Lecturer discusses key to revitalizing city

Faculty, students and realtors gathered Friday afternoon at the Richmond Omni as this year’s distinguished lecturer, Gary Garczynski, explained his theories about how to get people back into the cities.

The lecture, “Overcoming Barriers to Smart Growth,” explained the principles of smart growth including innovative land use and urban revitalization.

“It’s difficult to find visionary developers. People with a not-in-my-backyard attitude and general lack of citizen support make it hard for growth,” Garczynski said during his speech.

Garczynski spoke of solutions, pointing out that educating the stakeholders within a community is the first step toward revitalization.

“It’s important that we recognize that growth will continue and it needs to be balanced,” he said. “We have to coordinate the efforts of the builders, developers and realtors.”

This is the sixth year of the Distinguished Lecturer Series, which is endowed by the Virginia Association of Realtors. It also signifies the first year that the lecture was held in conjunction with the VAR’s Annual Legislative and Education Conference.

“(The series) is a way for VCU to bring distinguished folks like Gary to the students and the realty community,” said Robert W. Taylor, director of the Virginia Real Estate Center at VCU. “It’s an outreach program.”

The center chooses speakers who are leaders within the community, Taylor said. Garczynski’s was the 2002 president of the National Association of Home Builders.

Garczyniski said he finds it very important to support functions like this.

“All education is outreach,” he said. “We have to educate people on the facts and take opportunities like this series to do that.”

Graduate students took in a different perspective on the world of smart growth.

“I think it was interesting hearing from a developer’s standpoint,” said graduate student Michael Larson, who came last year and learned about growth from a broker’s perspective. He added that he really appreciates hearing speakers such as Garczynski every year.

“Being a student, we’re invited to attend these seminars,” Larson said. “I think it would be a shame not to come. The lectures are very interesting.”