About this Event
Celebrate 100 Years of Sarasota School: Urban Transformation, by joining us at Church of the Redeemer for the third iteration of the Downtown Sarasota Series, Southern Cities: Shared Futures.
ABOUT THE TALK
St. Petersburg, FL
Derek S. Kilborn
Planning Director
City of St. Petersburg
Maeven M. Rogers
Director of Sustainability & Resilience
City of St. Petersburg
Bringing together two city experts on planning, historic preservation, resilience, and sustainability, this talk will highlight our closest neighbor in St. Petersburg, FL.
Planning for the future, while preserving the past, is crucial to maintaining St. Pete's authentic fabric. Historic preservation works to help identify, preserve, and promote the unique aspects of St. Pete, working with property owners, local businesses, public agencies, and community organizations to highlight the areas, architecture, structures, and stories that define St. Pete’s character.
St. Petersburg is a city shaped by the water; they are shaping the future to live with it. As we see rising seas, stronger storms, and hotter days, St. Pete is taking thoughtful, proactive steps to protect its neighborhoods, strengthen its environment, and preserve the vibrant coastal lifestyle that defines its community. Resilience is about more than responding to challenges, it’s about preparing for them, adapting to them, and emerging stronger. It means planning ahead, investing wisely, and making decisions that support both current residents and generations to come.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Southern Cities: Shared Futures
Great cities inspire innovation, strengthen community, and create places where people want to live, work, and gather. Building on the success of Architecture Sarasota's first two Downtown Series programs, this third installment continues the conversation about Sarasota's future by bringing together civic leaders from peer cities across the South. As Sarasota navigates a period of unprecedented growth and change, these speakers will share practical ideas, proven strategies, and successful public-private partnerships from communities that, like Sarasota, balance a strong cultural identity with the challenges of growth, preservation, climate resilience, and housing. Join us for a timely and engaging discussion exploring how thoughtful planning, collaborative leadership, and design excellence can help shape Sarasota's next chapter while preserving the qualities that make it unique.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Derek Kilborn is the Planning Director for the City of St. Petersburg, FL. Kilborn co-authored the city’s award-winning Land Development Regulations in the mid-2000’s andhas complimentary experience in site and landscape plans and permitting, zoning and comprehensive planning, historic preservation, and sustainability. Prior to joining Florida’s “Sunshine City” in 2000, Kilborn worked for the City of Temple Terrace, Florida. A native of Buffalo, NY, he graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and attended the SUNY at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning for graduate study. He lives with his wife and two children in St. Petersburg.
Maeven Rogers is a dedicated sustainability & resilience professional who has worked alongside the City of Saint Petersburg, City of Orlando, Orange County Government, & the City of Palm Coast to develop impactful policies, projects, and programs that prioritize the wellbeing of both people and the environment at the local level. Drawing from her experience in sustainability and resilience initiatives, I have played a pivotal role in enhancing and strengthening local programs. Now, serving as the Director of Sustainability & Resilience for the City of Saint Petersburg, her work is characterized by its multidisciplinary approach and adaptability to varying needs. That focus spans resilience, vulnerabilities, stakeholder engagement, resource development and allocation, stewardship, electrification, asset management, renewable energy, city planning, infrastructure, and policy formulation.
Event venue & nearby stays
Church of the Redeemer Episcopal, 222 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.