OTT, Thomas (2001): Cascadia: Zukunftswerkstatt oder verlorenes Paradies? Stadtentwicklung und grenzüberschreitende Zusammenarbeit im pazifischen Nordwesten. Geographische Rundschau 53 (1), 4-11
Kurzfassung
Due to their scenic natural location, economic prosperity, ethnic variety, as weil as a planning policy that aims for sustainability and quality of life, the cities of Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver may serve as role models for future urban development trends. However, the region is under threat by a rising number of immigrants, both from overseas as weil as from other states or provinces. This process in turn fosters the wellknown problems of urban sprawl, rising real estate prices, and increasing social tensions. Under the heading “Cascadia” politicians, academics, business people, planners, and not the least a broad range of initiatives and NGOs discuss the future of the region. Cascadia is based on three ideas: in economic terms it deals with the increasing interconnections of the metropolitan areas along lnterstate 5 (“Mainstreet Cascadia”); ecological goal is the preservation of a unique biome of geology, climate, vegetation, and wildlife (“Raincoast”); the social ideal is a peaceful and fair coexistence of different cultures (“Multiculturalism”).