The 2005 winners illustrate the ways in which urban excellence emerges through processes that include the rethinking of neighborhood or community identities.
Reinventing Downtown: the 2005 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence includes detailed case studies and lessons learned about the winning projects including:
- Portland Streetcar Project in Portland, Oregon
A new light rail system linking downtown and neighborhoods
- Downtown Silver Spring and Discovery World Headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland
A transit-oriented development integrating entertainment, housing, office, retail, and public spaces
- Fruitvale Village in Oakland, California
A new mixed-use transit village offering housing, retail, and community services
- Lower Town Artist Relocation Project in Paducah, Kentucky
Renewal of a historic neighborhood by fostering ownership and investment by artists
- The Heidelberg Project in Detroit, Michigan
A series of installations using art as a vehicle for community change
Lessons Learned themes include:
- Build on Strategic Transportation Opportunities
- Design Quality and Symbols are Important
- Public Engagement is Ever Present
- History and Beauty are Transformative
- Persistence and Critical Mass are Key Elements to Success
- Finding Opportunity in Crisis
- Creative Economy in Action