R. Bruce Stephenson, Stepping into Portland’s Good Life: A Lesson … · 2020. 9. 8. · R. Bruce Stephenson, Stepping into Portland’s Good Life: A Lesson in Sustainability (Lexington

ENV 395: Portland: Sustainable City

Monday- Wednesday 1:00-2:15

Bruce Stephenson, [email protected]

Portland is considered one of the nation’s most sustainable cities, and it provides a unique

laboratory to measure sustainability and the culture and governing system that supports it. The

Portland landscape: its agriculture, urbanism, and parks are the focus of the class. Students will

join the instructor in a virtual assessment of a range of iconic Portland parks and neighborhoods.

Special emphasis will be placed on the Pearl District as a model of sustainable urbanism.

Finally, students will examine how the Portland Climate Action Plan was a model for Orlando,

and what this investment means for the future.

TEXT

Earnest Callenbach, Ecotopia ISBN-10: 0553348477

TEXTS on CANVAS

R. Bruce Stephenson, Stepping into Portland’s Good Life: A Lesson in Sustainability (Lexington

Books)

Lewis Mumford, Regional Planning in the Pacific Northwest

Olmsted Bros, Portland Comprehensive Park Plan

Portland Sustainability and Planning, Portland Climate Action Plan

Orlando Sustainability Office, Orlando Greenworks Plan

GOALS

1. Assess sustainability as it relates to:

a. The Olmsted Brothers Portland Parks Plan

b. Lewis Mumford’s Regional Planning in the Pacific Northwest

c. Ecotopia

d. Portland Climate Change Plan

e. The Pearl District

f. Orlando Greenworks Plan

SCHEDULE

Sep 14 Culture & Landscape: The Synergy of Sustainability

Ecotopia: The Book that Predicted Portland

Sep 16* Defining Sustainability

Stephenson, Introduction

Portland Climate Action Plan

Assignment #1 Due Sep 16

Sep 21-23* Sense of Place

Stephenson, Chapter 1 Place

Assignment # 2, Due 9/23

Sep 28*30 Olmsted Vision

Olmsted Brothers Park Plan

Assignment # 3, Due 9/28

Oct 5-7* Olmsted Parks

Olmsted Brothers Park Plan

Assignment #4, Due 10/7

Oct 12-14* Lewis Mumford’s Green Vision

Mumford, Regional Planning in the Pacific Northwest

Assignment #5, Due 10/14

Oct 19 Ecotopia

Read through “Carless Living in Ecotopia’s New Towns”

Identify 2 examples and 2 quotes that define sustainability

Oct 21 Ecotopia

Read Through “Savagery Restored.”

Identify 2 examples and 2 quotes that define sustainability

Oct 26 Ecotopia

Read through, “Living in Plastic Tubing.”

Identify 2 examples and 2 quotes that define sustainability

Oct 28 Ecotopia

Read the rest of the book,

Identify 2 examples and 2 quotes that define sustainability

Nov 2* Ecotopia

Assignment #6 Due 11/2

Nov 4 Portland: The Origins of Sustainability

Stephenson, Chapter 2, History

Provide 3 examples of how Mumford and Jane Jacobs define Portland?

Nov 9-11* Renaissance

Stephenson, Chapter 3, Renaissance

Assignment #7 Due 11/11

Nov 16-18* Mobility

Stephenson, Chapter 4, Mobility

Assignment #8 Due 11/18

Nov 23-25* Nature

Stephenson, Chapter 5, Nature

Assignment #9 Due 11/25

Nov 30- Housing

Dec 2* Stephenson, Chapter 6, Housing

Assignment #10 Due 12/2

Dec 7 Social Capital

Stephenson, Chapter 7, Social Capital

Define Social Capital. Identify 2 examples of SC from the text and one

from your life.

Dec 9 Sustainability and Climate Change

Orlando Greenworks Plan, Portland Climate Action

Identify how the Livability and Transportation components in the Orlando

Greenworks Plan mirror the Urban Form/Transportation component in the

Portland Climate Action Plan.

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment 1 (300 words)

Stephenson, Introduction

1. Define Sustainability.

2. Why is making the auto an option not a necessity to combating climate change?

Portland Climate Action Plan

1. What 4 key items have dropped Portland’s carbon emissions since 2000? (p. 16)

2. Identify the most important objective for the key plan components: Building and Energy,

Urban Form & Transportation, Consumption & Solid Waste, Food & Agriculture (ps. 26-27)

Assignment 2 (300 words)

Stephenson, Place

1. Define Sense of Place.

2. Why is sense of place intrinsic to our humanity, and what happens to spark and build a sense

of place?

Assignment 3 (300 words)

Olmsted Bros Park Plan

1. Why is a park system important? (p. 13-14)

2. Identify the 6 type of parks. (p. 14-17)

3. What is the key element of the park system? (p.17-19)

Assignment 4 (Model for Assignment on Canvas)

Park Analysis: Forest Park or Mt. Tabor Park

1. Follow Park Analysis Format for Laurelhurst Park in Canvas

a. Identify Park type, size, location, walkscore

b. What did the Olmsted Bros recommend

c. Identify primary uses

d. How does it add to livability.

Assignment 5 (300 words)

Mumford, Regional Planning in the Pacific Northwest

1. How should Portland develop in relation to the Bonneville Dam? (p. 6-9)

2. What is a regional planning authority, and what powers should it have? (p. 10-12)

3. Identify 3 objectives to make Portland a green, regional city (12-14).

Assignment 6 (1000 words)

Callenbach, Ecotopia

1. How does Ecotopia incorporate sustainability into its culture and political organization? (500

words)

2. What is the effect of outlawing the automobile? (500 words)

Assignment 7 (300 words)

Stephenson, Renaissance

1. Why is the Pearl District a model of Renaissance planning in relation to design and

architecture?

Assignment 8 (300 words)

Stephenson, Mobility

1. Pick an innovation that improves public health and makes the automobile an option and not a

necessity.

Assignment 9 (300 words)

Stephenson, Nature

1. Analyze a park, and its unique sense of place.

Assignment 10 (300 words)

Stephenson, Housing

1. Explain why Portland is doing to combat gentrification.

Final Exam

1. Define Sustainability. (50 words)

2. Why is sustainability crucial to fighting climate change? (250 words)

3. Identify how the Livability and Transportation components in the Orlando Greenworks

Plan mirror the Urban Form/Transportation component in the Portland Climate Action

Plan. (300 words)

4. Prioritize 3 actions is each plan to mitigate climate change and explain their importance.

(900 words)

Sources: Orlando Greenworks Plan, Portland Climate Action Plan

GRADING

Eight 300 Word Assignments 40%

Final Exam 20%

Park Analysis 10%

Class Participation 10%

Ecotopia 20%

Final Grade ATTENDANCE Student attendance requires demonstration that course materials were read and assignments completed. More than 1 unexcused absences will lose 5 percent off final grade, 4 absences 10%, 5 absences 15%, etc. 94-100 % A 90-93 % A- 88-89 % B+ 82-87 % B 80-81 % B- 78-79 % C+ 72-78 % C 70-71 % C- 68-69 % D+ 62-68 % D 60-61 % D-

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