CNU Cascadia Chapter Holds Annual Summit

The CNU Cascadia Chapter held its annual summit on March 25-27, 2011 in Portland with the theme of "Sustainable Placemaking:  Creating Enduring and Resilient Cities."  The symposium and tours, which attracted over 60 attendees, composed the chapter’s first major event following its recent incorporation. 

The three keynote speakers were authors, architects and historians Steve Mouzon about the Original Green, Kingston Heath about the application of vernacular context to redevelopment, and Ross Chapin about pocket neighborhoods.  Attendees and speakers mingled at the Friday night reception at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Portland and Saturday evening social mixer at the Nines Hotel.  The chapter also welcomed several other speakers during tours of the Pearl District and Northwest Portland and from Pioneer Courthouse Square to South Waterfront:  Matt Edlen of Gerding Edlen, Julie Gustafson of Portland Streetcar, developer John Carroll of Carroll Community Development LLC, and Marcy McInelly of the Halprin Landscape Conservancy.

Eleven chapter members gave a series of presentations in a pecha kucha format that expeditiously covered many ideas and projects related to the new urbanism such as form-based codes, the charrette process, suburban retrofit techniques, public process, the function of alleys, and small-scale retail.  The summit concluded Sunday morning with board member elections.

CNU Cascadia appreciates your participation in cross-disciplinary discussion about creating enduring and resilient cities.  We’re an open and transparent assembly who share a belief in well-designed urban neighborhood infill, reconfiguration of sprawling suburbs into walkable neighborhoods, the conservation of natural environments, and the preservation of our built legacy.  We welcome and encourage your ideas, perspectives, and participation.