With a focus on city building and urban livelihood, the public is invited to attend the Chattanooga Urbanists (CURB) networking meetup on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga Design Studio, 719 Cherry St. The first gathering of the year will introduce attendees to the group’s 2018 initiatives and highlight upcoming programs.
Launched in partnership by River City Company and Chattanooga Design Studio, CURB connects individuals who are interested in how design and planning affect the city’s look and feel. CURB initiatives intend to demonstrate the power of public space and widen the net of inclusion in urban design through action-oriented individuals passionate about policy, infrastructure and design’s impact on cities, said officials.
“The group tackles small projects that bring attention to bigger needs in our community. For example, our crosswalk zebra program is a fun and creative initiative, but it represents an effort to address a bigger issue – pedestrian safety,” said Meagan Shinn, program director at River City Company.
CURB’s Traffic Zebras program is modeled off of an initiative in La Paz, Bolivia known as cebritas where individuals dress in zebra costumes to assist pedestrians in safely crossing the street. Another CURB program in partnership with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority or CARTA, Hip Hop on the Shuttle transforms the downtown electric shuttles into DJ-disco dance parties, connecting new audiences to public transit.
“We are so excited to bring Chattanooga together through creative programs focused on improving city life,” said Sally Morrow, urban designer at Chattanooga Design Studio. “All of it would not be possible without our strong community partnerships and a growing group of creative individuals who care about our city.”
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/chattanoogaurbanists or call 265-3700.