Gwen Wright- Creating Vibrant Communities Blending Historic Preservation and Planning (#119)

Bio Gwen Wright was the former Director of the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She held that position from 2013 until October, 2022. In this role, Ms. Wright oversaw a wide range of projects that aim to improve the quality of life in Montgomery County by conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment. Montgomery County is one of the largest jurisdictions in Maryland with over 1 million residents and has a key role in the dynamic Washington D.C. metropolitan growth area. Ms. Wright also worked for the Montgomery County Planning Department from 1987 to 2008. During this period, she served as the Chief of Countywide Planning, including supervising the Environmental Planning, Transportation Planning and Historic Preservation Sections, as well as serving as Acting Planning Director. Prior to her appointment as the Montgomery County Planning Director in 2013, Ms. Wright was Chief of the Development Division for the City of Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning for five years. In this position, she reviewed development proposals throughout the City of Alexandria and shepherded a wide variety of projects – from urban infill to major brownfields reclamation – through the regulatory process and implementation. Ms. Wright began her career in Texas as the Director of Architectural Design and Redevelopment for the Galveston Historical Foundation in Galveston, Texas. She has degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale University and has spoken at numerous national and regional conferences on a wide variety of planning issues. Ms. Wright lives in the Cleveland Park neighborhood in Washington D.C., where she is co-chair of the Cleveland Park Historical Society Architectural Review Committee. She is a member of Lambda Alpha and a graduate of ULI Washington’s Regional Leadership Institute. Show Notes Gwen’s Current Situation (00:05:45) Gwen discusses her consulting work, historic preservation projects, and involvement in conferences and classes at Georgetown University. Origin Story & Education Gwen’s Origins and Youth (00:08:25) Gwen talks about her upbringing in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her early interest in architecture and historic preservation. Interest in Architecture and History (00:12:50) Gwen shares her early fascination with places and spaces, her interest in architectural history, and her experiences at Yale University. Architecture and Emotional Impact (00:18:00) Gwen delves into the psychological and emotional impact of great spaces and places, and the intersection of historic and new architecture. Galveston Historical Foundation Transition to Preservation Work (00:24:30) Gwen discusses her transition from studying architecture to working in historic preservation, including her decision to work for the Galveston Historical Foundation. Galveston’s Transformation (00:28:10) Gwen describes Galveston’s history, including its response to the 1900 hurricane and the subsequent efforts to revitalize the c...