Metropolitan Planning Council
Pullman was the recipient of MPC’s Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning at our 2016 Annual Luncheon. Since 2008, Pullman has seen a drop in crime, a decrease in unemployment, and increases in community and commercial development. They also recently opened the Pullman National Monument.
The Pullman Pulling Ahead roundtable, hosted at MPC on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, delved deeper into Pullman’s ongoing transformation. In total, 105 people attended the roundtable, which was sponsored by Sam Schwartz and Wight & Company.
The panel discussed resident engagement strategies and how long-term residents bring newcomers into Pullman’s culture. We talked about affordable housing and how the community supports artists and seniors. The panelists also touched on Pullman’s changing identity and how to honor Pullman’s historic past while also envisioning its future.
Metropolitan Planning Council
Panelists at the Pullman Pulling Ahead Roundtable
The panel also highlighted the economic development that has been taking place in Pullman. Starting with Walmart, Pullman has been able to attract large businesses and provide jobs to residents. Method’s only manufacturing site in the U.S. is in Pullman, while Gotham Greens boasts the largest rooftop greenhouse in the country.
Presenters included Rachel Smith Kovarsky (Pullman Civic Organization), David Doig (Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives) and Lynn McClure (National Parks Conservation Association), and was moderated by Joe Iacobucci (Sam Schwartz).
The panel walked through the journey of getting the Pullman National Monument up and running, and learned how resident and tourist needs were considered throughout the planning process. This process included publishing the Positioning Pullman Ideas Book—the result of a collaborative design workshop where the public shared ideas for leveraging the national monument to drive community development. We also learned about current and future public transportation projects in the neighborhood, such as improvements to the 111th St. station.
We all left the event feeling proud of Pullman’s past and excited to be part of its future!
Here are some actions you can take now to get involved in Pullman: