UO picks Springfield for Sustainable Cities

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University of Oregon picked Springfield, Ore., for the Sustainable Cities Initiative.

The University of Oregon formally announced Monday morning that the city of Springfield was selected for the third year of the school's Sustainable Cities Initiative.

Springfield will become a living lab for scores of UO students across multiple disciplines who are taking classes through the Sustainable Cities program. Springfield follows Gresham, which served as the pilot city for the program during the 2009-2010 school year, and Salem, which was the focus during the 2010-2011 school year.

During the next school year, some 20 UO faculty members will teach more than 400 students in classes that will direct student work toward city-identified sustainability projects. The university's newly created sustainability graduate program will be involved in the program this year for the first time.

The projects Springfield officials are requesting help with include:

• An analysis and plan for retrofitting of the Laura Street neighborhood.
• An update to the city's bike and pedestrian plan and a city-wide plan for bike path connectivity.
• Update to city codes and design standards for historic preservation.
• Urban design and redevelopment concepts for the Mohawk area Waremont property – the program's Gresham work tackled a similar plan for a former Fred Meyer store site.
• Research and documentation for securing a National Landmark Designation for Dorris Ranch Living History Farm.
• Redevelopment concepts of the Booth Kelly Center, an industrial business park.

UO in January hired Robert Liberty to run the program.

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