Former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley to speak on October 20th in Savannah
The timing could not be better for Savannah to welcome nationally renowned speaker and former Mayor of Charleston Joseph “Joe” Riley, Jr. when he comes to town on Thursday, Oct. 20. No stranger to adversity, when Hurricane Hugo slammed into Charleston in 1989, Riley won wide praise for getting the city cleaned up quickly and back on its feet. As Savannahians begin to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, there’s a lot we can learn from other communities and leaders who have faced similar devastation.
Hurricane Hugo’s 135 mph winds bore down, wrenching the roof off City Hall, flooding streets, collapsing buildings and causing destruction to sea islands near the city. After Hugo, Riley became a national figure through endless TV interviews. “It was the most important time of my service because people’s lives were at stake and people’s futures were at stake,” Riley said during an interview.
Riley has been honored nationally as one of the nation’s outstanding mayors for his vision in urban design
It’s Riley’s focus on the people that made Charleston a success story of first-class urban design and vibrant community culture. Riley has been honored nationally as one of the nation’s outstanding mayors for his vision in urban design, and his legacy can be felt in every corner of the historic city of Charleston. “Americans spend a great deal of time on their homes — the front yard, the back yard, the private zone,” Riley says. “But the public realm, what all citizens own together, has a collective value that is essential to the quality of life of a community.”
Riley led a city government with an impressive record of innovation in public safety, housing, arts and culture, children’s issues, the creation of parks and other public spaces, and economic revitalization and development. The City of Charleston is recognized as one of the most livable and progressive cities in the United States. “Great cities around the world have the guts to give the finest parts of their city to the public realm,” Riley says.
What can Savannah learn from Riley’s 40 years of experience?
“Americans spend a great deal of time on their homes — the front yard, the back yard, the private zone…”
In “Building Beauty in the Urban Environment,” Riley will explore how thoughtful planning and preservation can foster an engaging city fabric and create economic growth and better quality of life for the people therein. By sharing his insights and decades of experience, Mr. Riley will demonstrate how political leadership and individual citizens alike can enhance our infrastructure and public spaces and refine our strategies for development in the future. Savannah Development and Renewal Authority hopes you’ll join us to discover how by enriching urban design and promoting the arts in Savannah, we can shape a beautiful city that supports both tourism and its own vibrant community culture.
The talk with Joe Riley, presented by Engel & Volkers Savannah will take place on Thursday, October 20th at The Savannah Theatre located at 222 Bull Street. A reception sponsored by the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Savannah will be held in the lobby from 5 – 5:30 p.m. with Riley taking the stage from 5:30 – 7 p.m. The event is free, however registration is encouraged through Eventbrite: https://thesavannahurbanismseries.eventbrite.com/
Credit is available for AIA/AICP members. Event sponsors include Engel & Völkers Savannah, NAI Mopper Benton – Savannah Commercial Real Estate, Brown Design Studio, Downtown Neighborhood Association of Savannah, Thomas & Hutton ENG Co and Longleaf Partners.
Held semi-annually, The Savannah Urbanism Series is intended to educate and empower the greater Savannah community on current issues in planning and development. At these events, it is our goal to bring in leading professionals and thinkers to facilitate an open dialogue on the difficult questions presented by growth, change, and development in urban places like Savannah. These vital discussions have the potential to challenge prevailing approaches to development and foster informed and proactive policies for the future.