Imagine KC .

This episode of Imagine KC will feature the region’s new Creating Sustainable Places” initiative. We’ll hear from HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, who sat down with us for a short interview following his March 24 announcement of the grant, to discuss what this opportunity means from a national perspective. Co-chairs Jan Marcason, City Council, Kansas City, MO, and Curt Skoog, City Council, Overland Park, KS, will talk about how the project will unfold and who’s involved. Local planning and sustainability experts will describe how focusing on strategies to develop sustainable corridors and activity centers, and advance new conservation efforts will result in a region that is more vibrant, connected and green.

Episode 3 of Imagine KC focuses on creating and sustaining vibrant activity centers, and the critical role these community anchors play in the region’s Centers, Corridors and Conservation strategy. Stories explore a widespread desire to revitalize historic downtowns, develop more active centers in older bedroom suburbs and build new centers in emerging suburbs on greenfield sites. This episode of Imagine KC demonstrates the defining characteristics of different types of centers by highlighting regional examples and showing how quality urban design principles have been, and continue to be the key to creating our most beloved community places. We also explore some local government plans and ordinances that can help the region achieve its vision for a connected network of vibrant activity centers.

In short, this episode answers the questions: What does a vibrant community look like and what policies and actions can local communities use to guide the development of these centers?