Smart growth strategies in San Diego

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Alex Dodds

Investing in quality development and creating vibrant places where people want to live and work are among the themes at this year’s New Partners for Smart Growth conference in San Diego. Over 1,400 public officials, planners, developers and advocates are meeting this week to discuss better strategies for development – and the conference’s host city is a great example of that principle in action. From NBC San Diego:

“San Diego is investing in the right things,” said Ilana Preuss, vice president of Washington D.C.-based Smart Growth America. “Looking at how you create whole neighborhoods where people can live near where they work, have jobs near shops and schools. We’ve found that that’s really a key to the economic development of the 21st century.”

“Smart Growth” Experts Tout San Diego [NBC San Diego, February 2, 2012]

Posted in California, Newsroom, SGA News Clips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ways and Means Proposal Would Derail How America Gets To Work And Put Public Transportation On Life Support

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Tom Madrecki

Americans take 10 billion public transportation trips every year to and from home, work, grocery stores, schools, and medical offices. These trips literally and physically move the nation’s economy. That economic engine is about to hit a wall. If new …

Posted in Transportation for America | Leave a comment

California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg to be honored with the 2012 Smart Growth America Leadership Award

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Smart Growth America

California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a long-time smart growth and community development advocate, will accept Smart Growth America’s 2012 Smart Growth Leadership award during a Friday ceremony at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center in San Diego.

The honor coincides with the 11th annual New Partners for Smart Growth conference, a national event hosted by the Local Government Commission. It is expected to draw more than 1,500 attendees, including policy experts, business leaders, representatives from state and federal agencies and high-ranking elected officials.

“Perhaps no lawmaker has done more for smart growth in California in recent years than Sen. Steinberg,” says Smart Growth America President and CEO Geoffrey Anderson. “SB375 was groundbreaking in that it provided a model for how regions can save on municipal service and infrastructure costs, increase development certainty, and become more resilient to changes in energy prices.”

Posted in California, Events, Leadership Institute | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Contact your Representative TODAY to protect federal transit funding

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Alex Dodds

Dedicated funding for public transit is in a fight for its life.

Late last night, the House of Representative’s Ways and Means Committee released their proposal for a federal surface transportation bill. The bill would eliminate dedicated funding for public transit and jeopardize these funds for years to come.

Speak out for transit: Send a messge to your Representative today.

Removing the guarantee on funding would mean that transit would have to compete each year for general fund revenues. As Congress looks for ways to slash federal funding, this change puts transit funding in danger of deep cuts in coming years.

Help fight this proposed bill: send a message to your Representative today.

Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have supported dedicated transit funding as a way to relieve congestion and help workers reach jobs quickly, efficiently and affordably. As the American economy slowly recovers, demand for transit has been rising across the country – and now is not the time to jeopardize federal support for these programs.

Contacting your members of Congress is simple and only takes a few minutes. Help defend dedicated funding for transit: Click here to send a letter to your Representative.

Posted in Action, Congress, Transportation for America | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Smart Growth America and National Brownfields Coalition unite to revitalize blighted areas

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Alex Dodds

Longstanding brownfield redevelopment advocates Smart Growth America and the National Brownfields Coalition launch a new alliance today, with the Brownfields Coalition joining Smart Growth America.

As an official coalition of Smart Growth America, the National Brownfields Coalition can now be found at smartgrowthamerica.org/brownfields/.

“The missions of Smart Growth America and the National Brownfields Coalition are intertwined,” said Geoff Anderson, President and CEO of Smart Growth America. “We both understand that brownfield redevelopment is a critical part of fiscally responsible development strategies. Together we will have that much more to offer in terms of experience, technical assistance and the joint pursuit of public policies aimed at reinvigorating neighborhoods across the country.”

As the only national organization dedicated to researching and advocating for smart growth strategies, Smart Growth America’s extensive network and expert staff will offer the National Brownfields Coalition continued support as it seeks to raise awareness about the economic benefits of transforming vacant brownfields into thriving neighborhoods. Likewise, Smart Growth America will benefit from the National Brownfields Coalition’s expertise on federal policies that promote brownfield revitalization and sustainable development.

Posted in Brownfields, Featured Content, Members and Main | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Smart growth news – February 1, 2012

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Tom Madrecki

National News:

Transportation bill throws bones to GOP base
Politico – January 31, 2012

No earmarks, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, cutting Amtrak’s budget, forcing approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and ending mandatory spending on bicycle and pedestrian paths — what’s a diehard Republican not to like?

LaHood announces fourth-round funding of TIGER program
Jacksonville Business Journal – January 31, 2012

The next round of TIGER funding, called TIGER 2012, will make $500 million available for surface transportation projects having a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or region.

Obama to Detail Housing Refinance Plan
Time – February 1, 2012

Obama on Wednesday was to draw attention to a proposal he outlined in his State of the Union address to allow homeowners with privately held mortgages to take advantage of record low rates, for an annual savings of about $3,000 for the average borrower. Obama was detailing his plan during a visit to a northern Virginia community center.

Chart of the Day: A Nation of Renters
The Atlantic Cities – January 31, 2012

Renting is on the rise – the number of housing units occupied by renters rose by 749,000 in the last quarter of 2011, according to the Commerce Department. According to this graphic, renters have surpassed buyers. Home ownership rates are also falling, at its lowest level since 1998.

Posted in SGA News Clips | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

House Transportation Bill slashes safety funding, but there’s a chance to fix it

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Alex Dodds

Today the House released its draft transportation bill to the public. Our colleagues at Transportation for America are still evaluating the overall bill, but we have a chance in the next 24 hours to help fix America’s bridges and restore the dedicated funding that makes our roads safer for people on foot or bike, which has been eliminated.

We need your help: tell your Representative to support two amendments that would restore funding for safe biking and walking, and make repairing our deficient bridges a priority.

The House committee that wrote the bill will vote on it Thursday morning, and they will decide in less than 48 hours what to change before approving it and moving it to the full House for a vote.

The bill fails to require states to put a priority on fixing the country’s 69,000 deficient bridges before spending money on new highways. In just the next 48 hours before the committee votes, there will be more than 565 million trips taken across deficient bridges in the U.S. That’s enough cars to line them up end to end from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. and back…267 times.

Tell your Representative to support safety and repair amendments in the Transportation bill: click here to send a letter to your member of Congress.

Posted in Action, Transportation for America | Leave a comment

Smart growth news – January 31, 2012

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Tom Madrecki

Train in Vain
Slate – January 27, 2012

The idiotic Department of Transportation rule that’s hobbled America’s mass transit—and the wonderful regulation that may soon replace it.

What Pictures Can Teach Us About Walkability
The Atlantic Cities – January 30, 2012

I’m not sure there is any one word that describes my concept of a sustainable community place more than walkability. At least when it comes to describing the physical aspects of a place. Is it safe, comfortable, and enjoyable to walk in? Does it have an abundance of places to walk to and from? Is it human-scaled? If the answer is yes, chances are that it also has many of the characteristics that smart growth and urbanist planners strive to achieve: density, mixed uses, connectivity, appropriate traffic management, street frontages, opportunity for physical activity, and so on.

House Republicans to unveil transportation bill
Washington Post – January 30, 2012

Spreading about $260 billion over a five-year span, the House proposal would continue to fund transportation programs at close to current levels.

Posted in SGA News Clips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Smart growth news – January 30, 2012

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Tom Madrecki

National News:

The housing recovery that wasn’t
CNN-Fortune – January 30, 2012

These threats are very real. But there’s a bigger threat — and drag on any future recovery — that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves: rising interest rates.

GOP Candidates Pursue Risky Hands-Off Housing Policy in Florida, Nevada
National Journal – January 29, 2012

Pressed during last week’s two presidential debates, the candidates argued for a free-market approach. “Let capitalism work. Allow these banks to realize their losses,” said Rick Santorum. Pennsylvania’s former senator then said he would give homeowners tax deductions on losses incurred by selling their houses.

A Time of Transformation in Housing and Transportation
Nation’s Cities Weekly – January 2012

People who earn large cash profits from developing residential and commercial real estate suggest that retiring baby-boomers and young couples with or without children want to live in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. “We in real estate are fundamentally re-tooling how we design, plan, regulate and finance to serve this pent-up demand,” says land use developer and strategist Chris Leinberger.

Posted in SGA News Clips | Leave a comment

Smart growth news – January 27, 2012

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Tom Madrecki

National News:

New Jersey Attempting to Get a Handle on Development
Wall Street Journal – January 27, 2012

After more than two decades of sprawling suburban growth and state agency feuds that led to chaotic regional-planning efforts, the Christie administration is pushing a new vision for future development in New Jersey.

Does Obama Finally Have a Plan to Fix the Housing Mess?
Time – January 27, 2012

In the end, without the backing of Congress all these proposals will more than likely end up being nothing more than a campaign tool for Obama, allowing him to claim that he’s at least trying to alleviate some of the economic hurt brought on by the collapse of the real estate market.

Much heat, little light on housing in Florida debate
Reuters – January 27, 2012

Republicans presidential candidates have taken a hands-off policy on the U.S. housing crisis. At a debate on Thursday in Florida, it devolved into finger pointing.

Local News:

Trackside Developments Catch On
New York Times – January 26, 2012

MORE than a century ago, before the term “transit-oriented development” entered the urban-planning glossary, plenty of it was being built in Westchester: clusters of housing, shops and sometimes industrial buildings close to railroad stations.

Posted in SGA News Clips | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
Older Entries >>


Popular Tags

Announcements Brownfields Climate Coalition Members Complete Streets Demographics DOT downtown Driving Economic Development Economic Stimulus Economy Energy Environment EPA Federal Policy Gas prices grant Growing Cooler Housing HUD Infrastructure Jobs Land bank land use Mixed-use development New Reports Partnership for Sustainable Communities Planning public transportation regional Sprawl suburbs sustainability technical assistance TIGER Traffic Transit Transit-oriented development Transportation Transportation and Infrastructure Vacant Properties Video Walkability webinar