Cities Exchange: International Brownfields Exchange Offices of Expo 2000 GmbH Dessau, Germany The Cities Exchange on June 28th, co-chaired by Beth Benson (Waterfront Regeneration Trust, Toronto) and Iris Reuther, (Buro fur Urbane Projeckte, Leipzig) was an informative and lively exchange of ideas and practical experience by project leaders involved in the redevelopment of derelict lands. The opportunity to share international experience allowed participants to articulate some of the most important state of the art practices in redeveloping brownfields and to establish an international network of contacts. All of the presenters noted the important leadership role that cities must play to ensure that redevelopment of brownfields happens ­ and that it happens in a way that shapes change to benefit those who live, work and visit the city. Quality of life is an important measure of a city's competitiveness Jerilyn Perine, former Deputy Commissioner, Housing and Preservation Department, City of New York, noted the common challenges that cities must address in this new century, including a significant decline in traditional industrial and manufacturing jobs, vacant land in strategic locations, civic infrastructure that may not be suitable for new economic development opportunities and public expectations and social unrest. With some 4,000 acres of vacant land in New York City, the redevelopment of these former industrial properties is crucial to meeting the housing, job creation and greenspace needs of New York for the next generation. At the same time Jerilyn Perine noted that New York's experience over the past decade, particularly regarding housing as a catalyst for economic redevelopment, points to the importance of an overarching long term vision for the city, for a strategic approach that builds partnerships between the public, the not for profit and the private sectors, and that puts emphasis on projects that improve the quality of life for all who live, visit and work in the city. Luc Piccioni, development Officer, City of Hamilton, Canada noted the City's success in balancing needs and objectives of the private and public sector. He emphasized the importance of the City's role in creating an atmosphere of certainty so that private capital would be attracted to brownfields. A strong vision for the City that integrates environmental protection, economic development and community objectives is vital ­ and the ability to offer financial incentives, such as tax increment financing, are the main priorities. The City of Hamilton also sees the importance of leading by example - through public projects on their waterfront and by creating possibilities for meaningful collaboration and trust. Edwin Saphar, Convenor of the Common Good Planning Center, Rochester, USA, spoke eloquently about the vital role of the local community in shaping its own future. All participants in the Exchange noted the importance of community participation in brownfield redevelopment - projects will not, and should not, succeed unless those who are most affected by decisions concerning the future of their neighborhood are part of the process. He noted that quality of life is an important measure of cities1 competitiveness and communities shape that life. Malcolm Barton, Contract Manager, Groundwork Trust, UK, shared the experience of Groundwork in working with local communities to restore damaged landscapes. With thousands of hectares of post industrial land in the United Kingdom, there is a recognized need to find a beneficial use for derelict land. In situations where there are not market demands for economic reuse, Groundwork and its partners are applying ecological methods to restore landscapes for public uses, including parks, community centers and hiking trails. Groundwork's experience shows that to be successful - i.e. to contribute to improving the quality of life in urban areas ­ projects must involve the community, use ecological methods, and be capable of enduring. New tools are emerging as well, such as measurement of biodiversity and electronic databases, to assist in collecting, interpreting and sharing the right type of information. Evert Verhagen, Project Manager, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, outlined the approach that the City is employing to restore a heritage gasworks for new uses. Putting the project on the map, a long term vision, a multi-disciplinary team with strong communication skills, integration of cultural and natural heritage qualities, adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and innovative public/private partnerships for implementation were among the key lessons from this internationally recognized redevelopment project.