October Chapter Meeting
Willamette Falls: Rediscover & Redesign

No landscape feature in the metro region is grander—and more hidden—than Willamette Falls. Second only to Niagara Falls for the volume of water spilling over it, the falls have been sacred to Native Americans for millennia, a powerhouse to the economy for a century, and blocked from public access for decades.

That’s about to change. With the bankruptcy and sale of the adjacent Blue Heron Paper Mill, Oregon City has re-zoned the land to be a new part of its downtown. And for the water’s edge, Willamette Falls Legacy Project partners Oregon City, Clackamas County, Metro and the State of Oregon have launched the creation of a bold new riverwalk. In June, a national solicitation yielded the international team to design it, led by Portland’s Mayer/Reed with the Oslo/New York-based Snøhetta and Vancouver, BC’s DIALOG. The dynamic combo of design team and site promises the most dramatic new connection to the Willamette River since the demolition of Harbor Drive to build Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Speaker

Christina Robertson-Gardiner AICPChristina Robertson-Gardiner Planner City of Oregon City Christina Robertson-Gardiner (AICP) has been a Planner with the City of Oregon City for 12 years. As a generalist working for a small city, Mr. Roberson-Gardiner also acts as the Preservation Planner for the city and has lead a wide variety of short range and long range planning projects that vary from the progressive to the mundane. Christina recently lead the Visioning and Master Planning process for the Willamette Falls Legacy Project (www.rediscoverthefalls.com) A multi-government partnership aimed at redeveloping a 23-acre former industrial site at one of the most beautiful and historic natural wonders in the country, Willamette Falls which served as a Native American fishing and gathering site and the site of the nation’s first long-distance transmission of electricity, and is considered the birthplace of Oregon. Ms. Robertson-Gardiner holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Willamette University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Schedule
6:00 PM - Heavy appetizer buffet & networking (Note: This is a later start time than our normal meetings)
7:00 PM - Presentation
8:00 PM - Q & A
8:30 PM - End

Additional Information

• 1 CEU will be earned with your attendance.
• Please note the later-than-normal start time for this event.
• Vegetarian options will be available.
• No host bar will open at 6:00 PM.