The Spring 2023 GPA Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 19 in Midtown Atlanta at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center.
Registration is Open
Registration is now open for the GPA 2023 Spring Conference! The conference will take place in-person on April 19 at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center in Midtown Atlanta.
Join planning colleagues for a great selection of regular and mobile sessions, a special equity-focused lunch program by Out of Hand Theater, and networking with peers in the planning industry. We look forward to seeing you in April!
| March 18 - April 12, 2023 | April 13 - Onsite | |
|---|---|---|
| GPA Member Fee | $225 | $250 |
| GPA Non-Member Fee | $260 | $285 |
| GPA Planning Official Fee | $125 | $125 |
| Retired/Unemployed/ Student Fee | $100 | $100 |
Refund Policy: If canceled by Wednesday, April 12, 2023, you will be refunded the full registration fee paid less a $25.00 administrative fee.
Hotel Information
Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center is currently sold out but may have rooms open up closer to the conference dates.
The following hotels are located in the area:
- Crowne Plaza Atlanta Midtown (W Peachtree)
- Renaissance Atlanta Midtown (7th & W Peachtree)
- The Georgian Terrace (3rd & Peachtree)
- Courtyard by Marriott Midtown (Ponce & Peachtree)
- Hilton Garden Inn (10th St)
- Residence Inn (W Peachtree @ 11th)
Breakdown of Schedule
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM Breakout Sessions 1
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Mobile Sessions 1 & 2
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM Networking Break
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM Breakout Sessions 2
12:00 PM – 1:45 PM Lunch with Out of Hand Theater
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Breakout Sessions 3
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Mobile Sessions 3 & 4
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM Networking Break
3:30 PM – 4:45 PM Breakout Sessions 4
5:15 PM – 7:00 PM Happy Hour: Cypress Pint and Plate
Breakout Sessions Overview
Breakout Sessions 1
- The Fiscal Impact of Land Use and Economic Development
- Lived Experience: Exploring Housing Affordability Through Experiential Learning (Equity)
- Connecting Clayton: MARTA’s Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Bringing Transit to Clayton County
- Strengthening Teams in Transition
Breakout Sessions 2
- Student Research: Barriers to Effective Clean- up: How the EPA Region IV is Confronted With and Navigates Resistance to Lead Remediation Efforts in the Westside Lead Superfund Site
- Innovative Solutions for Rural Housing: Lessons from the North Woods of Maine
- Moving Goods in the City: Atlanta Region’s Freight Cluster Planning
- Zoning Updates and Changes to the Zoning Procedures Law + The Ongoing Debate Over Zoning and Housing Reform at the GA General Assembly (Law)
Breakout Sessions 3
- Student Research Showcase: Placemaking, Land Use Conflict, Industrial Redevelopment, & Commercial Missing Middle (4 student presentations, facilitated by professor)
- Thoroughfare Plans: Connectivity and Complete Streets for Suburban Communities
- (S&R) Bicyclists on Sidewalks: Why They’re Not Going Away, What We Can Do About It, and How e-bikes Change the Game
- Riches to Rags to Riches: A Look Inside Midtown Atlanta’s Blueprint for Transformation
Breakout Sessions 4
- Partnering with Banks to Achieve Community & Economic Development (Law)
- Georgia’s Housing Landscape: News, Trends, and Case Studies
- E-mobility and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for Local Governments in Georgia
- Urban Design, Data Analytics and Sustainable, Resilient, and Socially Inclusive Future: Advancing US Capabilities Through Practice in Asia, Middle East and the Caribbean (S&R)
Mobile Sessions
When you register, don’t miss our fabulous Mobile Sessions that give you a tour of various areas of Atlanta from Midtown to Peachtree Corners. All Mobile Sessions will meet in the registration area of the conference 5 – 10 minutes prior to the start time for departure. Register for a session or two.
Mobile Session Refund Policy: No refunds will be issued for the Mobile Sessions.
Mobile Session 1: Midtown Atlanta Art & Activations
9:00 – 11:30 AM
Registration Fee: $10
This session will feature a tour to learn about some of the tactical moves made in partnership with artists, property owners and tenants to enliven some of Midtown’s nooks with art, activation, and programming. Included will be recently installed parklets in orphaned parallel parking spaces, Midtown MARTA station art enhancements, strategic right-of-way realignment to create new public common spaces, installing a temporary park in an underutilized lot, along with many vibrant story-telling facade murals on previously blank walls. Also, learn about what’s next for art and activation opportunities in 2023 and beyond.
Transportation
Walking; Participants should be prepared to stroll from the conference center 1.5 to 2 miles round trip with regular stops. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the day’s weather.
Mobile Session 2: The Curiosity Lab: Technology, Innovation, and Economic Development
9:00 – 11:00 AM
Registration Fee: $30
This session will feature a trip to the Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners to ride in an automated shuttle and hear firsthand from City leaders and people involved directly with the living laboratory helping companies deploy and test smart city technology. Located in the 500-acre Technology Park, the Curiosity Lab is publicly funded and owned by the City of Peachtree Corners as an economic development initiative. Attendees will hear from representatives of the City and key partners helping advance smart city technology initiatives to learn more about the history of this innovative initiative, key steps in development of the Curiosity Lab, and what the project has meant for economic development and smart city technology, as well as next steps and what the future may hold.
Transportation
Shuttle from the Conference (departs at 8:00 am) or meet at Curiosity Lab at 9:00 am. Please email if you plan to go directly to the Curiosity Lab. Shuttle will return to the Conference prior to lunch.
Mobile Session 3: Midtown Atlanta Bike Tour
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Registration Fee: $30
Hop on a bike to take a ride and see everything that Midtown has to offer in the present and future on its ever-expanding partially protected bike network. Understand the promise and challenges of how this network intends to connect the academic institutions of Georgia Tech and SCAD to the jewel of Piedmont Park and everything in between. This includes a multitude of shiny offices, a burgeoning vertical residential neighborhood and the iconic arts and culture centers of the Fabulous Fox Theatre and Woodruff Arts Center.
Transportation
Bicycle; Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes for pedaling and dress for the day’s weather. You can use your own bike, but email if you plan to do so. The fee does not change if you provide your own bike.
Mobile Session 4: From Tough Sites to Great Neighborhoods: Innovative Infill in Atlanta
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Registration Fee: $30
Cheshire Bridge Road is well known as a unique commercial corridor in Atlanta. In recent years, its proximity to Midtown and Buckhead and under-used lots have spurred a new interest in redevelopment. On this tour, we will visit the Manchester neighborhood, an innovative residential infill project just two blocks from Cheshire Bridge Road and I-85. Hedgewood Homes created a beautiful, people-scaled neighborhood on a tightly constrained site of a former garden nursery and nearby industrial parcels. After touring the neighborhood, we will visit the local businesses taking root nearby.
Transportation
Bus. Shuttle from the Conference departs at 2:00 pm sharp. Participants should be comfortable walking short distances and going up short flights of stairs. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the day’s weather as the workshop is outside. Bus will return to the Conference following the session.
Spring GPA Happy Hour
Join us at the Spring GPA Happy Hour after the close of the Spring Conference on Wednesday, April 19, 5:15 – 7:00 pm.
Cypress Street Pint & Plate
817 W Peachtree St. NW
Appetizers provided.
Sponsored by the Emerging Planners of Georgia (EPG) and the APA Transportation Planning Division.
Contact Amanda Hatton, VP Programs, with questions or for more information.