The Vision
For two decades,
the City of Delray Beach, Florida has been a model for redevelopment,
downtown revitalization, resident-driven planning and “smart growth.”
As a mid-size city (pop. 65,000) located in Southeast Florida, Delray
Beach provides an outstanding example for similar-sized cities to emulate.
Indeed, Delray’s reputation in municipal circles is a strong one.
As the only two-time All America City winner in Florida history (1993
and 2001), Delray Beach is widely known for its planning efforts, redevelopment
successes, fiscal management, civic engagement, cultural amenities and
visionary leadership.
In 1995, Florida Trend magazine named the city “the best run town
in Florida.” And ever since, a steady stream of people have found
their way to Delray Beach to see for themselves what can be accomplished
when committed leaders and a dedicated citizenry work together to improve
their community.
In recent years, city officials from California, Alabama, Georgia, New
York, Maryland, Florida, Utah, Colorado and all over Florida have descended
on Delray Beach to study the “village by the sea.” Noting
the passionate interest that others had in his city, Delray Beach Mayor
Jeff Perlman developed an idea. What if Delray Beach became a national
center for the study of municipal leadership and entrepreneurial practices?
What if Delray Beach served as the place where the world’s best
urban minds gathered to discuss how to improve the nation’s midsize
cities?
And so, the concept for the non-profit Delray Beach Institute for Community
Innovation and Civic Entrepreneurship was born. The Delray Beach Institute
will serve as a living laboratory for mid-size cities throughout the
United States and the world. The Delray Beach Institute will be a place
where city managers, redevelopment officials, developers, planners,
architects, urban designers, elected officials, economic development
professionals, civic leaders and urban explorers will gather to study,
meet, converse and learn.