Recently, many midsized metro areas experienced a population boom, due to their low cost of living and industries’ shifts toward remote work. Yet, questions remain if and how these regions can continue to grow and turn the favorable current trends into long-lasting competitive advantages. In this session, we look at the role of public space activation, culture, and well-being in relation to downtown real estate development, focusing on the revitalization of various types of public/private waterfront assets. This panel will discuss talent and investment attraction strategies for midsized cities, combining real estate development and public realm activation into a cohesive playbook. As a case study, Jacksonville, Florida, leveraged its riverfront as a key asset to organize real estate development initiatives and concentrate placemaking efforts to improve quality of life for all residents. The panel will offer novel insights that address the unique challenges and opportunities for markets outside of traditional and major urban centers and provide a multisector perspective by including insights from the government, development community, nonprofit, design, and philanthropy sectors.