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Seattle vs. Vancouver: The Great Urban Debate

Posted by Eric Hess
06/15/2009 08:30 AM
A battle of minds: which is the best city?

Seattle Vancouver DebateIt's the argument of the century: which is better, Seattle or Vancouver?

It's an issue near and dear to many of our hearts. And this week, two of Cascadia's most provocative thinkers (and friends of Sightline) will duke it out in a no-holds-barred, anything-goes debate.

OK -- that might be an exaggeration. But I bet they will have some interesting things to say on the issue. Gordon Price (from Vancouver) will be arguing for Seattle, and Peter Steinbrueck (from Seattle) will be arguing for Vancouver.

 

The details:

Vancouver debate:

  • When: Tuesday, June 16 7:00-8:30 (debate), 8:30-9:30 (reception)
  • Where: Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street

Seattle debate:

  • When: Thursday, June 18 6:00-7:30 (debate), 7:30-8:30 (reception)
  • Where: Seattle Public Library, Microsoft Auditorium, 1000 Fourth Ave
Both are free, so check it out. Read more on Via Architecture's blog.


Comments
Posted by Cascadian 06/15/2009 12:09 PM
I like that each debater is arguing in favor of the superiority of the other city. It's a great way to stay humble, and locals simultaneously have the best view of what's wrong with their own city and the perspective to appreciate what's good about other cities.
Posted by Snowflake Seven 06/15/2009 12:32 PM
The correct answer is: Portland, OR. :-)
Posted by Alan Durning 06/15/2009 03:46 PM
Having spent quite a bit of time in each of the big three Cascadian cities, I would rank them, in my order of preference:

1. Vancouver, BC

2. Portland

3. Seattle (my home)

I think Peter Steinbrueck has the easy job in this debate, and Gordon Price the hard job.

Posted by Michelle 06/15/2009 04:54 PM
Well, no matter what will be said about ANY of these big three, nothing would entice me to leave my quaint little city of Eugene. (It's so easy to be car-free here!) Unless of course, one of them were to offer me a job. (It's so easy to be job-free here! :-)
Posted by David Levinger 06/17/2009 01:51 PM
Since I live in Seattle, it would be really convenient for me if I could be convinced that Seattle is the best. That's why I'm happy that Gordon Price is arguing that side. In the past I've found his arguments to be very convincing.
Posted by John Niles 06/17/2009 03:16 PM
I happened to catch the first run through of the Seattle vs Vancouver debate with Councilors Price and Steinbrueck in downtown Vancouver last night. A great show! Both men do a first rate job singing the praises of the nearby place where they visit but don't live. I recommend attendance at the Seattle Library fine-tuned event on Thursday, though a video will be made and posted on the web, I think.

The other interesting part is hearing what both men don't like about the city where they DO live.

The debate is sponsored by Via Architecture with offices in both cities. This company designed the stations for the Seattle monorail and has much other work in Seattle area now, including, I'm told, designing the bus rapid transit system for the SR 520 bridge. This firm's work on the Burien Transit Center is at
http://via-architecture.com/projects/burientransitcenter/index.html, and if you click around you'll get to the video streaming of the debate on Thursday night. The Tuesday debate is not yet posted.



Posted by geografree 06/18/2009 06:02 PM
Great idea and nice that it is streamed. We're watching from our office in Auckland, so yes we are geeks.

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