Chester County Commissioners name Brian O’Leary as Planning Commission Executive Director

????????????????????????????????????

WEST CHESTER, PA _ The Chester County Commissioners have appointed Brian O’Leary AICP as Executive Director of the Chester County Planning Commission. He joins the County on October 5th and replaces Ronald Bailey who retired earlier this year.

O’Leary has nearly 30 years of public planning experience with Montgomery County Planning Commission, and his move to Chester County follows 16 years as Section Chief for the Commission. Brian also serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association and as a government representative board member of the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance.

Read more

Southeast Section Election Results Are In!

Thanks for all who voted in the Southeast Section Council election this summer. The top vote getters are elected below and will be appointed to start their terms in January 2016 at the next meeting on November 12 (details below).

We want to congratulate all of the elected Section Council representatives listed below!

Chair Justin Dula
Vice-Chair Alexis Williams
Secretary Nicole Hostettler
Treasurer Rick Collier
At-Large Professional Planners Jennifer Barr
At-Large Professional Planners Andrew Svekla
At-Large Professional Planners Karen Thompson
At-Large Professional Planners Rebecca Ross
Citizen Planner Cheryl Tumola
Citizen Planner Michael Martella

Read more

Sept. 22: Greater Philadelphia’s Evolving Energy Future

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Registration & Networking 7:30 a.m.; Program 8:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

The Union League, 140 S. Broad Street, Center City Philadelphia (Lincoln Hall)

Energy choices continue to shape our region’s overall economy and environment, and they present specific, high-profile opportunities and challenges for local communities. Please join us for a robust forum on the land use and development implications of energy paths being advanced and debated in Greater Philadelphia. How can we modernize or repurpose industrial and transportation infrastructure to exploit new sources of fossil fuels while still improving our performance on measures of sustainability? Can state and local policies help different energy paths co-exist or converge? Come find out what today’s energy decisions might mean for you and what should we know about Houston’s experience?

Read more

Sept. 9: Play Space Design Competition Launch and Reception

Nippaysage_Labyrinth_image1

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Center for Architecture, 1216 Arch Street

Join us to launch a national design competition to design innovative outdoor play spaces for a Philly public school, library, and recreation center!

We’ll reveal the three competition sites and tell you more about competition prizes, how you can build a team, and how to get started. Get inspired by our current exhibition of over 40 projects presenting international best practices in play space design. Form your team with architects, landscape architects, educators, artists, and other play space advocates who want to be part of the competition too.

Space is limited. Be sure to reserve your spot now. RSVP.

Reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. $20/$10 Community Champions. Read more

Sept. 14: We Built This City

QUE_Event_Banner-01

Join the Queer Urbanist Exchange (QUE) for “We Built This City” our semiannual event, an urban-themed sing-a-long* on Monday, September 14 at 5:30 pm at Tavern on Camac, 243 South Camac St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. QUE brings together urban design professionals and enthusiasts to meet, network and discuss topics affecting our lives in Philadelphia.

*Yes, you read that right… an urban-themed sing-a-long! You are welcome to sing them yourself or leave it to the professionals. Jeff, the Tavern’s talented pianist, will be taking requests all night. On the Facebook Event, we’ve started a list of our favorites so he has time to prepare (e.g. “We Built this City on Rock and Roll”, The Trolley Song, and maybe even the Simpson’s Monorail Theme). Add your favorites or vote for some of the current selections.

Read more

Professional Development Scholarships Available

Do you demonstrate commitment in the field of community planning, involvement in public sector planning, and a desire to enhance your expertise and/or develop new skills? Take advantage of this opportunity and apply for the Jerry Walls Planning Professional Development Award and Irving Hand Excellence in Planning Professional Development Award. Deadline for applications is Friday, August 28.

Click here for more info!

Looking for a Study Buddy?

Interested in joining a study group to prepare for the AICP test in November?
The Southeast Section is committed to supporting those seeking AICP through a supported study group!
Contact secretary@apapase.org to sign up!

Sept. 10: Bimonthly APAPA-Southeast Section Council Meeting

APAPA-Southeast Section Council meeting
the second Thursday of every other month
5pm (sharp!)
The Reinvestment Fund (TRF)
1700 Market Street, 19th Floor
Calling in?  Please use the following:
Toll free:  (866) 245-0351
Passcode: 605275
Please direct any questions to secretary@apapase.org.
Find out more at www.apapase.org

 

Aug. 12: East Passyunk Neighborhood Tour

East Passyunk Neighborhood Tour: Wednesday, 8/12/15 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Love the food, love the beer, but ever wonder how East Passyunk got to be so cool?  Join us for a tour led by Renee Gillinger from the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District who will show us behind closed doors as we visit business owners and learn more about the history of the neighborhood during their weekly Passeggiata.

The tour will kick off at the Singing Fountain amidst the neighborhood’s weekly Farmers Market, then head out to shops throughout the district before ending at P.O.P.E. where drinks will be flowing for an extended happy hour.

Tickets $10, but includes first drink: http://yip.ticketleap.com/east-passyunk-neighborhood-tour/

Sept. 12: APA/YPT Scavenger Hunt

Saturday, September 12, 2015 
Hunt from 12 PM – 3 PM; Scoring and Post-Hunt Happy Hour from 3 – 5 pm

$7 for members of APAPA or YPT; $10 for non-members

Grab your SEPTA pass, lace up your shoes, and join us for our SECOND ANNUAL Photo Scavenger Hunt!

Meet us in the lobby of 1234 Market Street, outside of the SEPTA Store at 12pm to pick up your clues and begin the hunt. You’ll have until 3pm to travel to as many locations on the list as you can and take a photo with your team. Teams are capped at 4 members. No team? Don’t worry–register as an individual and we’ll set you up with a team at the beginning of the event.

Some clues will be in Center City and others will be far away–but everything is reachable via SEPTA, and, of course, your team will earn more points for the locations that are farther away and more difficult to reach.

Read more