Cities around the globe continue to invest in transit systems to provide transportation options, reduce highway congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. What are cities doing to ensure that new housing, commercial spaces, and livable communities are planned along with these transit investments? How can station-area planning support the success of transit systems, equitable development, and climate goals? And how do we ensure that all residents benefit?

Wednesday, May 22, 5:30 p.m. at Seattle City Hall (600 4th Ave. S.), free admission.

Our Panelists:

Erika Sellke, Chicago
Erika Sellke is an urban planner with the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development.  Her expertise is industrial area modernization and innovative zoning regulations. Most recently, Erika managed framework plans for the North Branch and Kinzie industrial corridors; including data collection, goal development, writing and vetting new zoning regulations, and successful presentation to Chicago Plan Commission and City Council.  Erika is currently overseeing two TOD planning exercises on the south side of Chicago and provides design review for planned developments and city-assisted projects.  Previously, Erika was a White House Strong Cities, Strong Communities Fellow placed in Detroit, MI, and a senior planner in the New York City Department of City Planning who managed land use and zoning review for over 60 developments in Manhattan. Erika also represented NYC Planning on the development team that led the design and construction of the world-renowned High Line elevated park

Amanda Harland, Auckland
Amanda is the lead growth and spatial advisor at Auckland Council with over 20 years’ experience in strategic and growth related planning in both brownfields and greenfields.  She has led a number of spatial planning projects including most recently the urban and transport integration work stream for Auckland’s first light rail project extending 24 km from the City Centre to Mangere and the Auckland Airport.  Amanda has also contributed to the development of Auckland’s growth and development strategies  including the Auckland Plan and its refresh in 2017 which sets out how Auckland will grow and develop over the next 30 years.
Amanda’s passion for quality urban outcomes extends to seeing these outcomes achieved in the newly identified greenfield areas of Auckland.  She has led the identification, high level planning and sequencing of future urban areas to ensure these areas are developed sustainably to their maximum potential, achieving high quality outcomes including transit orientated development outcomes.  

Edna Cuvin, Toronto
Edna Cuvin is the Program Manager of the City Planning unit dedicated to facilitating the delivery of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Finch West LRT, and the Line 2 East Extension, totalling over $15 Billion in public investment, through the municipal planning approval processes. Over the years, her multi-disciplinary team became master hand holders and horse traders while protecting City interests. Lessons learned from their work shape the template for transit project governance. Edna studied and lived in Hong Kong for over 10 years where she worked as an Architect and Urban Designer prior to joining the City in 2003.

María Beatriz Diaz, Bogota
Maria Beatriz Diaz is part of the Real Estate Development division for Metro de Bogotá. She currently works in the elaboration of strategies for urban renewal, value capture models around the Metro stations and TOD tactics to apply to Bogota’s future transportation system.

After completing her Masters in Real Estate Development at Columbia University, María was project manager at Sugar Hill Capital, a private equity fund in New York where she worked on different renovation projects, including a residential conversion project in Brooklyn, NY.

Prior to moving to New York, María graduated in architecture at Los Andes University and was project development architect in two development companies based in Bogotá; the first one focused on low-income and affordable housing, and then at a commercial, hospitality and luxury housing developer.

Moderator: Dan Beekman, The Seattle Times