From 5:30-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd, we’ll be hosting our latest live event. Join our panel for a discussion exploring how authentic, local restaurants, bars, public markets, food halls and other businesses are becoming essential ingredients in revitalizing urban commercial scenes across the country, even as traditional retail chains struggle.
Entrance is free, but RSVPs are required via Eventbrite.
Free copies of “Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change is Reshaping America” will be available to the first 50 guest courtesy of the First Coast Section of APA Florida.
Keynote Speaker:
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Quint Studer, author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America
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Quint Studer is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, a mentor to many, and extremely dedicated to the Northwest Florida community. He has given his life to designing the building blocks for people and organizations that guide them to achieving and sustaining high performance. He headquartered Studer Group in Pensacola, FL and Quint has now moved into the role of community volunteer and head of the Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit, research-based entity started in 2014 with the goal of improving the quality of life in the community. SCI’s efforts focus on improving education and economic development through two tracks: research and advocacy in early childhood education, and leadership training and employee development for small and medium-sized businesses. During the event, Studer while share the story of Pensacola’s rapid revitalization of downtown and activating of storefronts at ground level through clustering, complementing uses within a compact walkable setting.
Southtowne, is a recently completed mixed-use Downtown Pensacola development by Studer Properties featuring 258 apartment units, office and retail space, and a hidden parking deck.
Downtown Pensacola’s Palafox Street as a quiet one-way corridor in November 2007 (Google Streetview)
Downtown Pensacola’s Palafox Street as a two-way corridor in May 2019. One Palafox Place may be Pensacola’s largest and most important restoration project underway in downtown. Currently being restored, its century-old buildings will offer over 200,000 square feet of commercial space when complete. Also home to 45,000 square feet of retail space, the development includes the conversion of storefront into an open-air pedestrian breezeway through the property, creating additional space for more retailers.
Bluejay’s Bakery is one of several local businesses now activating the ground floor of Studer’s latest adaptive reuse project, One Palafox Place.
Panelists:
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Lori Boyer, Downtown Investment Authority CEO
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Celestia Mobley, chef and restaurant owner at Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine and Jazzy’s Restaurant and Lounge
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Jerry Watterson, Jax Restaurant Reviews founder
Jazzy’s Restaurant and Lounge on Riverside’s King Street is one of several local businesses with ties to chef Celestia Mobley, serving cuisine linked to the region’s local food ways and cultural identity.
Moderator:
- Caron Streibich, restaurant reviewer, Florida Times-Union; content and social media marketing manager, Regency Centers
Entrance is free, but RSVPs are required via Eventbrite.
Free copies of “Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change is Reshaping America” will be available to the first 50 guest courtesy of the First Coast Section of APA Florida.
The event is presented by The Jaxson, Young Planners of the First Coast American Planning Association, Modern Cities, and WJCT. Refreshments and light hors d’ouevres will be served.