May 4-5, 2006
To inquire about this workshop, please contact Kathleen Ziegenfuss at (212) 620 5660 or email kziegenfuss@pps.org.
The Workshop
This workshop is designed for professionals and non-professionals alike who help plan towns and cities -- from highway engineers and real estate developers to community garden advocates and housing specialists. Based on PPS's 30 years of experience in placemaking, and inspired by our popular book, How to Turn a Place Around, the course shows participants our unique approach to revitalization.
Enrollment is limited to 40 participants, in order to promote a close-knit environment that fosters a deep understanding of what makes public spaces function and of PPS's innovative methods for analyzing them. During the course, participants work in small teams to observe and analyze places in Greenwich Village that illustrate pertinent issues, give insights and encourage them to see the sites from a user's point of view.
The Place
This course puts us in the heart of Greenwich Village, a thriving historic neighborhood that's evolved enormously in recent years. It provides ample examples of mixed-use buildings, residences and offices, historic brownstones next to new developments, on varying scales. We'll visit Bleecker Street, Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, Tompkins Square Park and Hudson River Park, among other public spaces.
We will spend two days exploring the principles of making places through walking tours, presentations, case studies, PPS's Place Performance Evaluation Game, and the close examination of two contrasting neighborhoods. We will focus our observations and Placemaking techniques on the East and West Villages.
Registration
Registration covers two days of tuition, including a neighborhood tour, slide presentations, on-site evaluation, case studies, a copy of How to Turn a Place Around, and training support materials. Light lunch on Thursday and Friday, and refreshments will also be provided.
PRICE
| Individual rate | Team rate (3 or more) |
| Non-member | $475 | $445 per person |
| Member | $435 | $405 per person |
If you are registering at the individual rate, you can sign up online. If you are registering as part of a team, please call Kathleen Ziegenfuss at 212-620-5660.
No refunds after April 27th, no exceptions.
Food
Breakfast and lunch will be provided both days. There will be a reception at the PPS office on Thursday evening following the day's events. Following the reception, we will organize those that wish to attend a dinner at a neighborhood restaurant (not included in registration fee).
Accommodation
Here are a couple of our favorite places to stay in New York. They are close to the course site and the walking tours. We'll keep updating this section with more recommendations, so check back often. Book early as spaces tend to fill up quickly during this time of year!
If you find that these hotels are all booked up during your stay in New York, you can search for additional hotels online at newyorkmetro.com or besthotels.com. The most convenient neighborhoods to search in are: the Village, the Lower East Side, Soho, Flatiron/Union Square/Gramercy and Chelsea.
ST. MARK'S HOTEL
Website: http://www.stmarkshotel.qpg.com
Phone: (212) 674-0100
Located near the PPS office this hotel offers small and clean rooms from $100/night (Note: though they do not accept credit cards). The hotel is above a lively street--ask for a room not facing the street if you are concerned about noise. Three floors of rooms, all with private bath, television and air conditioning. There is no elevator in the building.
WASHINGTON SQUARE HOTEL
Website: http://www.wshotel.com/english/ws_toc.htm
Phone: (212) 777-9515
MURRAY HILL INN
Website: http://www.murrayhillinn.com
Phone: (212) 683-6900
A small budget "no frills" hotel near the training course on Thursday. Rooms are very small - but the rates are low.
THE CARLTON HOTEL
Website: http://www.carltonhotelny.com
This hotel on Madison Avenue and E 29th Street is recently renovated. Ask for group rates if you are traveling with others.
What to bring
Dress code is casual throughout the course. Bring comfortable walking shoes and a raincoat and umbrella for site visits. Even if it rains, we like to stick to our existing schedule for the walking tour and site visits.
Directions
Airport travel information can be found at these links. Any of these airports are suitable, though if you're into transit systems, both JFK and Newark have new Airtrains that link the airport to train stations. Cabs might be the quickest way, but will run you $30-40. There are also a variety of shuttle buses available.
From LaGuardia Airport
From Newark Airport
From John F Kennedy International Airport
Map of New York City Subway
Bios
Once you register for the course please send us a short bio of yourself and your organization. Please see sample bio below.
Rich Miller
Director, City of Rome, NY, Dept of Parks and Recreation
Rich is the director of Parks, Recreation and Community Activities for the City of Rome, New York. The City of Rome, located in upstate New York about halfway between Albany and Syracuse, has 20 parks, 11 playgrounds, and one civic arena in its inventory. He is very interested in the role civic spaces play in community revitalization and in the development of trail systems. He has a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University. He and his lovely wife, Nancy, have two sons and two cocker spaniels. All remain avid New York Knicks fans in spite of the past year.
Questions?
Contact Kathleen Ziegenfuss at kziegenfuss@pps.org. You may also phone them at (212) 620-5660.
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