A group of students and faculty with the University of Georgia's College of Environment and Design plans to hold a public design session with the city of Porterdale.

UGA's College of Environment and Design will partner with Porterdale for a three-day charrette, or public design session, that will focus on downtown improvements.

The public is invited to attend the three-day event, which starts on Friday Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Porterdale City Hall with a public input session.

On Saturday, Nov. 10 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Party on Main, there will be a public drop in for feedback and small group presentations.

Finally on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Porterdale City Hall, final presentations from the charrette will be given and there will be a question and answer session with the public and stakeholder groups.

According to the news release, Professor Pratt Cassity of the UGA Center for Community Design & Preservation will lead participants in an exploration of conceptual designs and ideas for integrating streetscapes, parks, and the historic gymnasium.

Cassity will also lead the group into envisioning a transformation of a large, underused parking lot into commercial infill compatible with the historic Downtown and discuss the revitalization of Porterdale's mill village housing.

"Porterdale is undergoing a resurgence that is evident in the stunning revitalization of the Porterdale Mill, an increase in retail businesses and an exciting plan for a recreational water trail and riverside park along the Yellow River," Cassity said.

"The goal of the design charrette is to involve citizens and all other interested parties in the next phases of the city's revitalization strategy from the beginning, to hear people's points of view, and to create a plan that will address the needs of its current and future residents," he said.

City Manager Bob Thomson said the mayor and council are excited to have UGA's CCDP as the main design team for a downtown master plan that will guide Porterdale through the next several years of development.

"Input from our citizens, business owners, and park stakeholders is critical during the charrette process", Thomson said.

Recommendations and plans developed during the charrette will be taken into consideration by the City of Porterdale.