Regional Planning and Sustainability: Chicago’s Future

Date: Monday, November 30
Time: 6 - 7 pm
Place: Northeastern Univ., in the CBM (College of Business and Management), Room 111

Speaker: Hala Ahmed, AICP
www.cmap.illinois.gov
Hala Ahmed holds a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Since 1994, she has worked as an architect and urban designer in many parts of the world including Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia as well as an urban and regional planner in Decatur and Peoria, IL. Ms. Ahmed joined the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) in 2007 where she worked on a variety of projects including the Regional Water Supply and Demand Study (to be released in February 2010) the Regional Comprehensive Plan- GO TO 2040- (to be released on October 2010) as well as watershed and other natural resource plans.

GIS ArcView Workshops

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) throughout the year offers two-day workshops in the GIS software ArcView 9.3. This is a great way to get an introduction to GIS if you don't have room for the course in your schedule. Each workshop has room for 5 students and costs $350.

The workshop is held from 9:30am to 4:30pm both days with a 1 hour break for lunch on your own. Scheduled dates for future workshops thus far are:

Wed-Thu, Dec 2-3, 2009 (this date is flexible if anyone wants to attend in December, but needs that time to study, etc.)

Wed-Thu, Jan 27-28, 2010

Wed-Thu, Mar 10-11, 2010

Wed-Thu, May 26-27, 2010

Wed-Thu, June 23-24, 2010

If you would like to reserve a seat or have any questions, contact Jan Drennan(jdrennan@cmap.illinois.gov, 312-386-8686)

Thursday 11/19: Mixer with MBA, Real Estate and Public Administration

This Thursday (November 19th) at 8:45PM, come schmooze and chat with your friends and colleagues from the MBA, Real Estate and Public Administration programs over drinks at Jaks Tap (901 W. Jackson).

TOD and Meeting Friday, November 19th

On Friday November 19th, UPPSA will be holding its next General Assembly meeting and TOD. The meeting will begin at 6pm in the CUPPAH basement lounge followed by a taste of Polish cuisine at very affordable yet highly rated Czerwone Jabluskzo/Red Apple at 3121 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Please plan on joining us at both events!

Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has launched their 2009 Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest, which will continue throughout the month of November. MUPPs are encouraged to submit photos for consideration, and two winners will be selected in each of the following categories:

• Diversity (people, places, art, culture, food)
• Community Vitality (walkable, vibrant places; retail; neighborhood pride)
• Natural Environment (lakes, rivers, preserves, parks, sky, wildlife)
• Architecture/Urban Design (plazas, buildings, neighborhoods, boulevards)
• Transportation (pedestrians, bikes, cars, boats, trains, planes, etc.)

Prizes currently include:

• 1 Bootcamp from Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes
• $30 off coupons to Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes
• Copies of "Sidewalks: Portraits of Chicago" from the Illinois Humanities Council
• Certificates for a Fresh Picks Double Box of seasonal vegetables from Irv & Shelly's Local Organic Delivery
• Tickets to Chicago Architecture Foundation's Walking Tours
• and MORE!

Not to mention, it will be another item to add to your resume and/or portfolio. Visit CMAP's website for additional information here.

[Photo Courtesy of CMAP]

MPC Placemaking Roundtable, October 28th

*What Makes Your Place Great? Roundtable*

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Noon – 1:30 p.m. **

Metropolitan Planning Council Conference Center

140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400, Chicago, Ill. 60603



Cost for MPC donors: $15.00
Cost for non-donors: $30.00

(The above prices apply to students as well.)

Sept.22 -Chicagoland Car-Free Day

Here is an excuse to explore other ways of getting around.

On Tuesday Sept. 22, Active Trans will partner with RTA, Pace, Metra, CTA and communities around the region for Chicagoland Car-free Day. The event is part of World Car-free Day, the one moment when people around the world pledge to go sans auto.

The day will only work if we get everyone involved. The more people we get to pledge to go car-free, the more fun the day will be! Plus, when you take the pledge on our website, you get a coupon for $1 off a large drink at Caribou Coffee on Sept. 22 (We’re not that crazy to ask you to go caffeine-free). Find a Caribou Coffee location near you.

http://www.activetrans.org/carfree

Chicago Tops USGBC's List of U.S. Cities with Most Green Buildings

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Windy City has won top honors in a recent ranking of U.S. cities with the most LEED Certified buildings. According to the Tribune, "88 projects in Chicago have earned [LEED] certification. Portland, Ore., was next, with 73 LEED buildings, and Seattle was third, with 63. New York was seventh with 46, and Los Angeles ninth with 40."

Read more...

Image source: Chicago Tribune

Bicycling for College Students

The following is selected text from MUPP student Steve Vance's article titled "Bicycling for College Students"

Introduction

If you haven’t yet chosen to bike to campus, don’t read this – I’ve got another article in the works for you. Essentially, I gained my advice and education from information I found in multiple documents published by the Chicago Bicycle Program. But you can read my post in less than 10 minutes. I give my friends the same spiel, and now I’ve finally published it for everyone’s benefit.

My credentials: I’ve been commuting safely and effectively to the University of Illinois at Chicago campus for four years, attending undergraduate and graduate class. I’ve been bicycling all around Chicago (I can prove it with these maps) for the same period.

I divide my advice into three sections: Safety, Getting There, and The Right Equipment. You should have a copy of the Chicago Bike Map at your side (download as PDF; tambien disponible en espanol; request one to be mailed) . . . . [click here to read more]

Public Meeting Regarding Albany Whipple Park

Public Meeting Regarding Albany Whipple Park

This may be considered the first step towards the realization of the Bloomingdale Trail!


The Chicago Park District is holding a meeting for the public to learn more about the development of the Albany Whipple Park.

The meeting will be held at Simons Park field house, 1640 N. Drake, at 6pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2009. 

The Trust for Public Land and Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail would greatly appreciate your presence and input at this important meeting. 

Please join us and bring your questions, concerns and ideas! 

Please Contact The Trust for Public Land with any questions.
Andrew Vesselinovitch
120 S. LaSalle Street, 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Direct line: 312-750-9821

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail  - http://www.bloomingdaletrail.org/