Planning, Public Policy and Management

Historic theaters research nets national award for UO graduate students

A blueprint to preserve, rehabilitate, and promote historic theaters in Oregon has earned national honors in applied research for a team of University of Oregon graduate students who analyzed the physical and fiscal conditions of more than fifty historic theaters statewide. But they didn’t stop there: Their findings spurred them to also recommend a five-year plan to help both the aging buildings and the often-underfunded organizations that operate them.

‘Inclusive Urbanism’ studies city design

The standard model for urban design and city growth, some A&AA professors argue, neglects a sizeable number of its residents.

Gentrification and makeovers within distressed neighborhoods can push out low-income communities by increasing property values; disabled, elderly, and handicapped populations are marginalized; and others, including children, are consistently sidelined, all in the name of progress that affects developing cities.

Sustainable Cities partners with public, private agencies on 2-year project

The UO Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) has launched a two-year research initiative called "Framing Livability.” The project is partnering with the City of Portland, Portland Metro, Transportation for America, and the Natural Resources Defense Council on two grants from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities.  The project seeks to answer how sustainability-focused community development efforts can best be communicated to gain public support.

Schlossberg, SCYP featured on Israeli college website

A lecture Professor Marc Schlossberg gave during his Fulbright year at Technion Israel Institute of Technology was highlighted on the school’s home page recently. Schlossberg spoke about the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP), which he and UO colleague Associate Professor Nico Larco founded at UO and which Technion has adopted under the name The Urban Laboratory.  It’s the first such project at an Israeli university.

Studio tackles Redmond highway redesign

“Multi-way boulevard” may sound like a free-for-all, but for students in Rob Ribe’s Land Planning and Design studio this fall, it’s an extraordinary opportunity to fix an accelerating problem.

A problem involving too many cars and trucks in a four-mile section of US Highway 97 through Redmond, Oregon. A problem of maintaining access to businesses and reducing accidents.

Cascade Business News features Sustainable Cities’ Redmond project

Cascade Business News features the Sustainable Cities Year Program in Redmond in its current issue, noting that students are already preparing their midterm presentations. “Eight classes [of students are] working on six projects during the fall term. Then we will have a similar amount of projects for the winter term and for the spring term,” Heather Richards, Redmond’s director of community development, told Cascade Business News writer David Clewett in the November 3 story.

Service program wins leadership award

The University of Oregon’s Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program has won the Oregon Main Street Leadership Award, only the second time the agency has conferred the distinction.

The leadership award recognizes individuals and organizations offering creative approaches to downtown revitalization through strong leadership that results in significant, long-term contributions.