Charles (Chuck) Wolfe
Author, keynote speaker and essayist on strategic best practices for
rethinking cities, towns and urban places
ABOUT CHUCK
A compelling voice in the urbanist conversation both local and global.
Chuck provides a unique perspective
about cities as both a long time writer
and photographer about urbanism
worldwide and as an attorney in Seattle,
where he focuses on land use and
environmental law and permitting.
In particular, his work involves the use of
sustainable development techniques and
innovative land use regulatory tools on
behalf of both the private and
public sectors.
He is also an Affiliate Associate Professor
in the College of Built Environments at
the University of Washington, where he
teaches land use law at the
graduate level.
He contributes regularly to several publications including: Planetizen, CityLab/The Atlantic Cities, The Atlantic, The
Huffington Post, Grist, seattlepi.com, and Crosscut.com. He blogs at myurbanist.com.
SAMPLE PRESENTATION TOPICS
The Dynamic Potential of Urbanism Without Effort
To create vibrant, sustainable cities we must first understand what happens naturally when people congregate in
cities—the innate, unprompted interactions of people with each other and their surrounding environment. City
dwellers invariably celebrate environments where they can coexist safely in a mutually supportive way. Chuck
argues that the most interesting are those that occur spontaneously. Through vivid examples of successful urban
land use, via his own illustrations and real-life examples both historic and current, Chuck will provide a compelling
illustration of the importance of understanding context first before applying policies or initiatives.
Reclaiming the Urban Memory and Reading the Evolution of Places
From streets to open space, and based on Chuck’s recent articles and photographs, explore the role of world
precedent and human settlement practices in re-enabling today’s urban environments.
The Sit-able City and Other Popular Monikers
Learn from narrative and photography about the premise of Chuck’s popular concept of the “sit-able city”, how it
draws from past work on public life from Jan Gehl, William H. Whyte and others and how it complements the best
urban qualities and measures of success.
Rethinking Land Use Law and Regulation in the New Millennium
An illustrated primer on land use basics, policy and regulation about how we live and work in, and travel
between, cities a decade into the new century.
Helping Municipalities Navigate the Conversation Around Making Their Cities Great
Learn from Chuck how to understand both the possibilities for, and potential hazards around, transforming cities,
and the vital role of context in assessing examples and ideas. Then, from a land-use attorney’s perspective, Chuck
will discuss the practical aspects of change and how to move successfully from concept to reality.
Mr. Wolfe is also available for custom-designed presentations, strategy sessions and related ideation.
HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT KEYNOTES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
October 27-31, 2014, Glasgow, Scotland
Keynote Presentation, “Returning to the First Principles of Urbanism”, Round Table Discussions, Summit on PlotBased Urbanism; Student Workshop, Urban Diaries and Decoding Places, University of Strathclyde
Lecture, Urban Studies Seminar Series, University of Glasgow
September 18, 2014, Seattle, Washington
Keynote Conversation, Closer to Home Breakfast, Bellwether Housing
View Event VIDEO
June 7, 2014, Buffalo, New York
Debate with Mike Lydon, “Urbanism Without Effort v. Tactical Urbanism”
22nd Annual Congress for the New Urbanism, NextGen11 Program
October 17, 2013, Manchester, New Hampshire
Keynote Address, “Navigating Housing’s Future”
New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority’s Annual Economic and Housing Market Update
View POWERPOINT AND VIDEO
June 19, 2013, Seattle, Washington
Keynote Address, “Charles Wolfe: Urbanism Without Effort” (Town Hall Seattle, American Podium Series)
View Seattle Channel VIDEO
July 26, 2013, Vancouver, British Columbia
Urban Land Institute Young Leaders’ Group Cascadia Regional Conference, Panel Leader
April 15, 2013, Chicago, Illinois
American Planning Association National Conference , Urban Design and Preservation Division Panelist
April 11, 2013, Detroit, Michigan
Project For Public Spaces Placemaking Leadership Council, Featured Roundtable Speaker
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT CHUCK AS A SPEAKER AND WRITER
(URBANISM WITHOUT EFFORT)
“Mr. Wolfe helped me understand the intimate relationship between a city and the citizens that inhabit it. He stressed how
observing these relationships should provide the basis for understanding good design and should inform governments about the
development and use of land use regulations and architectural design and not the other way around. Most impactful was the way
Mr. Wolfe was able to deliver this message by capturing amazing images of everyday city life from all parts of the globe!”
--Benjamin D. Frost, Esq. , Director of Public Affairs, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
“A plea for a renewed commitment to authentic urbanism and an invitation to learn from history as our cities enter a future of
unprecedented change.”
– Alex Steffen, writer, editor, public speaker and futurist
“This is a must read for those who want to understand in words and pictures what stands behind great cites. We’re proud to see a
Seattle native son helping to show the way.”
— Mike McGinn, Former Mayor of Seattle, and founding Executive Director, Seattle Great City Initiative
“One of Chuck Wolfe’s great gifts is an extraordinary photographer’s eye for capturing visual images of everyday, but evocative, city
life. Another is an uncommonly strong intellectual grounding in urban planning theory. In Urbanism Without Effort, he combines the
two in unique fashion to show us how unplanned places can often teach us more about great placemaking than planned ones.”
— Kaid Benfield, Director, Sustainable Communities, Natural Resources Defense Council
“Chuck’s work is what happens when art meets science in placemaking. His talent for capturing places being themselves is so
important in the placemaker’s toolkit, yet can be missed if we are not paying attention. Lucky for us, Chuck is always paying
attention and this book is the proof.”
– Dr. Katherine Loflin, leading authority and national expert on creating next generation cities
“A picture is worth 1000 words, and this short book is a muli-volume treatise on the essence of urbanism. It is a ‘must read’ and a
‘must see’ view into what works as envisioned in both the keen mind and the sharp eye of one of the most astute observers of our
generation.”
— Dwight H. Merriam, partner at Robinson & Cole LLP, Past Chair, American Bar Association Section of State and Local Government
Law, and Fellow/Past President of the American Institute of Certified Planners
CHECK OUT CHUCK IN THE NEWS HERE.
CONTACT
CHARLES R. WOLFE
1420 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 2200
SEATTLE WA, 98101-1346
P: 206-274-5145
E: cwolfe@crwolfelaw.com
http://urbanismwithouteffort.com