The community is invited to a panel discussion, hosted by the Environmental Sustainability Council (ESC), at the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School Library on February 15, 2018, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. entitled: Resilient, Sustainable West Falls Church Economic Development Project: Learning from Regional Experience.
The purpose of this event is to engage City decision-makers and the broader community in a discussion of how the City can integrate environmental and economic sustainability principles into the West Falls Church Economic Development Project, driving resilient development, maximizing environmental benefit, creating place and reducing financial risk.
Participants will hear practical insights from professionals who have undertaken successful sustainable neighborhood scale projects in our region. The distinguished panel will explore the following issues:
- What do we mean by "resilient" development, and how can we apply insights from Washington DC's Climate Ready DC plan?
- What are relevant frameworks and standards for resilient, sustainable development at the neighborhood scale, i.e. going beyond the building?
- What can we learn from developers like Federal Realty Investment Trust and Urban Atlantic who are already developing and financing sustainable communities in the Washington DC area?
- Why should we consider the site's energy infrastructure upfront?
- What can we learn from Washington DC's Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District in terms of how sustainable development contributes to economic development?
A Q&A session will follow the panelists' presentations, which will last about an hour.