Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas

Earlier this month, the Young Leaders Initiative (YLI) organized an incredible tour of Fayetteville’s Upper Ramble project, the next phase of the Cultural Arts Corridor. Attendees explored the $31 million revitalization effort, which is transforming the area into a dynamic civic space with a public plaza, event lawn, garden spaces, and improved connectivity to key parts of the city. Huge thanks to YLI for bringing together local leaders to experience this exciting development firsthand. #ULINWA #YoungLeaders #FayettevilleAR #UrbanRevitalization #CommunityImpact

And that’s a wrap for Place Summit 2024! ? Over the past two days, we’ve been inspired by incredible speakers, created unforgettable memories, and connected with amazing people—all united by one vision: shaping spaces that improve the lived experience for all. A heartfelt thank-you to our speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who joined us and made this week truly exceptional! ??? We’re already looking ahead to what’s next! Details about next year’s event are coming soon. If you attended the summit, keep an eye on your inbox for a survey—we’d love to hear your thoughts and help us make the next event even more impactful. Thank you again to everyone who made this week so memorable!

?ULI NWA Place Summit Speaker Announcement? ?Meryati Johari Blackwell, AIA, ASID, LEED AP; Partner & Creative Director, Marlon Blackwell Architects Meryati Blackwell, AIA, ASID, LEED AP, is a Principal and Director of Interiors at Marlon Blackwell Architects. Ati has been a guiding force in the growth of MBA, helping to transform the firm from a sole proprietorship to the thriving international practice it is today. ?Matthew Lambert, Partner, DPZ CoDESIGN Congress for the New Urbanism, Place Initiative Matthew Lambert is a partner at DPZ CoDESIGN and an architectural and urban designer and planner with more than a decade of experience that covers a broad range of project types, from multi-county regional plans to new community and redevelopment plans and regulations to affordable and modular housing design. ?Jacque Knight, AICP; Transportation/Complete Street Planner, Crawford Murphy & Tilly “Whether it’s walking, biking or using public transit, people of all ages and abilities deserve the freedom to choose how they travel, and should feel safe and dignified while they do so. By focusing on the human element of transportation planning, we can build equitable, safe, and vibrant public spaces.” As Transportation Planning Lead in CMT’s St. Louis office, Jacque works with communities to improve mobility and enhance those areas where people come together. ?Alli Thurmond Quinlan, AIA RLA; Principal, Flintlock Lab Alli Thurmond Quinlan is an architect, landscape architect, and infill developer. She founded and runs Flintlock LAB (a multi-disciplinary design practice), Flintlock Development (an urban infill real estate development company), and Matchlock Ltd Co (a historic preservation and building reuse company) in Fayetteville, Arkansas. ?Ben Fain, Artist Ben Fain, (b. 1980, London, UK) received his BFA in sculpture at the University of Hartford, Connecticut in 1998, his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008 and most recently studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan. His projects include real estate developments in Hudson and Catskill, NY Learn more at placesummit.uli.org

?? Happening next week – 2024 Place Summit! ?? Don’t miss the biggest built environment conference in Northwest Arkansas. Get a taste of the energy and impact by watching highlights from last year’s Place Summit below. Secure your spot today at the link below and be part of the conversation shaping our region’s future! https://lnkd.in/gfXg24Ct placesummit.uli.org

?ULI NWA Place Summit Speaker Announcement? ?Tiffany Elder; Realtor & Real Estate Investor, Paradigm Properties Tiffany Elder is a highly accomplished real estate professional and investor based in the Triangle area of North Carolina. With a robust background as a former software engineer in financial services and an MBA graduate from UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School, Tiffany brings a unique blend of analytical prowess and strategic insight to her clients. ?Tim Conklin; Executive Director, NWA Housing Committee & Regional Planning Commission Tim?Conklin?is the Executive Director for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. He has lived and worked in the Ozarks for over 30 years. Prior experience includes working 16 years at the City of Fayetteville and five years working at metropolitan planning organizations in Springfield, MO and Fort Smith, AR. ?Norman Garrick; Professor Emeritus; University of Connecticut/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Norman Garrick is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Garrick is also a former national board member of The Congress for the New Urbanism, co-chair of CNU’s Transportation Task Force and a CNU Fellow. He specializes in the planning and designing urban transportation systems, including transit, streets, street networks, parking, bicycle and pedestrian facilities. ?Jessica Hester; CEO + Principal Architect, Verdant Studio A native of Northwest Arkansas, Jessica loves shaping the built environment in ways that elevate the quality of life for the many communities Verdant Studio serves. A Placemaker at heart, she is a licensed Realtor and an active member of the NWA chapter of the Urban Land Institute focused on building a Women’s Leadership Initiative. ?Mary Madden; Madden Planning LLC Mary Madden is an urban planner and designer with over 25 years of experience in community development and historic preservation at all levels of government. Her practice focuses on revising zoning codes to support smart growth, sustainability, and New Urbanism, working with a diverse range of communities. Learn more at placesummit.uli.org

Exciting things are happening in Fayetteville! Join ULI NWA’s Young Leaders Group to tour The Upper Ramble, the next phase of the Cultural Arts Corridor. This free event is hosted by Nabholz Corporation, Olsson, and the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas. This revitalizing project, expected to be completed later this year, features a gathering lawn, public plaza, garden spaces, and a civic promenade connecting downtown and the University of Arkansas. This event will showcase how the $31 million project enhances local arts, green space, and walkability while spurring future development. ?? November 13th ? 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm ?? Civic Plaza, Fayetteville, AR Register at the link https://bit.ly/3YJjcFP to secure your spot!!

For two years, Art in Place has connected the real estate and art communities in Northwest Arkansas through programming, networking, and collaboration. Now a permanent initiative of ULI NWA, it continues to foster valuable relationships between artists and developers. Join us at MIXD Gallery in Bentonville, on November 12th from 5:30-8pm for an informal gathering to network and celebrate the people shaping our built environment. By Design features a curated selection of Ozark-based artists and designers blending fine art with functional design. Enjoy delicious small bites from Oven and Tap Oven and Tap and refreshing beverages! Be sure to register at the link https://lnkd.in/gxcd2dAJ to reserve your spot.

?ULI NWA Place Summit Speaker Announcement? ?Stacy Jurado-Miller; Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation Stacy Jurado-Miller is a Home Region Program Officer specializing in regional affordability and housing. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a co-founder of the Vecino Group, a real estate development company leading transformative efforts in affordable housing projects across 13 states. ?Cory Amos; Architect & Urban Designer, Specialized Real Estate Group In 2020, Cory began work at Specialized Real Estate Group managing two large infill neighborhoods incorporating conservation neighborhood and low impact design principles, housing in downtown Rogers set to achieve Net Zero status, a wellness-oriented hotel, and renovation of a beloved historic bed + breakfast. ?Annie Sales; Project Manager | Green Infrastructure, Illinois River Watershed Partnership Annie Sales serves as the Green Infrastructure Program Manager at the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP). With a background as a teaching assistant in physical geography and atmospheric science, alongside coursework towards a Masters in Environmental Planning, Annie's expertise extends to environmental education and sustainable practices. ?Marlon Blackwell; Founding Partner & Design Director, Marlon Blackwell Architects Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, is a practicing architect in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and serves as the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design at the University of Arkansas. Marlon is integrally involved in every phase of the design process... for every project Marlon Blackwell Architects pursues. ?Trish Ouei; Director of Public Affiars, Beaver Water District Trish Ouei (Way) of Rogers is the Director of Public Affairs. She has an extensive background in public education and outreach, training and development, program planning, and public participation and involvement in pollution prevention, water quality, watersheds, and stormwater issues. She has served on several nonprofit boards including the Arkansas Environmental Education Association and the Beaver Watershed Alliance most recently. Learn more at placesummit.uli.org

ULI NWA is hiring! If you are the right fit for our awesome team that's doing important work in our region, please let us know by applying today! https://lnkd.in/espm9usV

?? Don't be spooked by the price increase! ?? Today’s your last chance to register for the 2024 Place Summit before ticket prices rise on November 1st! Secure your spot now for insights, connections, and conversations shaping the future of Northwest Arkansas. ?? ??? Don't let this opportunity haunt you! Register today: https://lnkd.in/gpvFuR-u