and trails, he stressed the importance of community engagement to the Studio’s success. Following Commissioner Keane, was former Vice-President of Sustainability and Development for Jamestown (who donated the space in-kind to the City) and current urban planner with the City Jodi Lox Mansbach, who discussed in-depth the interactive exhibits in the Studio, their importance to the future of the City and how the public can become engaged in the process.