The Northeast Megaregion with 50 million people is expected to add 18 million new residents by the year 2050. Will the new growth be sustainable transit oriented development or will it be characterized by energy dependent exurban development that further erodes the natural environment and contributes to global warming?

The Northeast Corridor is in a great position to capitalize on this trend. Much of the region is defined by aging cities that are undergoing transformation and redefinition. This is especially true in center cities near Amtrak stops, such as 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, Newark’s Penn Station, and Providence’s Center City / Amtrak, as well as Manhattan’s Far West Side. It is equally true in former industrial areas along the corridor.

Beyond the corridor, in places like the Nassau County ‘Hub’ area and White Plains, NY, West Windsor, NJ, Naugatuck, CT, Jamaica Plains, MA, and Arlington, VA, new urban cores are emerging along existing commuter rail lines in former suburban areas surrounding traditional cities. Additionally, there are lessons learned from around the world, as we examine examples from other countries.

The question then becomes, what effect do these trends have on the traditional city? The subject can be explored from an environmental, urban design, infrastructure, transportation, economic and a political perspective. The conference will discuss and help identify new paradigms for development and sustainability that will redefine our region for years to come.

Speakers:

Welcome by James McCullar FAIA, President, AIA New York Chapter; Allison C. de Cerreño, Director, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management; Robert D. Yaro, President, Regional Plan Association; Donald Burns, AICP, President-elect, APA New York Metro Chapter

Keynote address: Eugenie Birch, FAICP, Co- Director, Penn Institute for Urban Research and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research

Speakers: Mark Kocent, AIA AICP, Principal Planner, Office of University Architect, University of Pennsylvania; Daniel Baudouin, AICP, Executive Director, Providence Foundation; Tom Suozzi, County Executive, Nassau County; Michael Kearney, Director of Design, JBG Properties; David Dixon, FAIA, Principal, Goody Clancy; Donald Burns, AICP, President-elect, APA New York Metro Chapter; Mustafa Abadan, FAIA, Design Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Craig Schwitter, PE, Buro Happold

Respondents: Petra Todorovich, Director of America 2050, Regional Plan Association (RPA); Marilyn Jordan Taylor, FAIA; Urban Design and Planning Principal, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Dean, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania (effective October 2008); Ernest Tollerson, Director for Policy and Media Relations, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

Moderators: Ernest Hutton Assoc. AIA FAICP; Mark Strauss AICP FAIA; Lance Jay Brown FAIA; and Mark Ginsberg FAIA