SILVER SPRING, MD – Montgomery County’s master plans set the stage for redevelopment in strategic places. To help inform master plans underway for various Montgomery County communities, the Planning Department is hosting an urban design expert from Portland with extensive experience in creating frameworks that are fundamental to successful redevelopment.
Arun Jain created the Urban Design Framework for Central Portland, an analysis of the city’s stock of civic spaces and redevelopable properties. The framework provides a basis for planners and city officials to make informed choices for preserving, enhancing or creating great places in the central city. The framework specifies where exceptional development would advance city priorities over the next 25 years by focusing public resources and instilling confidence in private development to build quality projects.
Portland, Oregon is noteworthy for its commitment to transit and successful urban form. Jain’s presentation will provide an in-depth look at the urban design thinking behind some of Portland’s redevelopment initiatives, including the downtown transit mall and the development of the Pearl District, a new downtown neighborhood.
Jain’s work over the past 25 years has focused on how the design of the built environment can improve urban quality of life. When done well, design frameworks can be effective tools for urban and urbanizing areas to prioritize investments in public infrastructure and encourage private development to leverage the most public good.
Jain has more than 25 years of international experience in practice and academia. He was Portland’s chief urban designer for six years. As a consultant, Jain works across a wide range of scales, geographies and cultural landscapes around the world. From national-level decision-making tools to new towns to main streets, his approach considers context and integration to foster uniqueness and counter uncertainty.
Jain has authored several publications and contributed to books and has spoken at more than 70 major conferences, seminars, workshops and universities around the world. He is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Oregon’s urban architecture program in Portland.
Trained as an architect, Jain holds two masters degrees from the University of Pennsylvania’s Urban Design Program. He was awarded the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce’s Newsmaker Award for 2009.
Continuing education credits for planners (AICP credits) are pending.
The presentations are part of the Planning Department’s Celebrating MoCo speaker series – free, informative sessions about ways to forge great communities. This session is co-sponsored by the Silver Spring Regional Center.
Who:
Montgomery County Planning Department, featuring Portland urban designer Arun Jain
What:
Urban Design Framework for Central Portland, part of the Celebrating MoCo Speaker Series
When:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2011
Where:
Silver Spring Regional Center (Spring Room)
One Veterans Plaza (corner of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street)
Silver Spring
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