The agenda for the Sept. 29 Inner City Housing Summit, which is sponsored by the Laredo Housing Authority (LHA), offers tools, strategies, and alliance-building opportunities to pursue inner city redevelopment.
Cullum Clark of SMU’s George Bush Institute, who will speak on “Building Cities of Opportunity,” is the keynote speaker for the day- long event at the Fort McIntosh campus of Laredo College.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
District 8 City Council member Alyssa Cigarroa will introduce the topic, “Inner City State of Affairs: what does the future look like?” Rafael Torres of the Azteca Economic Development and Preservation Corp. will moderate a panel consisting of José Ceballos of LHA, Priscilla Iglesias of Laredo Main Street, Larry García of the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, and José Nava of the Nava Group, LLC.
Elizabeth Alonzo Villarreal of NeighborWorks Laredo will introduce
“Bringing People Downtown” with a panel consisting of Nick Mitchell Bennet of cdcb/come dream, come build, Victor M. García of Falcon International Bank, Henry Flores of Madhouse Development, and Julian Rotnofsky of Trellistate Commercial Realty.
Regina Portillo of Regina Portillo Consulting will speak on “Reviving Downtown Assets: Connecting the Dots” with a panel consisting of Alyssa Barrera Mason of Downtown Corpus Christi, Stacy Jones of San Antonio’s Downtown TIRZ, and Henry Sauvignet TIRZ #1 Chairman/IBC Bank.
District 4 Council member Albert Torres will introduce keynote speaker Clark during the Summit’s luncheon.
The Summit agenda resumes with Ric Solis of Able City on “The Nuts and Bolts Issues of the Inner City: Redeveloping and Reinventing.” Members of the corresponding panel are Tina Martinez of City of Laredo Community Development, Gerardo Pinzon of the City Building Department, and Heriberto H. Gonzalez of Laredo College.
District 3 City Council member Mercurio Martinez III will open the session called “Policies and Codes that Work: Building on Innovative Practices.” City of Laredo Planning and Zoning Director Orlando Navarro will moderate panel members Cesar Hernandez of MileOne, Erasmo Villarreal of the City Planning and Zoning Commission, and Aaron Hanley of AbleCity.
The Summit concludes with a downtown TIRZ walking tour that begins and ends at La Posada Hotel. A mixer follows on the patio of the hotel.
José L. Ceballos has served as the 2021 Summit Steering Committee Chair and LHA Chair, working alongside committee members Ricardo Solis, Able.City / AIA Laredo Chapter; Mario Jasso, Architects Plus, Inc.; Rafael Torres, Azteca Economic Development & Preservation Corp.; Javier García, Bethany House of Laredo; Judy Mena, Bethany House of Laredo; Gerardo Pinzon, City of Laredo – Building; Tina Martinez, City of Laredo – Community Development; Elsa Hinojosa, City of Laredo – Community Development; Arnoldo J. Lozano, City of Laredo – Economic Development; Orlando Navarro, City of Laredo – Planning; and Carol Sherwood, Habitat for Humanity of Laredo.
Also, Joanna Deleon, Habitat for Humanity of Laredo; Henry Sauvignet, International Bank of Commerce; Dr. Marisela Rodriguez Tijerina, Laredo College; Heriberto H. Hernandez, Laredo College; Mary Gaona, Laredo Housing Authority; Jessica Martinez, Laredo Housing Authority; Christy Ramos, Laredo Housing Authority; Valerie Cabello, Laredo Housing Authority; Elizabeth Aguilar, Laredo Housing Authority; Alfonso Trevino, Laredo Housing Authority; Pricilla Iglesias, Laredo Main Street; Cesar G. Hernandez, MileOne; Elizabeth Alonzo Villarreal, NeighborWorks Laredo; Regina Portillo, Regina Portillo Consulting; Adriana Cantu, Salvation Army; Julian Rotnofsky, Trellistate Commercial Realty; Karla Navarro, Webb County Economic Development; and Roberto Gonzalez, Webb County Economic Development.
For further information, go to INNERCITYREVIVAL.ORG or call (956) 267-6573.
The summit will provide a unique avenue to create alliances among diverse sectors and empower its leaders through education and practical tools to pursue inner city redevelopment opportunities while overcoming social challenges.
If you feel investment in the inner city is not for you, all the more reason you shouldn’t miss out.
