Downtown Vitality: What does success look like?

Kridell Ballroom, Portland Art Museum

1-3 pm + reception

Introduction by Mayor Keith Wilson

As a complement to Mayor Keith Wilson’s Central City Roundtable, Design Portland and Revitalize Portland Coalition are offering a deep look at how three cities are creating long-term urban regeneration and renewed vitality for their downtowns.

The cities seeing the quickest recovery from the pandemic and the collapse of office and retail almost all have a version of downtown partnerships who synthesize investments from public, private, academic, and philanthropic sectors.

At their most effective, the partnerships serve as both chief operating officer for the business of a downtown and curators of the experience.

We are pleased to present the CEOs of the three of the best: Denver, Seattle, and Philadelphia.

Prema Gatari Gupta

CEO of Philadelphia Central City District

Prema Katari Gupta is a leading figure in the evolution of American downtowns. In her dual roles as President and CEO of the Center City District and Executive Director of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, she oversees one of the nation’s most sophisticated downtown management systems—combining cleaning and safety services with public space stewardship, economic development, and long-range planning for Center City Philadelphia.

Gupta’s career reflects an unusual blend of operational rigor, visionary placemaking, and data-driven decision-making with a strong emphasis on the lived experience of urban places. She received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design and a certificate in real estate development from The Wharton School.

Kourtny Garrett

Downtown Denver Partnership/

Dallas Downtown Partnership

When Kourtney Garrett became director of Downtown Dallas Partnership, 80% of storefronts in the retail district were empty, it was perceived as “unsafe,” and more than 40 buildings were vacant. During a 20-year tenure, her efforts brought $11 billion in investment to the center city, raised the residential population from a few hundred to 13,000, created the public/private partnerships for five new parks and the first elementary.

A Denver native, she moved back four years ago to take on the challenges Denver faced. With initiatives like “Together We Will,” she has played key roles in the rebirth of Denver’s iconic corridor, 16th Street; the creation and adoption of the Downtown Area Plan, and the expansion of the Downtown Development Authority. Kourtny holds a MA/PhD, Urban Affairs University of Texas Arlington

Jon Scholes

President & CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association

Jon Scholes is president & CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association where he is responsible for the operations and programs for this 1,100-member association formed in 1958 to create a healthy, vibrant downtown for all. Jon also oversees the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID), which was established in 1999 to provide cleaning, safety, transportation, marketing and public-realm management services across 300 square blocks in downtown.

Over 18 years with DSA, Jon has led the growth and expansion of the organization’s services, advocacy agenda, and response to the impacts of the pandemic on downtown Seattle. Today, DSA is one of the three largest downtown organizations in North America as measured by total annual revenue and staff. Jon is both Seattle’s downtown manager and one of the city’s most prominent urban voices

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