October is  National Community Planning Month and did a combined workshop by the American Planning Association, YCDC, USF Urban & Regional Planning,USF Student Planning,Metro Wellness & Community Centers, Tampa bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce, Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Pride, GaYBOR District and City of Tampa about LGBTA communities and future Urban Planning in Ybor City.

The event was at Metro Wellness & Community Centers coinciding with National Coming Out Day, October 11th.

Many speakers including Petra Doan, PHD, Professor and PHD Program Director, Florida State University Dept of Urban and Regional Planning talked about the evolution of LGBT communities. Larger and smaller cities face this evolution of the “Gay Ghetto”. Chicago, Houston, Washington, DC and happening now in Atlanta. Ybor City is part of the study of LGBT community relocation and drifting locations.

I was proud to be a part of Dr. Doans study 6 years ago when she was visiting Ybor City. A lot of the qualities for making an inclusive and diverse city populous are happening now in Ybor City. Changes are not always bad and it just happens. Like “Gayborhood Ghettos”, which is a slang for pioneering redevelopment (usually new white LGBT residents move in) from a blighted area of a city changing into a very redeveloped niche place to live and work. More unique restaurants, clubs, stores and off beaten charm. It happens all the time… Community Evolution.

Many USF students, local leaders, government officials attended the seminar but really the crowd that needed to hear and participate about all the great happenings of a positive diverse city as Ybor City is, were absent