Interesting story in a recent issue of Metropolis magazine about “another” Navy Yard project…this time in Philadelphia. Like our urban redevelopment project at the old Navy Base in North Charleston, the Philadelphia project has utilized 1,000 acres (about the same size as Philly’s entire downtown) of former base property to develop a new mixed use district. The masterplan, conceived by Robert A. M. Stern Architects, calls for commercial ship building operations, a commercial center, a research park, a marina district, a historic core and the eastern end.

While a number of small and mid-size businesses set up shop at The Navy Yar (roughly 70 businesses with a total of 7,000 employees) it’s the recent move by Urban Outfitters to relocate its HQ to the site that made people stand up and take notice. The site was a perfect fit with the company’s culture and they developed an inspired campus that houses the company and sister companies (Anthropologie, Free People, etc.). Here are some pics from the article…

Very cool to see the end product take shape, and it makes the North Charleston Navy Yard/Noisette project all the more exciting as it comes to life.

Make sure you visit Charleston’s newest sustainable “community:” GoGreenCharleston.org.

It’s a great new online community for all things green and sustainable here in the Charleston area. Kudos to Chad Norman and his crew for putting together a beautiful site with great analysis and community-building features, including:

• Forums
• Google Maps Mashup of Recycling Locations in Charleston
• Frequently updated blog
• Ways to go green

Visit GoGreenCharleston.org and join the conversation.

CNN.com and Travel & Leisure are back again for 2007 in their quest to find America’s favorite city.

Charleston is one of the 25 cities on the list you can vote for, so get out there and start voting, Charleston!

You can also submit pictures, stories, and one-minute video essays if you’re so inclined.

Vote for America’s Favorite city here.

ULI South Carolina and the Lowcountry Housing Trust are holding a half-day program called Housing for All: Developing Housing for the Workforce. The event will bring together regional developers, realtors, engineers, planners, government entities and housing providers to discuss the issues related to workforce housing, including local barriers, solutions and implementation strategies. Hear from local and national developers, planners and experts about the latest trends in developing housing for the workforce!

The $25 registration fee includes hot breakfast and resource materials. Visit the ULI website to register online and to get more information. The deadline for online registration is Friday, May 18.

Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Time: 7:30 am- 11:00 am
Location: 10 Storehouse Row (2120 Noisette Blvd) North Charleston

Here’s something we hope to replicate in Charleston…perhaps for a slightly different purpose. Since 2003, thousands have taken part in the StoryCorps oral history project, describing their lives and history. StoryCorps opened its first StoryBooth, a freestanding soundproof recording studio, in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal in October 2003 and in June 2005 opened its second StoryBooth at the site of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. Over the course of the ten-year project, StoryCorps plans to open StoryBooths both mobile and stationary across the country.

The mobile booths are particularly cool….a customized Airstream trailer that provides a sound proof recording studio. Whether we can swing a trailer or not we’d like to set up a mobile video booth to capture residents opinions on GetInspired Charleston, what makes this region special to them, what we should be doing in the future, etc. Sort of a ground up visioning project for our community. Stay tuned, and shout if you have any ideas or resources.

Here’s another good example…this time from Portland, OR where the Mayor’s office developed a “Vision Vessel” to encourage residents to participate in the shaping of their city….as covered by Metropolis magazine.

Yesterday one of the largest planes I’ve ever seen in my life soared right over my head while I traveled to work after lunch. I’m still not sure exactly what it was, but it definitely appeared to be some type of cargo carrier. The excitement of the moment made my mind wander… how cool is it that innovators in our own backyards are producing some of the most leading-edge technology for the aerospace industry!

When I got back to work I learned that Vought Aircraft Industries in North Charleston completed their first composite section for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Boeing already has 550 orders for the Dreamliner, making it ‘one of the most successful launches of a new commercial aircraft in history.’

How awesome will it be one day to look up and see the Dreamliner in action… and a lot of it will be credited to the hundreds of ‘dreamers’ right here in the Lowcountry. Knowing that they are out there helping to build world-class planes makes me think about how I could reach my full potential in Charleston!

Today I really am inspired to do more!

Charleston is growing. There’s no doubt about that. Whether it’s to the east, west, or north, the topic of managing Charleston’s growth is ongoing and furiously debated.

Our counties and municipalities have all taken different approaches in dealing with growth. Some more inspired than others. Here’s a quick summary.

• Mount Pleasant
  Building permit caps have managed growth pretty well (and kept home prices high) for the last few years, but they still must deal with the growth issues to the north-east down Highway 17N
• Downtown Charleston
  How do we provide affordable housing, continue our focus on historic preservation, and improve urban areas long neglected?
• North Charleston
  The Noisette project is visionary, but is currently ensnared in a legal battle with Summerville over the Watson Hill project.
• Dorchester County
  Growth gone wild the last few years, but recently their constituents are demanding a better plan for growth as schools and roads become increasingly congested.

Growth to the Edisto and the East
The biggest question mark is the area to the east of Charleston, currently owned by MeadWestVaco. This huge tract of land represent an enormous opportunity - both for development - and for preservation.

Recently, MeadWestVaco’s CEO visited Charleston as a prelude to an announcement regarding their plans for this land.

Conservationists and developers alike held their breath.

Would they just sell the land and let the city deal with the consequences (like Watson Hill) - or would they focus on creating a sustainable plan that incorporates inevitable growth and the need for conservation at the same time?

An Inspired Plan
Yesterday’s announcement was clear: WeadWestVaco is committed to a comprehensive strategy that will balance the demands of growth with a clear focus on conservation.

Here’s a quick summary of their plans:

1. Incorporate community feedback over the next 8 months
2. Involve a nationally renowned developer
3. The land will not be sold until the plan is developed
4. Urban sprawl will be avoided at all costs
5. The company’s newly formed business group - MeadWestVaco Land Management - will oversee the initiative

Make sure to visit EastEdisto.com and voice your opinion. It’s important we are all involved in this planning process that will shape the future of Charleston for years to come.

Very inspired, MeadWestVaco.