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Presentation of the North Central Texas Council of Governments 2021 Celebrate Leadership in Development Excellence (CLIDE) Award to the City of Farmers Branch for the Open Farmers Branch program
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BACKGROUND:
The North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Center of Development Excellence created the Celebrating Leadership in Development Excellence, or CLIDE Award, in 2003 to encourage and celebrate innovative development projects and practices. With an emphasis on the Principles of Development Excellence, the CLIDE Awards Program recognizes public and private entities including cities, developers, architects, planners, and engineers in five categories: New Development; Redevelopment; Special Development; Raising Public Awareness; and Public Policy and Planning.
A distinguished panel of jurors composed of nationally respected professionals in the fields of architecture, planning, public policy and development evaluated 26 applications from the NCTCOG’s 16-county North Central Texas region. An applicant must receive a unanimous vote from the jury to be selected and we are pleased to announce that the City of Farmers Branch and WGI/Team Better Block were selected for the Special Development CLIDE Award for the Open Farmers Branch program.
The City of Farmers Branch rapidly created the Open FB program during the pandemic to assist local businesses with strategic CARES Act funding. As a vital part of the process, WGI/Team Better Block was engaged to help the City rethink the outdoor public realm. Of particular note the parklet, or pop up patio, program was established to provide outside dining options and other modifications to the built environment to ensure social distancing and establish curb side pick-up and to go service with the ultimate goal of keeping our locally owned restaurants open, sustainable, and successful in the long term. This was truly a community achievement.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Inaugural Pics