Hundreds of new urban and lifestyle centers are being opened across all market segments. Retail development is risky and difficult to implement, however, and many of these new centers and urban planning efforts will be at risk of underperforming due to critical planning and programming errors. This program focuses on the actual nuts and bolts of how to program, plan, and develop both urban and new urban town centers, including market research, site selection, land use, office, residential, parking, building, site planning, zoning, tenant mix, and store design.

The participant will gain an insider's look at how leading shopping center developers, retailers, department stores, and architects program, plan, design, and manage some of the highest-performing commercial centers in the business.

The instructors will demonstrate how principles of retail development can be combined with the best practices of the new urbanism and architectural design to create successful and competitive mixed-use urban commercial centers. In addition, this program will discuss integrating big-box discount retailers in the city and new town centers. The program also illustrates and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the leading town centers built during the past 20 years, including: Historic Charleston, Lake Forest, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, The Kentlands, and The Glen Town Center. Participants are welcome to bring projects to be discussed. This program is ideal for developers, planners, retailers, architects, and public officials.