After welcoming remarks from HRTW Chairman John Chervokas, Deputy Mayor of Yonkers Phil Amicone and County Executive Andy Spano, Donovan Rypkema, principal of Place Economics, a consulting firm that serves the National Trust for Historic Preservation and clients throughout the country and beyond, presented the keynote address.

During his speech, "Competitive Communities for the 21st Century," Mr. Rypkema described himself as a "list maker" and proceeded to make over 30 points in favor of preserving the past. He used survey statistics of first-time visitors to North Carolina and Virginia to make his initial case. The vast majority of the visitors said they had come to see historic sites, and spent significantly more money than those who had come for other reasons.

Mr. Rypkema also used statistics when he explained that for a million dollars spent on new construction, about 15 new jobs are created, while 22 new jobs are generated by that same million on a rehabilitation project.

Explaining that it has been predicted that there will be a need for seven clerical workers for every technician in the future, and that those clerical workers will need a place to live, Mr. Rypkema started his argument for affordable housing. He added that there will inevitably be many jobs - child care workers, waiters, janitors - that will pay less than $20,000. He noted that a lot of affordable housing can be provided by preserving old neighborhoods.

In addition, Mr. Rypkema pointed out that by reusing old buildings, communities save because roads, sewers and mass transit are already in place. Referring to the current interest in recycling he quoted the astronomical number of recycled Coca Cola cans it would take to equal the waste of a demolished building.

Emphasizing that economic development needs to be local, the speaker said, "Global people draw nourishment from 'local.'" He continued by maintaining local visions are attainable, one step at a time, but warned that it is necessary to have a long term perspective -- beyond the next election.

Mr. Rypkema's "quality of life" definition was a sense of place, evolution, identity, ownership and community which he compared to "Generica" -- the feeling of not knowing what city you are in. "Communities have a sense of history/memories, which enhances those five senses," he said. "If your town is not distinguishable from another town it will cease to exist."

He addressed "space vs. place," by noting that technology has provided an ability to work anywhere and that has increased a need for a place to work.

Perhaps Mr. Rypkema's strongest argument was his statement, "The real reason for economic growth is because 'I want my kid to be able to stay here.' Why would they want to if it looks the same as anyone else's place?"

Architect Walter Sedovic then challenged the audience with a quiz about some of the myths of rehabilitation, revealing, among other things, that replacing old windows with new is not necessarily a saving.

Peter Saltini, the architect who was responsible for the renovation of the Philipsburgh Performing Arts Center, explained the complexities of the process -- with the advantage of being able to literally point to the various details.

Historic Preservation Program Analyst Peter Shaver outlined "Working with NYS Office of Historic Preservation." During his talk the economic advantages of local and state historic districts became patently clear as statistics revealed the increasingly higher values of properties within the districts.

After a delicious luncheon provided by Encore Caterers, Mr. Rypkema returned to the podium. "I cannot identify a town anywhere around the country where historic preservation hasn't played a key role," he observed during his talk on "The Economics of Historic Preservation."

Mayor of Peekskill, John Testa, spoke about how the art loft project that opened last year has drawn even more artists to the city. He reported on the next phase of the project which had been announced at a news conference the previous day.

Clara Gould, Mayor of Beacon, gave an overview of her city's remarkable renovation and plans for its future.

Mayor of Haverstraw, Francis "Bud" Wassmer, presented a personal view of the city's history, from the brick yards to plans with Ginsburg Development Corporation for future major, careful development.

The final speaker was Jim Pinto, Director of Yonkers Office of Downtown and Waterfront Development, who illustrated the remarkable rehabilitation of the city's downtown in the last decade. That was followed by an invitation to join Mario Caruso of "Heritage Tours of Historic Yonkers by MC Plans," and the Yonkers Planning Department, for a walk through the actual downtown to the waterfront.