![\"Mitch](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/17-0607-mitch-weiss-600x450.jpg\")
\nThe event will take place on\u00a0June 23\u00a0from\u00a08 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.\u00a0at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, located at 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Admission runs from $25-$65,\u00a0tickets at: http:\/\/seflorida.uli.org\/events\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Pompano Beach Innovation District is one of the most exciting development opportunities in South Florida,\u201d stated Emily Marcus, Project Manager with Redevelopment Management Associates, which manages the Pompano Beach CRA. \u201cThe Innovation District already has anchors and assets including three major cultural facilities, a culinary and tech industry presence, proximity to the Pompano Beach Airport, and contiguous access to over 30 million square feet of industrial space.\u201d<\/p>\n
The symposium will feature over 15 esteemed speakers who will provide strategic insights about developing this prime location including Mitchell Weiss, now a Harvard lecturer, who was the Chief of Staff under Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston.<\/p>\n
Mitchell will lead a session on how Boston used their public clout to launch their Innovation District and how the city of Pompano Beach can benefit from their experiences. In the afternoon, he will entertain roundtables of local stakeholders, business leaders and elected officials to share his depth of knowledge to assist the city in adopting a sound approach to building the area.<\/p>\n
The CRA\u2019s reinvention of the original downtown is already visible with the transformation of the Ali Building and the Bailey Hotel into vibrant arts and culture venues. In addition, they spearheaded the plans for building the Pompano Beach Cultural Center and Library, which recently opened and the building of the City Vista apartments. Two new residential projects are also in the planning to permit stage, and multiple restaurants and retailer are scheduled to open in 2018.<\/p>\n
The CRA has created a master plan for the 38-acre site, where\u00a024\u00a0acres are owned by the CRA or the City.\u00a0This plan\u00a0is designed around a linear waterway system \u2014 narrow drainage canals\u00a0between the parcels \u2014 to replace conventional man-made lakes that take up lots of space for drainage and result in suburban development patterns. This plan not only helps to free\u00a0up more property for development but establishes an urban and walkable environment. This model is based\u00a0upon\u00a0similar\u00a0linear waterways in locations such as San Antonio, Texas and\u00a0the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Recent land use and zoning updates have made it possible for this type of development to take place in the downtown. The innovation district can accommodate\u00a0approximately 750,000 square feet of office space;\u00a0165,000 square feet of retail;\u00a035,000 square feet of restaurants; 1,500 residential units\u00a0and two hotels with a combined 420 rooms.<\/p>\n