It was a big week for the Alpine Balsam redevelopment with the City. Last Thursday we held our first public event and got lots of great ideas from the community form visions and big ideas to what people feel is both important to the neighborhood and missing. On Monday we had an Eco-District Charrette which had more than 80 people from City staff to boards and commissions to participants in the Eco-District conference in Denver. Some great ideas were uncovered from this talented group. Eco-District is a powerful approach to sustainable neighborhoods. Unlike LEED it does not start with the answer but goes through a process to determine priorities and approaches to sustainability that are appropriate to a specific project. Importantly, includes equity as a critical component to the sustainability approach. Tuesday and Wednesday I attended the Eco-District conference in Denver with powerful presentations form around the country on some of the best practices and challenges to these approached. I was also inspired by the committment to integrate equity, sustainability and resilience that is at the heart of the eco-district philosophy. With these the Charrette and Community Visioning events completed, we have some incredible information to start a deeper conversation with the City and the neighborhood about a vision for the property and the district. I am excited to be collaborating with Mithun on this important City project. Stay tuned for the evolution.