Keynote Speaker Curtis Johnson , photo by Erica Fick
Envision Central Texas held their 2011 Community Stewardship Awards at the Hilton Austin Hotel to honor organizations and individuals assisting public development and implementation of a regional Vision addressing the growth of a five-county region in Central Texas, with an emphasis on land use, transportation, and the environment.
Curtis Johnson was the luncheon’s keynote speaker and is author of “Citistates Reports” with Washington Post columnist Neal Peirce, published in leading newspapers in 26 American regions since 1987 in which challenges ranging from regional collaboration to land use and growth practices included an agenda setting impact. Johnson spoke on the necessity of leadership and the necessity creating strategy. After a warning that the sense of success like we have had in Central Texas some times creates a mindset of complacency, he went on to say “all over the World you can find evidence that strategy works.”
Finalist were announced and commemorative hand blown glass bowls from Wimberley Glassworks were presented as the Community Stewardship Awards to the award winners by Mayor Alan McGraw from the City of Round Rock, Judge Samuel Biscoe from Travis County, Judge Ronnie McDonald from Bastrop County, Judge Tom Bonn from Caldwell County, and Judge Bert Cobb from Hays County for the following categories:
New Development – recognizes developments that are constructed on previously undeveloped sites and successfully exemplify the Envision Central Texas Vision.
Finalist- Ladybird Lake Trail Restroom-Miro Rivera Architects
Award Winner- Block 21/W Hotel- Anderson-Wise Architects and Stratus Properties
Award Winner- Hutto Lake park Project- City of Hutto Parks and Recreation
Redevelopment – acknowledges developments that re-use existing structures or sites and successfully exemplify the Envision Central Texas Vision.
Finalist-The Austonian- Benchmark Development
Finalist -Byrne-Reed House Historic Restoration- HS&A Project Management and Humanities Texas
Award Winner-Chestnut Plaza Master Plan-Miro Rivera Architects
Innovation – highlights an individual, company, organization or government entity that has taken an innovative approach to growth challenges in ways that will foster the Envision Central Texas Vision.
Finalist- Camp Fire Kids Unplugged-Camp Fire USA Balcones Council
Finalist- PeopleFund
Award Winner-Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation
Public Planning and Policy – recognizes an organization or government entity for implementing a program or policy that facilitates and promotes the Envision Central Texas Vision.
Finalist- Concept Plan for the Onion Creek Greenway- Travis County, Transportation and Natural Resources Department
Finalist- Protocol for Sustainable Roadsides-TBG Partners and Williamson County
Award Winner-CAMPO 2035 regional Transportation Plan-capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Award Winner- Austin Strategic Mobility Plan- City of Austin, Transportation Department
Raising Public Awareness – acknowledges an organization for educating the public or raising awareness of the Envision Central Texas principals.
Finalist- DANA Downtown Living Tour- Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
Award Winner-Rainwater Revival-Hays County
Tom Yantis, 2011 ECT Chair-Elect left audience with the emphasis that we should “all work in collaboration to get things done.” To find out how to get involved visit Envision Central Texas www.envisioncentraltexas.org/
By Monica Pena
Austin Times
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