LaBella Presenting at the APA New York Upstate Chapter’s 2025 Annual Conference
LaBella will be well represented among the featured speakers at the 2025 Annual Conference of the American Planning Association’s New York Upstate Chapter, taking place October 8-10, 2025, in Rochester, New York. Dedicated to improving quality of life, the New York Upstate Chapter supports planners of all backgrounds—from professionals to students and engaged citizens—in advancing thoughtful, community-driven planning across New York State.
Learn more about the conference here
Wednesday, Oct 8th | 8:30 a.m.
From Blight to Bright Future: Leveraging Brownfield Funding to Drive Redevelopment and Community Growth
Senior Planner Norabelle Greenberger, AICP, will present alongside Sarah Glose, Director of Economic Development for the City of Binghamton. Together, they will discuss how state and federal brownfield programs—particularly those from the NYS Department of State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—can help communities repurpose vacant or underused properties. Using cast studies from Upstate New York, the presentation will illustrate how these sites can support housing, economic development, and community revitalization.
Wednesday, Oct 8th | 10:30 a.m.
Leveraging the Largest Investment in WNY’s History—Master Planning for a Year-Round Bills Stadium Area District
Director of Planning Ed Flynn, AICP, and Mixed-Use Market Design Leader Rugel Chiriboga, AIA, LEED BD+C, will present alongside Frank Armento, AICP CEP, and Chris Kuschel, AICP, from Fisher Associates. LaBella and Fisher will share insights from master planning and zoning updates surrounding the new Buffalo Bills stadium, aimed at transforming Orchard Park and Hamburg into a vibrant, year-round mixed-use district. The presentation will highlight strategies for placemaking, infrastructure, economic and market feasibility, and community engagement to guide future development.
Thursday, Oct 9th | 3:30 p.m.
Smart Mapping in Action: GIS Applications in Housing, AEC, and the Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles
Senior Planner Derik Kane, AICP, CNU-A, and Planner Josh Greene will present alongside Trenton Roloson, Balaji Ramesh, Kaniskaa Mohan Sangeetha, and Aadhithiyan Subramaniyan. Through real-world applications in housing strategy, infrastructure planning, and electric vehicle adoption, the group will explore how GIS technologies and data-driven tools are enabling smarter, more sustainable planning decisions.
