Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA) again brings together national and local experts to its annual Spring Conference - New Urbanism: Creative Models For Innovation And Economic Growth on May 17 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 363 Maine Mall Rd. The event begins at 1 p.m. with a social hour from 5 to 6 p.m.
This event has been approved for 3.30 hours of legal and 3.00 hours broker continuing education credits.
MEREDA will bring together national and local planning experts who think about large scale urban issues. This year's Spring Conference will engage us on how to re-set and re-focus on how we think about the American city. This event will help real estate professionals understand better the trends that are quickly hanging our established patterns of development and investment, pulling back from the "fringe suburbs" and in to the more dense, pedestrian-friendly city centers that were neglected and abandoned starting in the 1950s. This conference is virtually a must for real estate professionals to better understand what is facing Maine cities, and what other urban areas around the country are doing to creatively address the re-urbanization of America.
Joining us are nationally recognized special guests, land use strategist, teacher, developer, researcher and author, Christopher Leinberger, a Visiting Fellow with the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute and president of LOCUS, a national transit-oriented development advocacy organization, and Lara Hodgson, co-founder of Insomnia, an Atlanta-based firm specializing in investment, development and management of complex and innovative "world-changing" projects.
Local experts Patrick Venne, Esq., JD/MCP, land use attorney, planner, and author, John Rohman, P.E., CID, Maine Certified Interior Designer and Professional Engineer, and Alex Jaegerman, city of Portland Planning Division director will discuss "New Urbanism" trends and challenges in Maine, exploring how established patterns of development and investment are changing. Panelists will share examples of what other communities around the state are doing to address the re-urbanization of their city centers.

Cost for the event is $75 for MEREDA members and $95 for non-members. Student rate is $25. Payment is expected at time of renovation. No refunds. Contact MEREDA at (207) 874-0801 for more information or visit mereda.org for registration.