Testimonials

Tom Miller, Chief of Staff for Mayor Sam Adams, Portland

"Portland takes much - perhaps most - of its inspiration from Scandinavia and Lisa is tasked with turning that inspiration into action. She should absolutely attend (the Study Tour)." Tom Miller, Chief of Staff for Mayor Sam Adams, on requesting that Lisa Libby, Director of Sustainability, join our study tour.

Jim Mueller, JC Mueller Development, previously for Vulcan.

What direct or indirect impact has the Urban Sustainability Study Tour of Sweden and Denmark by i-sustain had on your work? on Seattle?

-I am a developer, and incorporated many sustainable features into the work I did while associated with Paul Allen’s Vulcan, Inc. My new projects with my own company are being designed to incorporate much of what I have learned on our trips.

-Many impacts, including thoughts on our waterfront viaduct replacement alternatives, support for a streetcar system, zoning changes that incorporate green incentives, such as the downtown rezone or the ‘green factor” incentive program. I think the impacts are just now beginning to show.

Guy Michaelsen, Architect, Principal The Berger Partnership

What direct or indirect impact has the Urban Sustainability Study Tour of Sweden and Denmark by i-sustain had on your work? on Seattle?

-With inspiration of both design aesthetic and more environmental solutions, this tour significantly changed my professional life!. A specific benefit of the trip is the pictures I took have been used in literally dozens of presentations, and illustrate something as realistic to attain, and as a result, the ideas have been more accepted by clients.

-Collectively transitioning developers, politicians and leaders to see many environmental building/development/planning efforts, not as an extreme, difficult to attain goal, but rather very achievable AND a benefit to quality of life. It’s prodded us proof it can be done and given us actual city policies that would not exist without it.

Richard Conlin, president of the Seattle City Council

What direct or indirect impact has the Urban Sustainability Study Tour of Sweden and Denmark by i-sustain had on your work? on Seattle?

-Gave me significant information on several critical issues, including urban design, bicycle access, and waste-to-energy cycles. I have initiated a dialogue in the community on the waste-to-energy concept that I observed, and am using the bicycle policy ideas as we strengthen Seattle's bicycle plans

-I can most effectively speak about my work, which it has informed, and which is leading to a number of possible policy changes. I know that other City officials are also working on some urban design ideas that we observed, and private sector participants are incorporating some of these into their project planning.

Lynn Perkins, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

What direct or indirect impact has the Urban Sustainability Study Tour of Sweden and Denmark by i-sustain had on your work? on Seattle?

-Technologies and strategies encountered were not novel or unknown to me. However, the degree to which they were commonly applied and held to be economically sensible was enlightening and inspiring.

-A groundswell of interest in sustainable solutions is already underway in many parts of the US, a resurgence of the impetus that was born in the late 70s. The same rebirth is happening in Seattle, but the tour is instrumental in bringing together designers and planners, bureaucrats and developers. These connections provide reinforcement and support for adopting sustainable strategies, and a network for sharing information on the necessary details.

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