ULI Detroit - The 25th Annual UM-ULI Real Estate Forum
(Wednesday, November 9 at Cobo Hall)
Bob Gibbs will join the 1:30 pm panel to discuss local/regional/state views of Detroit and the national economy.
NAIOP Presentation January 18, 2012
Bob will be NAIOP's (Seattle, Washington) featured speaker.
Auckland Conservation Council, Spring, 2012
Bob will lead an international urban design, heritage and environmental issues workshop with the Auckland Council in Auckland, New Zealand. This will be his fifth trip to the very sustainable country.
Wiley Publishing announces Robert Gibbs' new book, available from Amazon.com:
Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development
Michigan's Pioneering Urbanist - John Nolen
by Robert Gibbs
First published in the MiCNU News, March 2011
GPG recognized in Santa Cruz Sentinel article:
"Retail Guru Robert Gibbs' Advice Pays Off for Santa Cruz Retailers"
Harvard GSD: Robert Gibbs has agreed to present his Executive Education seminar, The Theory and Practice for Planning, Developing & Repairing Suburban & Urban Retail, July 6-7, 2011, at the Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Mass.
The program will demonstrate how proven principles of modern retail development can be combined with the best practices of new urbanism, smart growth, and architectural design to create successful and competitive mixed-use urban commercial centers. Ideal for developers, planners, retailers, architects, and public officials, the program will focus on several topics, among them the required market demographics for various retailers, restaurants, and shopping center typologies, including convenience centers, neighborhood centers, power centers, regional malls, and lifestyle centers. Participants will learn about market research, streetscape, store planning, signage, tenant mix, merchandising plans, leasing, anchors' roles and successful new urban planning techniques, design criteria, parking, building, site planning, and developer requirements. The course will also review the synergy among residential, office, civic, and governmental land uses and retailer performance.
AIA/CES units: 14; AICP units: 14; ASLA units: 14
Speakers will include Terry Shook, principal of Shook-Kelley, Jane Grabowski-Miller of Erdman Holdings, and Jeff Higgins of Indigo Retail Advisors, Inc. Registration information is now available at http://execed.gsd.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/exec_ed/details.cgi?offering_id=102036
Or contact: Tel. 617-384-7214
Robert Gibbs has become a member of the IWPR Speakers Bureau:
http://www.iwprgroup.com/sb/sb_top.html
Robert Gibbs has contributed a chapter in The Language of Towns & Cities, by Dhiru A. Thadani:
http://www.designophy.com/newslog/article.php?UIN=1000002276
Disney World, Orlando, Florida: GPG commissioned by the Walt Disney Company to conduct a special study for its Orlando Disney World; October, 2010
Santa Cruz, California: GPG Consults with City Redevelopment Authority and Chamber of Commerce to improve commerce along its Pacific Avenue historic downtown, and the East and West side commercial areas. The City has successfully rebuilt its CBD after a major 1989 earthquake. Known as the surfing capital of the world, Santa Cruz is also the organic food market's grocery store leader. New Leaf, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway and numerous other small markets serve the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The downtown has two grocery stores, two large book sellers, American Apparel, the Gap, a farmers market and many restaurants and small unique retailers. A major pier and waterfront boardwalk area also complement the beachfront; October, 2010 Study
Reston Virgina: GPG consults with JBG Rosenfeld on plans for the expansion of the Reston Heights Town Center. Located near Reston Town Center, this new community will include 400 residential units, 300,000 sf of office space, and complementary retail, restaurants and a new supermarket; October, 2010
Daytona Beach, Florida: GPG presents the findings and recommendations of its commercial market study to the Economic Development Department for the CRA Board. GPG finds that the historic waterfront area can support over 80,000 square feet of new retail and restaurants, including numerous flagship regional and national entertainment venues; October, 2010
Butler Town Center, Gainesville, Florida: GPG retained by Butler Enterprises to consult on its master plan for an expanded mixed-use center to include: 1.4 million of new retail, hotels, office and 1000 residential dwellings; September, 2010
Fresno, California: GPG completed a master planning charrette led by Moule-Polyzoides to re-energize a stalled 1965 pedestrian mall. The mall, one of the first in the country, has since lost its department stores and all but a handful of retailers. The greater Fresno region remains vibrant, with a population of over 500,000 and numerous surrounding shopping centers. The CBD has over 50,000 office workers, including federal, state and county courthouses, the city hall, and a new IRS regional headquarters; September, 2010
The mall represents a classic misunderstanding by urban planners - that most retailers can serve without streets and on-street parking. This pedestrian-only format requires the mall to function as a regional shopping destination, with department stores, leading brands and central management. Independent retailers rely on drive-by vehicular traffic and on-street parking for sustianablilty. The charrette was completed during the week of September 26, 2010.
New Hampshire: GPG has been commissioned to complete a commercial market analysis for office, hospitality and retail for a proposed 600 acre mixed-use DPZ planned town center in Londonderry, NH. As a part of the project, GPG participated in a public planning charrette led by DPZ Architects on September 7-12, 2010 in NH.
Albuquerque, NM: GPG has been retained by Strata Design to assist in developing market-based commercial redevelopment of two neighborhoods. The analysis and market study will be completed during the Fall of 2010.
MSHDA State Conference Lecture: Gibbs presented a lecture on New Trends in Urban Retail Planning & Development at the Michigan State Housing Development Association's state conference in Bay City on Sept. 13, 2010.
ULI Panel: Gibbs will be leading a panel roundtable of leading US city managers at the National ULI Washington Conference on October 14, 2010.
Washington, DC Region: GPG has been commissioned by JBG Companies to assist with the planning and market research of infill mixed-use developments in Reston, Tyson's Corner and Twinbrook Station; October, 2010
Palm Springs, California: GPG has been commissioned to complete a retail feasibility study for the expansion of an existing resort and casino property located in the Palm Springs, Calif. region. As part of this project, GPG has introduced the owner to numerous leading shopping center developers and retailers; July, 2010
CNU 18 202 Session: Gibbs will be teaching a 202 3 hr. advanced session on Urban Retail Theory and Practice at the CNU 18 Conference in Madison, Wisconsin; June 1-4, 2011.
British Columbia: GPG has completed a city-wide residential anlaysis for Revelstoke, BC, Canada to assist Placemakers with the SmartCode and Master Plan for the City; July, 2010
Naples, Florida Keynote: Gibbs gave the Keynote presentation for the Naples Certified Financial Analysts Meeting on September 14, 2010.
China: GPG has been commissioned by Disney Imagineering to consult in Shanghai, China. GPG will be conducting overall merchandising, planning, and retail consulting services for the planned new destination; Summer 2010
Gibbs Meets with New Hampshire Governor: Gibbs met with New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch, Pillsbury Realty and Andres Duany to discuss Pillsbury's proposed 600 acre town center's opportunities; October 2010.
Coatesville, Pa: GPG participated in a master planning charrette with AECOM for the downtown area of Coatesville, PA; August 16-20, 2010
Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge: Robert Gibbs presents his 15th annual New Trends in Urban Retail Planning and Development Executive Education Session; July, 2010
GPG Opens Office in Northern Michigan: GPG has opened its 2nd Michigan office at 201 W. Mitchell Street No. 150, Petoskey, Michigan 49770. GPG will also maintain its Birmingham office at 240 Martin Street.
Charleston: GPG has been selected to assist with Historic Charleston's Public Market Restoration. GPG will be assisting in the programming, master merchandising plan, and tenant selection for the 200 year old national treasure. The City has approved GPG's recommendation for the installation of skylights along the Market's roof peak; Spring 2010
Wasilla, Alaska: GPG has developed a commerical master plan for Wasilla, Alaska's historic downtown area. The plan includes a new civic square surrounded by a new City Hall, library and performing arts center. As a part of the plan, the City has purchased a shopping center to reuse as its new library. The plan has been widely accepted by the community, leading to the adaption of many of the principles of New Urbanism and Smartgrowth. Gibbs participated in an October 2009 planning charrette led by USKH.
Houston, Texas: GPG presented its commercial master plan for downtown Houston. The plan proposed over 25 modifications to the City's parking policy, tenant mix, land use codes, sign ordinances, lighting and streetscape. GPG found that the CBD could support additional department stores and over 200,000 square feet of additional retail development; January 2010
Naples 5th Avenue, Florida: GPG presented its six month analysis of 5th Avenue's commercial challenges and opportunities. GPG was retained by the 5th Avenue Business Association and made several public presentations; Fall 2009
Gibbs Voted Top Urban Thinker: Robert Gibbs was voted as one of the Top 100 American Urban Thinkers of the twentieth century by a 2009 Planetizen poll.
SmartCode: Robert Gibbs has written a new retail module for the SmartCode Manual. The module combines the shopping center industries' practices with those of the New Urbanism; November, 2009
Robert Gibbs Contributes to two New Urbanism Books: Robert Gibbs has published chapters in two recently released books on New Urbanism: New Urbanism and Beyond, and Sustainable Urbanism; 2008
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia: GPG completes year long analysis of King Street's commerce and proposed detailed recommendations for revisions to parking, zoning, landuse, redevelopment and merchandising policy. Study concludes that King Street is 3 distinct districts serving the regional, local and worldwide tourism sectors; 2008
Katrina Mississippi Renewal CNU Charrette: GPG selected by Governor Barbour and the CNU to participate in a 10 day on site emergency charrette to assist in in replanning of 11 communities destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Robert Gibbs worked directly with city mayors and focused on rebuilding businesses and long-range regional planning policy. The charrette was held just weeks after the storm and was a life changing event by the participants; October 2005
Robert Gibbs Presents Market Based Retail Development Principles and Practice at First Congress for the New Urbanism, Alexanderia, Virginia; 1992
December 1988, Gibbs Planning Group Founded, Birmingham, Michigan