CAC: Planning matters

As part of the celebration of its five years in the Lois and Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) on Saturday took a look into recent changes in the city's built landscape.

Over 60 people heard panelists Jay Chatterjee, Jim Fitzgerald, Charles C. Graves III, Ron Kull and Richard Rosenthal share their memories of Cincinnati and their optimism about the city's future.

"It was great to have them all on stage at one time," says Michaele Pride, chair of the University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design at DAAP and moderator of the discussion.

The panel discussed our city's major assets - our historic urban fabric, our world-renowned contemporary art and architecture, our history of progressive planning efforts, and our stunning topography.

But the overwhelming theme of the discussion was the importance of urban planning, and Charles C. Graves III's leadership on the recently re-instated Department of City Planning.

"Planning helps inspire others to act progressively," Pride says.  "Mr. Graves has said that he doesn't see this as a re-opening of the Planning Department, but he sees this as a brand new Planning Department."

Pride says that Graves is already looking into ways to engage the public - including young professionals and even schoolchildren - allowing them to inject new ideas and action into the city's planning process.

And she says that the city, the university, the CAC and local professionals will continue to do their part.

"We're envisioning this discussion as the first in a series," Pride says.  "I hope that people walked away from this one with new insight, including an invitation to be involved in future planning and decision making in the city's development."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Michaele Pride, chair, University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design at DAAP
Photography by Scott Beseler