The Congress for the New Urbanism’s 23rd annual Congress (CNU 23), is in Dallas-Fort Worth this week, today through Saturday. CNU is the nation’s leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development; sustainable communities; and healthier living conditions.
This year’s theme, “Meeting the Demand for Walkability,” was coined after learning that 68 percent of D/FW residents of all ages want to live in a walkable neighborhood at some point in their life, yet only 4 percent of the Dallas market and 1.5 percent of the greater D/FW market offer a home in a walkable area. The idea isn’t that Uptown is for everyone, but that the demand for Uptown is so high because the supply is so low. (You see the opportunity here — great walkable neighborhoods all over DFW.)
If this piques your interest, there are a few ways you can join the conversation for free. Jump to find out more
April 29th – May 2nd
160 N. Crowdus St., Deep Ellum
Stop by Crowdus Park anytime today through Saturday to see a street converted to a plaza.
Screening of “Human Scale: Bringing Cities to Life”
Wednesday April 29th – 7:30pm
Main Street Gardens
Tonight we’ll be watching “Human Scale: Bringing Cities to Life” by Jan Gehl, Danish architect and thought-leader in the field of designing places people love and building a world in which humans thrive. Picnic-on-the-lawn-style affair.
Pastry Walk Tour of Development in Bishop Arts
Friday May 1st – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
We’ll take the D-Link down at 11 a.m., walk around with three main stops: Emporium Pies, Dude, Sweet Chocolate, and the Wild Detectives.
Debate with Strongtowns.org’s Chuck Marohn
Friday May 1st – 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Adolphus Hotel Grand Ballroom A
Debate with Chuck Marohn of Strongtowns.org at the Adolphus Hotel, Grand Ballroom A (just up the escalator).
Chat with Chuck Marohn and Walkable DFW’s Patrick Kennedy
Friday May 1st – 10 to 11 p.m.
Late Show with Chuck Marohn – Special Guests local celebrity Patrick Kennedy and guests @ Adolphus Hotel, Grand Ballroom A (just up the escalator.) You can also hear all their podcasts online! Here’s the lineup. They’re interviewing fascinating people throughout the Congress.
Free Public Lecture with City Planner Jeff Speck
Saturday May 2nd – 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dallas Latino Cultural Center
Speck, author of “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time” will speak in a free lecture on Saturday at the Latino Cultural Center at Live Oak Street and Good Latimer Expressway.
Over 1,500 of the nation’s top designers, architects engineers, and development professionals are exploring downtown Dallas and talking about great places, you might even be able to run into a good conversation just by walking around near the Adolphus or hanging out at Crowdus Park.
I’ll be tweeting at @revpants #CNU23
