OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Do you care about growth and development in Ocala? If your answer to the question is, “Yes!” You’ll want to check your calendar to see if you’re available next Tuesday evening.
The City of Ocala is making an investment in its future and has hired a consulting firm to help envision the future.
And you can get a first-hand look at what the consultant thinks is the potential for the Brick City.
Urban3 is described as a forward-looking planning firm, known for its state-of-the-art approach to community development. The company’s website says they “look beneath the surface of municipal finances to unearth economic potential that can create sustainable futures for communities of all sizes.”
The company will examine the City of Ocala’s growth potential, economic viability, the impact on quality of life, and how these variables will be part of the equation for Ocala’s Vision 2050 plan.
The public is invited to attend a presentation on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition which is located at 15 SE Osceola Ave.
“The presentation is taking a holistic look at the city and looks at the financial values of properties located throughout the city, in a really visual way,” said Rachel Fautsch, Ocala community outreach manager, growth management. “So, it’s really going to give concrete and visual understanding of economic growth and economic possibilities in the city.”
Joseph Minicozzi is the founder of Urban3. The nationally renowned city planner and urban designer will be leading the presentation.
Minicozzi says he helps municipalities reach their full economic potential by focusing on what makes them unique.
“He has a lot of interest in Ocala, but we brought him in as the economic consultant for our vision 2050 update. The city sought out his expertise, knowing the amount of value he can provide.” said Fautsch. “The driving force in our desire to go with Urban3 and specifically have Mr. Minicozzi present was his storytelling ability. It was his ability to take a really complex concept, present it in a way that the general public and our staff has the ability to interpret, collect and learn from.”