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Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
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Throughout the year, we host a number of in-person and virtual events covering topics related to public health, social equity, and climate resilience.
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Smart growth is an approach to community design that connects housing, transportation, and land use to create healthy, prosperous, and resilient neighborhoods.
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Smart Growth America cultivates vibrant, sustainable communities with diverse living and transportation options, enhancing quality of life for all.
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We offer a library of case studies, videos, and reports to support policymakers, practitioners, and advocates interested in advancing smart growth.
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Even the best-planned cities have a few hidden alleys.

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Form-based codes (FBC) are a land development regulation that fosters predictable built results and a walkable public realm by using physical form—rather than separation of uses—as the primary basis and focus for the code and standards. Communities can apply form-based codes in different contexts and scales. Form-based codes are legally binding regulations, not optional guides, and offer municipalities an alternative to conventional zoning for shaping development. FBC primarily differs from Traditional Zoning in how uses and the form of the built environment are considered; traditional zoning is defined by the separation of uses, which has led to auto-dependent development patterns, whereas FBC focuses on the form and shape of the built environment and focuses on creating mixed-use, people-oriented development patterns.
<h2>FBC Standards of Practice</h2>
<ol>
<li>A DETAILED PHYSICAL PLAN AND CLEAR VISION, which has been developed and adopted through an inclusive community engagement process.</li>
<li>A STATEMENT OF INTENT AND PURPOSE, which ties the code to the vision or plan and sets parameters for development of and a framework for waivers and exceptions.</li>
<li>BUILDING FORM STANDARDS with specific requirements for building placement and building frontages that will shape public spaces.</li>
<li>A REGULATING PLAN that establishes a specific set of standards for each zone shown on a regulating plan.</li>
<li>CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE STANDARDS with limited or no discretionary review.</li>
<li>PEDESTRIAN SCALE THOROUGHFARE STANDARDS that promote and/or conserve an interconnected street network and pedestrian-scaled blocks.</li>
<li>PREDICTABLE PHYSICAL OUTCOMES, which are determined by standards and parameters for physical form–build-to lines, frontage type requirements, and open space features–rather than standards with highly unpredictable physical outcomes–floor area ratio and density­­–which result in a high-quality urban form and public realm, while still allowing for variety in the size and shape of urban spaces and the design of buildings.</li>
<li>COMMON-USE LANGUAGE, GRAPHICS, AND DIAGRAMS, which are unambiguous, clearly labeled, and accurate in their presentation of spatial configurations and relationships.DIVERSITY OF USES AND HOUSING TYPES, incorporating standards that encourage this diversity</li>
</ol>
<h2>What is an exemplary form-based code?</h2>
Form-based codes offer a significant advantage over auto-oriented, use-based zoning by focusing on the quality of the space between the buildings; the scale, placement, and facades of the buildings; the public and private open spaces; and the streetscapes. If well written and implemented, form-based codes promote human-scaled places that encourage improved walkability, inclusivity, affordability, and livability for all. In reviewing codes submitted for the award, the jury considers the following criteria:
<ul>
<li>Will the code promote good urbanism (has it resulted in high-quality development activity)?</li>
<li>Will the code deliver a predictable street character (public and private open space)?</li>
<li>Is the code implementable and relatively easy to use?</li>
<li>Does the code have relevant and distinguishing features that advance the practice?</li>
</ul>
If you know of a code that meets these criteria, consider submitting an entry form to nominate your code to be recognized by CZS as an exemplary form-based code

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The Equity Summit is a virtual gathering of thought leaders and practitioners who come together to discuss insights and strategies to ensure that racial equity is a key priority in any smart growth approach. The Equity Summit took place virtually, February 7-9, 2023.

Video Series

Equity Summit 2023

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The state DOTs in California and North Carolina have found innovative ways to manage and maintain Complete Streets projects.
[alert type=&#8221;info&#8221;]From November 2022 to May 2023, Smart Growth America worked with the State Smart Transportation Initiative to host a series of four virtual workshops for staff at state departments of transportation (DOTs) to discuss challenges and strategies for implementing Complete Streets on state-owned rural roads. This work was completed in partnership with CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative. <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/?page_id=85474&amp;preview=true">Learn more here.</a>[/alert]
<figure id="attachment_85531" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-85531" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-85531 size-large" src="https://oldv2.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog-1024x768.jpeg" alt="A cyclist travels down fresh, black asphalt, nearing a short crosswalk with a ped crossing sign." width="1024" height="768" srcset="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/after-ped-crossing-massachusetts-frcog.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-85531" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="https://frcog.org/project/complete-streets-funding-program-assistance-to-towns/">(Franklin Regional Council of Governments)</a></figcaption></figure>
<h4>California</h4>
California’s <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1">Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017</a> (SB 1), required all SHOPP projects to incorporate Complete Streets elements, wherever feasible. That meant creating an inventory base with consistent data collection to effectively track and incorporate these elements. In 2018, Caltrans began data collection through a survey of existing Complete Streets assets including sidewalks, bikeways, and crosswalks. The push to survey existing assets acted as a starting point for the agency to track and develop targets for existing and future assets. The initial survey exposed additional features that will later be incorporated, like bus shelters, pedestrian lighting, street trees, and shade structures.
In 2020, a one-time funding reservation of $100 million was set aside for the SHOPP to construct and maintain Complete Streets facilities based on the existing inventory. One year later, the agency created targets for each district to track both the new and existing Complete Streets assets as part of <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/esta/documents/dp-37-complete-streets-a11y.pdf">Director’s Policy 37</a>, which created a new program for highway maintenance projects.
Complete Streets tracking forms were developed in 2022 so that performance targets could be effectively implemented and measured. The forms require coordination between engineers and Complete Streets coordinators to guide highway maintenance projects, train new roles and scopes, and to inform future updates.
Now, Caltrans offers several different maintenance options. For maintenance agreements in general, some local agencies pay and maintain with vested interest while others sign delegated maintenance agreements where Caltrans pays for the project and local agencies maintain. Regardless of the type of maintenance agreement, Caltrans emphasizes the need for local partners and community members to be involved early and often in the maintenance agreement process in order for the agreement to be strong and effective.
Caltrans is currently creating working groups to pull knowledge and skills for guidance material, focusing on strategies to increase funding for CS features. Updated maintenance manuals need to be revised to incorporate Complete Streets elements in official guidance. For example, CS is already incorporated as part of bridge projects where the scope is feasible. Caltrans continues to work towards an asset inventory approach while increasing staff capacity, materials, and equipment with updated guidance.
<h4>North Carolina</h4>
The North Carolina DOT convenes interdisciplinary working groups to address asset management and maintenance challenges. The workgroups play an important role within the Complete Streets review process to address main barriers and strategies to incorporate the maintenance of Complete Streets facilities throughout the project planning, design, and implementation process.
A main challenge the workgroups identified was inconsistent coordination between scheduled maintenance activities and local plans. To improve communication, NCDOT developed draft guidance to identify Complete Streets opportunities throughout the highway maintenance improvement process. The goal of the guidance is to better facilitate conversation and convening between different divisions and sectors on these issues to create sustainable impact. This also improves the chances for successful funding of Complete Streets facilities if they are flagged early in the project planning process. The guidance and communication between the flagged maintenance opportunities includes costs, alternatives, and options with required documentation and reporting through to project completion.
The NCDOT also aimed to address maintenance issues related to Complete Streets elements in unincorporated areas. An analysis with <a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4d99643ea1354c0e9e8ad27243983bc4">their latent demand tool</a> determined the effects of the state taking over unincorporated areas&#8217; maintenance responsibilities. The tool, <a href="https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4d99643ea1354c0e9e8ad27243983bc4">the Complete Streets Activity Estimation Tool</a>, was used to analyze pedestrian and bicycle network infrastructure data to evaluate and estimate the latent demand in areas categorized as low, medium, or high activity areas. The analysis was in accordance with planned and existing multimodal facilities for the next ten-year funding cycle. This resulted in internal policy discussions to make changes to the municipal code, discussions on maintenance agreements for earlier planning and to address funding issues, and working with local municipalities to enter agreements for facilities in unincorporated areas that they expect will later be in their jurisdiction as populations grow.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided support for this project under cooperative agreement OT18-1802 supporting the Active People, Healthy NationSM Initiative, a national initiative led by the CDC to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Learn more: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/activepeoplehealthynation/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/activepeoplehealthynation/index.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1718998511475000&amp;usg=AOvVaw16N_4_FDEPaQ4ERM0oCoAz">https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/activepeoplehealthynation/index.html</a>. The findings and conclusions in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

California

Highways

North Carolina

Rural

State DOTs

Completing Rural Highways: Maintaining assets in California and North Carolina

Complete Streets

Rural Development

Transportation

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Equitable Transit-Oriented Development 2

Equitable Transit-Oriented Development

More About Complete Streets

The Complete Streets movement looks to put people, regardless of their mode of choice, back at the center of transportation planning and design.

Conventional approaches to transportation have aimed to move cars quickly, even (and often) at the expense of safety for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and car drivers alike. The term Complete Streets, popularized by the National Complete Streets Coalition at Smart Growth America in the early 2000s, is used to describe policies that enable safe access to streets for users of all ages and abilities

Memphis is the deadliest city for pedestrians. According to our new report, <a href="/signature-reports/dangerous-by-design/">Dangerous by Design 2024</a>, Memphis holds the #1 spot, with a rate of 5.14 per 100,000 pedestrians who are hit and killed by cars while walking—nearly triple their rate from 2009. But why is walking in Memphis so dangerous?
Our new video shares on-the-ground perspectives and birds-eye views to demonstrate why Memphis’s streets are so dangerous. In the video, we interview local residents who deal with these perilous streets on a daily basis. Behind the alarming fatality numbers are countless human faces and stories of people trying to move around their communities in a safe and dignified way.

Testimonial

Dangerous by Design

Walking in Memphis: These streets are Dangerous by Design

The Best Complete Streets Policies 2023

Since the beginning of the Complete Streets movement in the early 2000s, more than 1,700 Complete Streets policies have been adopted in jurisdictions of all sizes and contexts across the United States. Adopting Complete Streets policies is a crucial first step to reducing traffic violence, improving health equity, responding to the climate crisis, and rectifying a long history of inequitable transportation practices. This Best Complete Streets Policies report spotlights the communities that have taken that first step and outlines how they made it happen.
But every Complete Streets policy is not created equally. To celebrate the strongest policies in the country and lift them up as worthy models for other communities to emulate, the National Complete Streets Coalition regularly evaluates and scores policies on a 100-point scale using a standardized set of ten elements. Based on that evaluation, the Coalition is proud to unveil this list of the 11 strongest Complete Streets policies passed between 2019 and 2022: [efn_note]157 policies adopted between 2019-2022 were evaluated for this report. We also evaluated 48 additional policies adopted in 2018 that were not scored/included in the last (2018) edition of this report for various reasons. Those 48 policies are also included in the table in the “policy scores” tab.[/efn_note]
<h4>This year&#8217;s strongest policies</h4>
Thanks to some ties in scoring, what’s typically a top ten list this year includes 11 communities. Each numbered score in the table refers to the corresponding element in our policy framework found <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/10-elements-of-complete-streets/">here</a>:
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Download the report for the complete list of grades, Complete Streets policy trends, profiles of four leading communities, and why far more progress is urgently needed.

Case Study

#bestcompletestreetspolicy

#completestreets

Best Complete Streets Policies

Complete Streets Case Studies

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On Tuesday, February 15th, NBC Steering Committee member Lee Ilan represented the National Brownfields Coalition during the virtual ‘<a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-back-from-the-brink-restoring-brownfield-sites-to-economic">Back from the Brink: Restoring Brownfield Sites to Economic Engines’</a> hearing alongside four other witnesses and brownfields advocates from across the country. Witnesses praised the additional funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), discussed the connection between environmental justice and brownfield redevelopment, addressed concerns of gentrification and housing displacement related to redevelopment, and provided insight on other issues related to federal brownfield policy.
 

Watch the whole hearing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeIHt8yzPr0">here</a>. 
 

<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YeIHt8yzPr0?start=2369" width="747" height="420" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
 

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Mr. Paul Tomko, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, opened the hearing by introducing EPA’s Brownfield Program and its impact on the economies and communities it helped to revitalize, noting how “Brownfields Program has been a critical lifeline for local governments and communities looking to turn contaminated sites into economic centers.” Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, described how in his personal experience in West Virginia, the program helped transform his district, decreasing unemployment by over 10% and creating over 50,000 new jobs. After the introduction, each of the witnesses –representing the Coalition, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO), Frontier Group of Companies– provided testimony based on their experience with brownfield remediation work in their communities. 
 

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“Each site helps tell the story of that community’s economic past. Today, we need to examine how we can make these sites part of our districts’ economic futures.”
<cite>&#8211; Rep. David B. McKinley (R-WV)</cite></blockquote>
 

During her testimony on behalf of the Coalition, Ms. Ilan emphasized the value of community engagement and targeted investment in gentrifying areas to avoid displacement. Building from her experience as Chief of Planning for the NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation, she voiced support for critical policies like renewal of the Federal Brownfield Tax Deduction Program and expansion of Brownfield Job Training Grants. 
 

In light of recent hurricanes, flooding, and other natural disasters that have disproportionately affected lower-income neighborhoods and communities of color in NYC, Ms. Ilan stressed that increased funding from the Infrastructure Law would also promote climate resilience in communities that need it the most. She also applauded Congress’ decision to remove the 20% cost share requirements for cleanup grants in the law, which greatly expands opportunities to small and disadvantaged communities. 
 

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“When we clean up and recycle land, we not only eliminate exposure to contaminants, but the jobs, new businesses, housing, parks, and cultural and social centers that we create are truly an economic engine for our communities.”
<cite>&#8211; Lee Ilan</cite></blockquote>
 

 
 

Even though these investments <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/Testimony%20Appendix%20C_Ilan_ECC_2022.02.15.pdf">have proven to be catalytic</a> for communities of all types, sizes, and geographic regions, the EPA Brownfield program has historically been underfunded.  EPA has been able to make awards for only a third of the grants requested, even if the proposals get high scores. 
 

Witnesses and Representatives alike indicated that funding continuity and increased technical assistance and guidance are the highest priorities moving forward for brownfield redevelopment projects. Current barriers include the lack of in-house knowledge, expertise, and capacity for handling remediation projects, which exist in rural communities and discourage local leaders and community members from embarking on clean up projects. The 50 additional EPA Job Training Grants contained in the BIL will provide economic momentum to communities suffering from environmental injustice and disinvestment. The panel also recommended that allowing grant recipients to dedicate 5% of funding to address administrative costs will increase bandwidth and capability in local community planning boards, enabling them to tackle clean-up projects with more refined technical advice by working with brownfield remediation experts. 
 

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“&#8230; cleanup and reuse of brownfields is a long-term effort that lasts longer than the life of one real estate project.  Different funding at different stages of community revitalization shows that up-front planning pays off as communities explore, choose, and implement viable reuse options.”
<cite>&#8211; Lee Ilan</cite></blockquote>
 

 
 

The conversations arising from the hearing reiterated the connections between rural and urban communities and highlighted that, although they may differ in density, capacity, and economies, all can benefit from the expanded EPA funding of brownfield redevelopment grants. The EPA’s Brownfields Program’s reliable funding and consistency help local and tribal governments, states, and nonprofits engage in long-term reuse planning, consult with stakeholders, study and address brownfields, and line up private and public sector partners. The program also enables economic development, improves the environment, preserves greenfields, protects public health, encourages planning for reuse, and gives community members a voice in what their neighborhoods look like.
 

The National Brownfield Coalition is thrilled to see the level of investment in brownfields in the BIL and is eager to see this funding applied to complete much-needed assessments and remediation of contaminated sites and support equitable outcomes for communities nationwide.
 

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://oldv2.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NBC-logos-1024x128.png" alt=" class=" width="706" height="88" /></figure>
 

[button type=&#8221;primary&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; block=&#8221;false&#8221; link=&#8221;<a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/program/national-brownfields-coalition/">https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/program/national-brownfields-coalition/</a>&#8220;] Learn more about the National Brownfields Coalition [/button]
 

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Congressional hearings

Environmental justice

National Brownfields Coalition

The National Brownfields Coalition testifies before the House Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change

Advocacy

Parking minimums

Parking requirements

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Webinars

Webinar recap: Parking reform for 21st century communities

Economic development

LOCUS &amp; Smart Growth America recently launched the National Opportunity Zones Marketplace, an online resource to help facilitate equitable development and information sharing. It&#8217;s the latest evolution of our work to ensure that new investment in Opportunity Zones benefit existing residents the community at-large instead of displacing the people the tax incentive was intended to help. Watch the recorded webinar about how to use the Marketplace.
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<a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/program/national-opportunity-zones-academy/marketplace/">The National Opportunity Zones Marketplace</a> is a networking platform for developers, investors, community leaders, local governments, non-profit organizations and individuals who share a  common goal of utilizing Opportunity Zones to promote equitable development. Designed initially as a tool to help cities in our <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/program/national-opportunity-zones-academy/">Opportunity Zones Academy</a> make their planned projects a reality, the Marketplace has much broader appeal, allowing a variety of organizations and individuals to collaborate on Opportunity Zone projects. 
During the webinar, representatives from two cities in the National Opportunity Zone Academy—Pittsburgh and Norfolk, VA—joined LOCUS Director Christopher Coes who talked about the big picture: &#8220;Smart Growth America’s National Opportunity Zones Marketplace is really designed to be where capital gains become equitable, walkable places and where new business opportunities can actually lift off of.&#8220;
Presenters then delved into the various functions and features of the Marketplace, specifically: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Featured National OZ Academy Project Opportunities: These Opportunity Zone projects are endorsed by Smart Growth America for encouraging triple-bottom-line and equitable development outcomes. Featured projects are elevated to the top of the Marketplace website and also circulated monthly to Smart Growth America’s developer, investor, and Opportunity Fund network. 
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://oppsites.com/">Create your Oppsites profile</a> and then <a href="https://oppsites.com/organizations/smart-growth-america?follow=true">follow Smart Growth America</a> to stay up to date on the Marketplace’s featured Opportunity Zone projects.
<ul>
<li>Member Profiles: All participating cities in the National Opportunity Zones Academy and  LOCUS members have profiles on the Marketplace. These profiles include information about each city, organization, or individual, as well as future project opportunities, past project examples, and current Requests for Proposals and Requests for Information.</li>
<li>Place Networks: Network locally by joining your place network. Under the Places tab on OppSites, you can search for communities you want to stay up to date on regarding Opportunity Zone development—whether they&#8217;re in the Academy or not. Clicking Join Community will connect you to a feed of updates and discussions pertaining to Opportunity Zone development in that particular community, similar to joining a Facebook group.</li>
</ul>
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Representatives from Pittsburgh and Norfolk then explained how they will be using the Marketplace and the broader technical assistance to achieve their Opportunity Zone goals, including more inclusive economic growth and access to attainable housing.
But anyone—whether you live in one of the cities participating in the Academy or not—can stay up to date with the Marketplace and use it to connect to Opportunity Zones news in your area.
<ol>
<li> Go to <a href="https://oppsites.com/">https://oppsites.com</a>.</li>
<li> Click Join in the top right corner and create an account using your LinkedIn, Facebook, or email account.</li>
<li> Search for Smart Growth America in the top search bar under People &amp; Orgs.</li>
<li>Click Follow to get updates from the Marketplace.</li>
</ol>
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equitable development

LOCUS Webinar

national opportunity zones academy

Opportunity Zones

Webinar recap: the National Opportunity Zones Marketplace

Technical assistance

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Health Equity

New Reports

Webinar Recap: The State of Transportation and Health Equity

About a decade ago, business and local government leaders in Indianapolis/Marion County acknowledged that the region&#8217;s network of highways and roads was great at moving freight but not so good at moving people. It was a very real threat to the future of the city and a task force was convened to explore solutions. The task force found that out of every transportation option—from HOV lanes to off-road trails—transit offered the highest return on investment. But unlike other options, transit had no dedicated source of funding. That needed to change.
In the intervening 10 years, the region fought for and won a change in state law that enabled local referendums to raise transit funds, approved a subsequent referendum, and is now beginning to see the fruits of its labor. The new funding has allowed the bus system—which was functionally a peak hour, 5-day a week service—to increase frequencies and extend operating hours for many lines. And three bus rapid transit lines are in the works, the first of which—the Red Line—is poised to open this year.
This month on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/todresources/episode-12-crossroads-of" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building Better Communities with Transit</a> we are joined by Sean Northup, Deputy Director of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization. Sean chats about the Red Line and how it connects some of the densest parts of the region. He also discusses the long process for winning local, dedicated funding to support better transit service and how transit oriented development is being approached in the region after the completion of a TOD Strategic Plan.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/633068358&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" width="100%" height="166" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
<div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc; line-break: anywhere; word-break: normal; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif; font-weight: 100;"><a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="Building Better Communities with Transit" href="https://soundcloud.com/todresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building Better Communities with Transit</a> · <a style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;" title="Episode 17: Writing a New TOD Zoning Code" href="https://soundcloud.com/todresources/episode-17-writing-a-new-tod" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Episode 17: Writing a New TOD Zoning Code</a></div>
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/todresources" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building Better Communities with Transit</a> is intended to provide more support to communities and local leaders who are working to catalyze new development around transit, give more people access to public transportation, increase access to opportunity, and build robust local economies. You can find this episode—and all of our previous episodes—on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/building-better-communities-with-transit/id1342466871?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-overhead-wire/building-better-communities-with-transit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stitcher</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Ballot measures

Bus rapid transit

Indianapolis IN

podcast

Red Line

TODresources.org

transit funding

&#8216;Crossroads of America&#8217; gets a bus lane

<img decoding="async" class="img-responsive" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/09/Building-Better-Communities-Ep.-8_Social.png" alt="&quot;" />Denver&#8217;s historic Union Station as seen from the train tracks behind the terminal. This area serves all of the commuter rail lines and Amtrak. An underground bus terminal—which serves regional and local buses—stretches about 700 feet from these tracks to the light rail station. (Image: <a style="color: #aca196;" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denver_Union_Station_Train_Hall.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IssacKim, Wikimedia</a>)
In 2004, voters in the Denver area approved a sales tax increase to fund a regional, forward-looking investment in transit. Known as FasTracks, the investment has resulted in a plethora of transportation options today: multiple new light rail lines (and extensions to some existing lines), the introduction of commuter rail to the region, and express bus service to Boulder, CO and other communities north of Denver.
Sitting at the center of the region&#8217;s transit network is the historic Denver Union Station. As part of FasTracks, Union Station was redeveloped from a desolate building surrounded by surface parking lots into a vibrant, productive, public asset for the city. It&#8217;s &#8220;an international model for how you look at integrating transit with a truly dense, new neighborhood,&#8221; according to our guest this month on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/todresources/episode-8-bringing-back-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building Better Communities with Transit</a>.
Bill Sirois, Senior Manager for Transit-Oriented Communities with Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD), joins our podcast host Jeff Wood to talk about the success of the transit agency’s TOD program. The Union Station redevelopment—the unique funding, extensive planning, and successful execution—is the focus of the conversation. But Denver has done so much more. Bill also discusses the construction of over 38,000 housing units near transit since 2005, other interesting examples of TOD in the region, and what comes next as the current period of transit expansion comes to a close.
<a href="http://todresources.org/category/blog/podcast/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building Better Communities with Transit</a> is intended to provide more support to communities and local leaders who are working to catalyze new development around transit, give more people access to public transportation, increase access to opportunity, and build robust local economies. You can find this episode—and all of our previous episodes—on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/building-better-communities-with-transit/id1342466871?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-overhead-wire/building-better-communities-with-transit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stitcher</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/496422192&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" width="100%" height="166" frameborder="no" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Checkout all the episodes at TODresources.org’s <a href="https://todresources.org/category/blog/podcast/">podcast page</a>. A new episode is released every month!

affordable housing

Denver CO

downtown revitalization

Transit-oriented development

&#8220;An international model&#8221; for transit-oriented development

Community facilities

Fiscal Impact Analysis

Toolkits

webinar

Webinar recording: Three toolkits for smart growth in rural places

Brad Lander

Brooklyn

east

economic develop

Housing

Janette Sadik-Khan

LLC Local Success

Local Leaders

New York

New York City Council

Smart growth stories

Smart growth stories: New York City Councilmember Brad Lander on building better neighborhoods with community participation

Local Leaders Council

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<td><a href="https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5184/t/1623/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2046">Help SGA become a sponsor of American Makeover with a small donation</a>.</td>
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The makers of a viral sensation from last year (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/1standMain#p/u/2/VGJt_YXIoJI">Built to Last</a>) are back with a new video series that takes a hard look at America&#8217;s collective frustration with sprawl and the smarter alternatives for growth and development happening in communities across the country.
<blockquote>Today, the average American spends about three hours per day driving — three hours stuck in traffic, emitting carbon, burning oil, wasting time. The harmful effects of sprawl are well chronicled in recent news stories, books, and documentaries. With ugly sprawl everywhere you look in America, it&#8217;s time for a national makeover. So what&#8217;s the alternative?</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.americanmakeover.tv/">American Makeover</a> is a new web-exclusive series that explores those alternatives in communities across America, looking at what can be done to help our communities grow in such a way that gives us the kind of neighborhoods and choices we&#8217;re increasingly looking for.
Episode One, which just launched last week, &#8220;sounds the alarm bell on Atlanta&#8217;s sprawl.&#8221; No one who has ever been to Atlanta will argue their status as poster child of sprawling growth, but it&#8217;s encouraging that the filmmakers spend most of the short episode taking a closer look at the alternatives. Or as they say, the &#8220;transformational possibilities of new urbanism and traditional neighborhood design&#8221; in Atlanta — focusing on those growing millions of people who are looking for places to live that are walkable and connected and don&#8217;t entail hour-long car commutes to work, school, or the local market.
In Atlanta, they focus on an intown new urbanist project called Glenwood Park, just a short distance east of downtown Atlanta, where Charles Brewer, a motivated and inspired developer, sought to break the cycle of the same old car-oriented development in Atlanta and build a coherent community rather than just a smattering of homes or businesses. It&#8217;s not perfect, and Brewer&#8217;s company faced an uphill battle all the way with outdated zoning codes and legal barriers that get in the way of exactly the kind of development that the city desperately needs, but Glenwood Park made a powerful statement in Atlanta about the pent-up demand for walkable neighborhoods and desire for real community.
Dr. Chris Elisara, producer of the series for First+Main Media, told me that the series was born out of the desire to see CNU and other advocates for smart growth or new urbanism reach the masses with this message they&#8217;re ready for — but aren&#8217;t regularly hearing in a compelling way or with language that makes sense to them.
&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of content out there, but people need to see it; connect with it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They need to not only read the books and understand the theory, they need to see it in practice and hear about it from people living it.&#8221;
A chapter in a book with some facts about how our streets are unwalkable and unforgiving for pedestrians is good, but using video to illustrate the dangerous obstacles that a grandmother in Atlanta has to overcome just to get around her community hits our hearts on a whole different level.
&#8220;We saw it all firsthand. We were stuck in the traffic, stuck on those streets. Those pedestrians shots of people crossing those boulevards, it was terrible. That grandmother, Cookie, we filmed her on her walker walking across four lanes of traffic. There wasn&#8217;t a sidewalk so she&#8217;d walk into the street, then onto a grass berm, back into the street — all the way up to the light. Then she crossed at the light, and we interviewed her. That was sad.&#8221;
American Makeover is still very much in the works, with plans to visit 4-5 more cities in the coming months, but they&#8217;re looking for support from everyday folks and like-minded organizations to bring the project to fruition. Enter <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2055198976/american-makeover-an-online-series-about-new-urba">Kickstarter.com</a>.
&#8220;<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2055198976/american-makeover-an-online-series-about-new-urba">Kickstarter.com</a> is a funding platform to directly link creative people, great ideas and ambitious endeavors with the scores of potential supporters and followers who could &#8216;kickstart&#8217; such projects into reality. Kickstarter is powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands,&#8221; reads the description on the American Makeover press release.
American Makeover is trying to raise $15,000 to complete the project, and they&#8217;re a little more than halfway to their goal. They only have a few days (until May 8, 2010) to hit their mark and the way that Kickstarter works, they need to hit their target or they don&#8217;t get any of the money. Financial backers get a stake in the project depending on how much they give, ranging from a thank you in the credits up to an organization&#8217;s logo in each video and DVD packaging.
<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2055198976/american-makeover-an-online-series-about-new-urba">Will you consider helping them out with a donation to see this project through to the end</a>? Smart Growth America is happy to support their efforts and we&#8217;re looking forward to using the final products to help communicate our message far and wide.

Atlanta

Livability

Sprawl

Walkability

Forget home and plastic surgery makeovers, new online video series promotes an &quot;American Makeover&quot;

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<td height="60"><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=w6IQESO_VLw" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="http://blog.smartgrowthamerica.org/blogimages//donvideo.jpg" alt="Don Video" align="right" height="152" width="224" /></a></td>
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<td align="right" height="30">Click to watch the video &#8220;A New Economic Engine: Energy in the 21st Century&#8221; </td>
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Be sure to check out a recently-added video from the Center for American Progress, titled &#8220;Capturing the Energy Opportunity: Creating a Low-Carbon Economy,&#8221; including an appearance by SGA executive director Don Chen.
This video is part of a series by CAP on transforming our economy through embracing innovative clean technology — addressing climate change in such a way that invigorates our economy and creates opportunities. From their issue page on &#8220;Progressive Growth:&#8221;
<blockquote>At the center of this vision is a strategy to address the greatest moral and economic challenge of our time—climate change—and turn it into our greatest opportunity. Left unchecked, the economic disruption caused by climate change will sap our resources and dampen our growth. But with low-carbon technologies and clean, renewable energy, we can capture a new global market, drive American economic growth, and create green jobs for American workers, offering new skills and new earnings opportunities up and down the economic ladder.</blockquote>
Click Don&#8217;s picture to watch the excellent video on Youtube (video not embedded), and be sure to check out the series &#8220;<a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/11/progressive_growth.html" target="_blank">Transforming America’s Economy through Clean Energy, Innovation, and Opportunity</a>&#8221; on the CAP website.

Climate

Economy

Energy

Green

Center for American Progress videos

airway-cover

Airway Heights, WA is a city shaped by fast-moving traffic and car-centric design—but it&#8217;s also one of many communities pushing back against streets that prioritize speed over safety. With recent pedestrian fatalities underscoring the stakes, the city is taking steps to make its roads safer and more equitable for everyone who uses them.
<figure id="attachment_87820" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87820" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-87820 size-large" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/airway-cover-1024x735.jpg" alt=" width="1024" height="735" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87820" class="wp-caption-text">Aerial view of U.S. Route 2 in Airway Heights, WA (2020, <a href="https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/apr/05/getting-there-airway-heights-could-finally-get-a-d/">The Spokesman-Review</a>)</figcaption></figure>
<h4>Background</h4>
Airway Heights, WA—a young city just west of Spokane and bisected by U.S. Route 2—has long been shaped by car-centric infrastructure. With high-speed traffic, freight movement, and one of the region’s largest racetracks, the city’s design has historically prioritized speed over safety. But that’s beginning to change. In recent years, community leaders and residents have been working to make the city safer and more accessible for all. The urgency is clear: between July and December 2024 alone, three pedestrians were killed on Route 2, highlighting just how dangerous the current design can be.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-87821" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/airway-1-300x224.png" alt=" width="407" height="304" />  <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87819" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/airway-2-283x300.jpg" alt=" width="283" height="300" />
Photos from the <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/complete-streets-safety-demonstration-project-airway-heights-wa/">Airway Heights quick-build project</a>
<h4>Getting started</h4>
Over the past five years, Airway Heights has made significant progress with creating family-friendly routes so that all members of the community can reach every day destinations. In 2019 the city participated in Smart Growth America’s Washington <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/tag/complete-streets-leadership-academy/">Complete Streets Leadership Academy,</a> which allowed them to explore changes to their community through a <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/complete-streets-safety-demonstration-project-airway-heights-wa/">quick-build project.</a> Their goal was to slow traffic and encourage non-motorized travel in the area, and they succeeded. The response to the project, which included the use of artwork to create space for pedestrians and the addition of plants to a high-traffic area, was overwhelmingly positive. Over the course of a week, traffic slowed around the project site and over 100 families walked and biked into the demonstration project area in just one day.
<h4>Implementing proposed changes</h4>
Airway Heights took the momentum from this temporary project to inform permanent changes. The city is working to address the dangers presented by U.S. 2 through collaboration with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on improvements to a segment of the highway to make it safer for those walking, biking, and rolling.
<figure id="attachment_87818" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87818" style="width: 830px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-87818" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/airway-3-300x200.jpg" alt=" width="830" height="554" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87818" class="wp-caption-text">A 90 percent completed draft plan for the 6th avenue improvements (<a href="https://cawh.org/6th-avenue-extension-and-redesign-project/">City of Airway Heights</a>)</figcaption></figure>
They are also currently working to <a href="https://cawh.org/6th-avenue-extension-and-redesign-project/">redesign 6th avenue</a> by integrating several Complete Streets elements like adding sidewalks, a shared use path, and transit stops. Airway Heights has several other Complete Streets projects planned, and are pursuing resources to fill any remaining gaps in funding so they can create a safe, efficient network for all road users.
Thanks to recent progress at the state level, Airway Heights is better positioned to work with WSDOT on implementing Complete Streets and building safer, healthier communities. In 2022, the Washington State Legislature passed the <a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5974-S.SL.pdf?q=20220427105402">Move Ahead Washington</a> package, which included a Complete Streets requirement directing WSDOT to “improve the safety, mobility, and accessibility of state highways” by embedding Complete Streets principles into projects costing over $500,000.
Airway Heights has also made policy progress at the local level to move Complete Streets work forward. In November 2024, Airway Heights <a href="https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/AirwayHeights/html/AirwayHeights14/AirwayHeights1410.html">updated their Complete Streets policy</a> to support their current momentum and continue to make changes that address the needs of all community members. They are currently working to update their <a href="https://www.cawhcompplan.com/policy">Comprehensive Plan</a> to specifically prioritize development of an efficient multi-modal transportation network.
<h4>Key takeaways</h4>
A critical component of Airway Heights’ continued progress has been the collaborative approach they have taken. They engaged the community from the beginning, starting with their quick-build project. This allowed them to make sure the project reflected the wants and needs of the community. Starting with a temporary, low-budget project allowed the city to see how community members were engaging with the new facilities and gather data and lessons learned to inform a permanent solution. By updating its Complete Streets policy and Comprehensive Plan—and with efforts from state legislation—Airway Heights is building a stronger foundation for long-term success.
We look forward to seeing the results of what is currently in the works in Airway Heights, and what they will accomplish in the future!

Complete Streets Leadership Academies

CSLA

Pedestrian safety

Complete Streets progress in Airway Heights, Washington

US-capitol-dome-flickr-Shawn-Clover-e1732132509830

The comprehensive tax package passed by the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives includes a renewal and extension of the Opportunity Zone tax incentive (OZs). Don’t miss your opportunity to tell Congress to prioritize transparency and affordability in an extension of the OZ program!
<h4>What are Opportunity Zones? 
</h4>
The Opportunity Zones tax incentive is a tool designed to catalyze investment and growth in distressed communities. The tool operates by providing a set of preferential tax treatments to entities that invest capital gains into qualifying investments in underinvested or otherwise distressed communities. The OZ program was created in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and was set to sunset at the end of 2026. Generally, it has driven a new wave of investment in communities across the country, with a notable <a href="https://eig.org/opportunity-zones-housing-supply/">impact</a> on <a href="https://www.novoco.com/notes-from-novogradac/new-administration-sparks-optimism-around-opportunity-zones">housing production.</a> If extended, we are eager to see the program become more transparent and more impact-focused by further focusing the tool on much-needed affordable housing production.
<h4>Why take action now?</h4>
The version of the comprehensive tax legislation recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives included an extension of the Opportunity Zone tax incentive (OZs). The current bill extends the period of time the incentive can be utilized to 2033, calls for a refreshed list of eligible Opportunity Zones, and adds new reporting requirements. While the inclusion of reporting requirements is a positive step, they are not guaranteed to be included in the final bill, and no additional incentives were provided that would steer investment towards the development of affordable housing.
[button type=&#8221;info&#8221; block=&#8221;true&#8221; size=&#8221;lg&#8221; link=&#8221;https://smartgrowthamerica.salsalabs.org/ozs&#8221;]Take action and advocate for transparency and affordability in the OZ program! [/button]
Smart Growth America and a coalition of impact-focused partners have <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/stakeholders-call-for-a-smarter-opportunity-zone-incentive-to-deliver-a-variety-of-housing-types-in-wider-range-of-communities/">previously urged</a> Congress to strengthen the Opportunity Zone incentive to better support the use of OZs to deliver high-impact projects such as affordable housing, and include reporting requirements in an extension. Previous assessments of residential units built with OZ capital show that the incentive has rarely been used for the creation of explicitly affordable units. To meet the urgent need for more affordable housing, OZ incentives must better align with the needs of the communities they are intended to serve. That’s why we’re calling for increased benefits for developers who build housing that is affordable to people earning less than the area median income—so that the incentives are targeted where the need is greatest.
<h4>Your voice is needed!</h4>
Help us strengthen the impact and transparency of the Opportunity Zone program! We need your help to build support for reforms to the Opportunity Zone program, reforms that will spur the creation of affordable housing and protect the currently included reporting requirements. Whether you’re an individual, business, or organization, your advocacy is crucial.
Take action today:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://smartgrowthamerica.salsalabs.org/ozs">Contact your representatives and urge them to advocate for the inclusion of an affordable housing incentive and reporting requirements in any extension of the Opportunity Zones program.</a></li>
<li>Spread the word—share this post and engage your networks in this critical effort.</li>
</ul>
Together, we can push Congress to create a more transparent, impact-focused Opportunity Zone incentive.

Opportunity Zones for Impact: Tell Congress to pass reforms to the federal Opportunity Zone tax incentive

Land Use and Development

monroe-1

Over the past three years, Smart Growth America (SGA) has worked with the City of Monroe, Louisiana to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists in a previously underinvested downtown neighborhood. Monroe’s participation in SGA’s Champions Institute in 2022 led to ongoing engagements, including in-person technical assistance, access to in-person convenings, grant support, and advice on street design. As a result, Monroe has improved its street network and successfully applied for federal funding to further these efforts.
Like many other American cities, Monroe&#8217;s streets have been designed to move vehicles at high speeds. This makes travel difficult for people walking, biking, or rolling, and creates dangerous conditions for all road users, including drivers. This is especially true in certain neighborhoods that lack important amenities like sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit shelters, such as the South 2nd Street corridor in Monroe, LA. This corridor includes a wide street with two separated lanes of traffic in each direction, with few crosswalks, no bikelanes, and narrow, poorly maintained sidewalks. The city decided to improve safety and connectivity along the corridor for the residents in the area (over 90 percent are African American).
<blockquote>“Many people don’t have cars, some of them don’t have money to get on the bus. They ought to be able to walk to get where they need to go without being hurt or harmed.”-Jeanette, Monroe resident and walk audit participant</blockquote>
<h4>First steps to improve road safety</h4>
Smart Growth America’s engagement with the City of Monroe began in 2022 when Mayor Friday Ellis participated in <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/the-champions-institute-is-back-with-its-third-cohort-of-local-leaders/">SGA’s Champions Institute.</a> Over the course of nine months, he joined other local elected officials from across the country for expert-led virtual sessions about best practices on how to make his city safer, healthier, and more connected. During the program, he <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/the-third-champions-institute-comes-to-a-close/">developed initial ideas and plans</a> for improvements to the South 2nd Street corridor. City staff worked with SGA to <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/best-complete-streets-monroe-louisiana/">quantify some of the benefits</a> that could be realized for the community if changes were implemented. Following Mayor Ellis’ participation in the Champions Institute, SGA team members travelled to Monroe in November 2023 to lead a two-day, in-person workshop about road safety, with a focus on the South 2nd Street corridor. The workshop involved presentations from Smart Growth America staff on Complete Streets and related topics, conversations with city leadership and other key stakeholders including city staff and community members, as well as a <a href="https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/aarp-walk-audit-tool-kit/?cmp=RDRCT-482bcc3c-20211209">walk audit</a> of the corridor to see firsthand some of the challenges that would be addressed with the proposed changes. Mayor Ellis and the SGA team used this as an opportunity to advance some of the original plans discussed during the Champions Institute, and to engage the community about the mayor’s vision for the future of Monroe.
<figure id="attachment_87804" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87804" style="width: 460px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-87804" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/monroe-1-300x225.png" alt=" width="460" height="345" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87804" class="wp-caption-text">Mayor Ellis joins stakeholders on a walk audit.</figcaption></figure>
In addition to receiving direct, individualized support, Mayor Ellis became engaged with a peer network of local elected officials and other decision makers interested in advancing safer, healthier, and more resilient communities. In 2024, Mayor Friday Ellis attended <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/a-community-of-collaboration-the-2024-champions-alumni-convening/">SGA’s Champions Alumni Convening</a> in Washington, DC There he shared his perspectives and experiences participating in the program with other former Champions. Monroe leadership remains in touch regularly with SGA for continued support and technical assistance around the various topics originally identified by Mayor Ellis in the Champions Institute.
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<figure id="attachment_87803" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87803" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-87803 size-large" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/monre-2-1024x768.png" alt="Community members discuss different options for improving the South 2nd Street corridor." width="1024" height="768" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87803" class="wp-caption-text">Community members discuss different options for improving the South 2nd Street corridor.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_87802" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-87802" style="width: 1024px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-87802 size-large" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/monroe-3-1024x682.png" alt="Mayor Ellis shares an update at the Champions Alumni Convening. " width="1024" height="682" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-87802" class="wp-caption-text">Mayor Ellis shares an update at the Champions Alumni Convening.</figcaption></figure>
<h4>Implementing proposed changes</h4>
Monroe leadership has embraced changes identified throughout the program and dedicated significant effort and resources into making positive improvements to better connect residents with safer, more connected options to the city. For example, the city implemented some of the <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/what-are-complete-streets/">Complete Streets principles</a> into a restriping project along North 6th Street. Rather than re-striping the road as it had previously been (with two lanes of traffic and a parking lane), they successfully pilot tested dedicated, protected space for walking and biking. SGA advised the city on potential design choices and encouraged them to think how the city could make these improvements permanent.
To further its efforts, the city has been actively pursuing funds to support ongoing infrastructure changes. In 2024, the city was awarded a $90,000 grant from the <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities">Department of Transportation&#8217;s Thriving Communities Program</a>. The city will use this funding to install vibrant murals on Main Street&#8217;s &#8220;Art Alley&#8221; as well as the South 2nd Street corridor to improve the appearances of these corridors in order to encourage more walking, biking, and rolling. The city is currently pursuing other funds to make even more improvements to their community that support physical activity, mobility, and increased social connection among residents.
Going forward, SGA will continue its partnership with Monroe. The city has taken bold steps towards its community safety and health goals and is a model on how small towns can think creatively and work across sectors to improve safety for all residents. As the city receives more funding and implements its projects and plans, we expect to see additional significant benefits that continue increasing connectivity and safety within Monroe.
This publication was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Cooperative Agreement CDC-RFA-PW-24-0080). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. These efforts are part of the CDC’s <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/active-people-healthy-nation/php/about/index.html">Active People, Healthy NationSM</a> Initiative that is working to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027.

Improving transportation and road safety in Monroe, LA

Brownfields-Webinar

The National Brownfields Coalition and the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) hosted a webinar last week on understanding federal brownfields policy, advocacy, and funding in 2025. Attendees heard from Kennedy O’Dell, Senior Manager of Advocacy at Smart Growth America, and Jean Hamerman, Executive Director of CCLR, who explained the history of the brownfields program and provided an insider’s perspective on what&#8217;s happening with federal funding, EPA programs, and brownfield legislation pending in Congress. Here are some of our key takeaways from the conversation.
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It’s a time of change and disruption in Washington, and in the midst of it all, Congress and the administration are actively considering the future of federal support for brownfields programs. Recognizing how difficult it is to track those changes in real time while still pursuing brownfields work, the National Brownfields Coalition convened a webinar to help brownfields practitioners build or expand their understanding of federal legislation and the work of the National Brownfields Coalition in advancing sustainable brownfield redevelopment. The webinar covered a wide range of issues, including brownfields tax deduction legislation, brownfields reauthorization legislation, FY26 appropriations, and other timely issues. Attendees learned about these major legislative opportunities, <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/key-priorities-for-the-federal-brownfields-program/">National Brownfield Coalition priorities</a> for each opportunity, and how they can support legislative efforts.
<h4>Here are the top takeaways from our conversation on federal brownfields policy:</h4>
1. Despite a turbulent and uncertain funding environment broadly, bipartisan support remains for federal brownfields programs in Congress. Positive signs for the program’s wellbeing continue, including bipartisan hearings on the program, continued EPA activity, the recent announcement of a new round of grant recipients, and the fact the National Brownfields Conference is still on for Chicago in August of this year.
2. There are three primary federal policy issues for brownfields work specifically: reauthorization of the EPA’s brownfields program, the potential inclusion of a federal brownfields tax incentive in pending tax legislation, and the yearly appropriations process. Each issue is an opportunity to advance brownfields work, either by pursuing funds or incentives that can support projects or by seeking legislative adjustments to improve the program overall.
3. Legislation reauthorizing the brownfields redevelopment tax incentive has been introduced by a bipartisan pair of legislators and the provision is up for consideration in the comprehensive tax package. H.R. 815, recently reintroduced by Rep. Sherrill (D-NJ) and Rep. Turner (R-OH), would allow taxpayers to fully deduct the cleanup costs of contaminated property in the year the costs were incurred. By allowing for the expensing of remediation costs, the deduction makes contaminated sites far more competitive to develop. The introduction of a bipartisan piece of legislation reauthorizing the incentive after it expired in 2012 is a positive step forward.
4. The process of reauthorizing EPA’s brownfields program is moving forward in a largely positive and bipartisan manner. Senator Capito and Senator Blunt Rochester introduced a bill to reauthorize EPA’s brownfields program, the Brownfields Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 347), and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed it unanimously earlier this year. In the House, there have been <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/the-national-brownfields-coalition-testifies-a-second-time-on-importance-of-federal-brownfields-program/">multiple positive hearings</a> on the program. While additional steps remain before passage, the coalition applauds the forward progress and the consideration of their <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/key-priorities-for-the-federal-brownfields-program/">reauthorization priorities. </a>
<h4>Advocate for the brownfields redevelopment tax incentive</h4>
The National Brownfields Coalition needs your help to galvanize support for the <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/revitalizing-communities-support-the-brownfields-redevelopment-tax-incentive/">brownfields redevelopment tax incentive</a> (H.R. 815) and ensure Congress takes action in an upcoming tax package to restore this vital tool for spurring economic growth and improving community well-being. Whether you’re an individual, business, or organization, your advocacy is crucial.
You can take action today by contacting your representatives and <a href="https://smartgrowthamerica.salsalabs.org/brownfields-tax-incentive2025">urging them to support or cosponsor H.R. 815</a> and spreading the word by sharing this post and engaging your networks in this critical effort. For more information on the Brownfields Redevelopment Tax Incentive and how you can help, check out our <a href="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Brownfields-Fact-Sheet-2025-1.pdf">fact sheet</a> here.

Four takeaways from the National Brownfields Coalition’s federal policy webinar

exterior-office-scaled

<h4>Background</h4>
Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking one to three mission-aligned organizations to share space within our high-quality office at 1350 I (“Eye”) Street NW, next to Franklin Square and the McPherson Square Metro station. SGA is a national non-profit organization advancing policy change in transportation and land use to create thriving, well-connected communities. SGA has capacity to sub-lease up to 10 individual work stations and associated common spaces. SGA is seeking commitments of at least one year or up to 10 years and will prioritize organizations interested in a higher number of desk spaces. SGA is currently scoping sub-lease arrangements with partner organizations and anticipates moving forward with the process with the building management in early summer 2025.
Office spaces (up to 10 work spaces total, all with hybrid sit/stand desks) available for sub-lease include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1 high-quality individual office suitable for 1 or 2 work stations with view of Franklin Park;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2 interior offices suitable for 1 or 2 work stations;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cubicle-style desks in an open work area.</li>
</ul>
Shared office common spaces which would be usable by a sub-leasing organization include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">One large, high-quality meeting room with a view and hybrid technology, which can seat 15-30 people (15 at table seating, about 30 with additional bench seating);</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Bookable meeting rooms with seating for 4-10 suitable for hybrid meetings and call boxes;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">High-quality kitchen including fridge, counter space, kitchen storage space, and table seating;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Informal seating and huddle meeting areas including couches;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Wellness room.</li>
</ul>
Shared amenities in the building accessible to all tenants include:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">High-quality lobby &amp; ground floor tenants’ lounge with couch seating, tables, booths, and free coffee;</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A bookable basement conference center for larger meetings (small cleaning fee required);</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Gym and showers, parking (additional fee), and secure bike storage room.</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87777" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cafe-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" data-wp-editing="1" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87778" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/exterior-office-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87779" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cubicle-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87780" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/common-area-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87781" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/interior-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-87782" src="https://wordpress.smartgrowthamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/kitchen-300x225.jpg" alt=" width="300" height="225" />
For more photos, click <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L7stDiXjYDkG_CG6JYz5DsiWhG7N3jo1?usp=sharing">here</a>.
<h4>Estimated monthly costs</h4>
SGA will calculate exact proposed monthly costs based on square footage proposed to be sub-leased. The estimate below includes an example for one configuration of space and includes the office/desk space and access to meeting rooms, office common space and building amenities, calculated as a shared percentage.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Sub-lease arrangement including access to shared amenities &amp; meeting space</td>
<td>Estimated monthly cost</td>
<td>Estimated annual cost</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>One window office, one interior office, 8 cubicles</td>
<td>$8,804.33</td>
<td>$105,651.96</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>Contact</h4>
For more information or to express interest in leasing this space, please reach out to Isaac Mintz, VP of Finance and Administration at <a href="mailto:imintz@smartgrowthamerica.org">imintz@smartgrowthamerica.org</a>.

Downtown Washington D.C. sub-lease opportunity

Uncategorized

CZS-Webinar-3

The Center for Zoning Solutions’ hosted a webinar on how zoning regulations can impact a community’s climate efforts. Attendees heard from <a href="https://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/zoninganddevelopment/contactus">Jeff Roberts</a>, the Director of Zoning and Development on the City of Cambridge’s Climate Resilient zoning measures, <a href="https://www.cacwny.org/about/staff/">Bridge Rauch</a>, a Community Organizer from Clean Air Coalition of Western New York on their coalition’s work to advance an environmental justice overlay district, and also got a preview of our upcoming climate havens report.
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Addressing climate impacts in land use planning is a critical step to ensure that climate goals are reflected in a local regulatory framework. If a comprehensive plan aims to prioritize climate resiliency, but the zoning code allows development in areas with a higher risk of experiencing a natural disaster (e.g., flooding), long-term resiliency goals will not be reflected in the built environment outcomes. Aligning regulations with values is even more important when thinking about a prevention strategy to preempt development in disaster-prone areas to stop harm before it happens. 
[alert type=&#8221;info&#8221;] If you are interested in engaging with our work around climate migration and climate havens, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEsuyOSgaXMEa1F7pi2trlllunErUH0XwXDU91t6UODnVhOg/viewform?usp=dialog">brief survey</a> to receive a sneak peek of our upcoming climate havens report! [/alert]
Here are our top takeaways from our land use and climate impacts conversation:
1. Climate havens are becoming increasingly relevant. As residents across the U.S. are impacted by extreme weather, best practices for becoming a climate haven— whether or not you have been classified as a climate haven— are important for any community to know. Climate haven measures are important to consider for all communities, whether it is anticipated that you will receive new residents who were displaced due to climate events, or if you are interested in future-proofing the community from ever-worsening climate events.
2. Your zoning is only as good as your planning efforts. Zoning is a tool—it can yield good or poor results based on the regulations your community prescribes. To make the most of this tool, zoning reform should be grounded in strong planning that looks at the current conditions of your community and anticipates future needs and evolving conditions. The City of Cambridge has built its <a href="https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/sustainabledevelopment/climateresiliencezoning">climate resiliency measures</a> on a strong basis of research, citizen advocacy, and professional expertise in balancing housing production and climate regulation priorities.
3. Regulating land use changes in your community is an act of balancing priorities. Regulations should reflect your community’s values and allow you to fulfill your long-term planning goals. Currently, there may be an inherent conflict between your regulations and values. For example, if your city council would like to promote housing production but you have zoning regulations such as large minimum lot size requirements, or only permit a low number of dwelling units per acre, you may be restricting new development to yield only single-family homes. In this case, your city will need to prioritize which regulations to preserve, and which to change and/or remove to remove barriers to increased housing production.
4. Coalition building brings together residents to create a shared vision for your community. This is a long-term process that will require time, patience, and investment to yield a strong consensus.
<h4>Going Deeper: Exploring key questions from the webinar</h4>
We were thrilled to have many attendees pose thought-provoking questions to our panel of speakers. In an effort to address some lingering questions from folks, here are a few questions posed by attendees along with our follow-up responses.
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[collapse title=&#8221;What types of climate-friendly planning and zoning work well for suburban and rural communities without mass transit, but with a network of trails and shared-use paths?&#8220;]
A key concept of smart growth is locating development in areas connected to jobs and other needs, whether they drive, take transit, walk, or bike. An opportunity for suburban and rural communities that have trails and shared-use paths could be to ensure that these paths connect to key amenities in your community (e.g., employment centers, commercial corridors, neighborhood retail, schools, etc.), and to promote denser development around these locations. Don’t just build a trail to nowhere, the trail needs to connect people to everyday amenities and serve as <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/beyond-infrastructure-development-fostering-sustainable-urban-development-in-cities-across-the-globe/">green infrastructure.</a> This approach can encourage an uptake in the use of these paths to access destinations in your community, provide an alternative for residents to use active transportation methods rather than relying on a car to access goods and services, and provide access to green infrastructure to <a href="https://sga-vpb-frontend.vercel.app/health-equity-and-the-built-environment/">support residents’ physical and mental health</a>. This type of planning could look like changing the base zoning district of parcels abutting your trail and path network. Encouraging this targeted location-based development can boost active transportation and promote density in well-connected areas of your community.
[/collapse]
[collapse title=&#8221;What is Cambridge’s Cool Score? Is it a requirement to meet or an incentive bonus?&#8220;]
Cambridge’s <a href="https://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/Files/CDD/ZoningDevel/OtherProjects/resiliencetaskforce/200210coolfactorscoresheet.pdf">Cool Score</a> refers to the city’s performance-based “Green Factor,” which is triggered on any development projects subject to the City’s Green Building Requirements. Cooling features can include tree canopy preservation, new tree planting, green roofs and facades, and pavements with a solar reflective index or shaded area.
[/collapse]
[collapse title=&#8221;How did Cambridge educate the public about its climate-informed zoning changes?&#8220;]
During the webinar, Jeff Roberts shared his experience creating climate-informed zoning to achieve Cambridge’s climate priorities. Advancing climate resiliency is a key priority for the city alongside spurring more housing production, which has been the subject of recent reforms.
The city’s process for enacting climate resiliency measures began in 2018, when Cambridge <a href="https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/sustainabledevelopment/climateresiliencezoning">created a task force</a> composed of residents, developers, technical experts, and city staffers to recommend updates to the city’s zoning ordinance. This collaborative approach allowed residents to meaningfully shape the development of new regulations that align with community priorities. All meetings held by the task force were accessible to the public. In addition, two public hearings were held on the zoning amendments themselves prior to the zoning petition’s adoption in February 2023.
[/collapse]
[collapse title=&#8221;What advice do you have for beginning conversations with communities that may be hostile to the use of the terms “greening” or “zoning”, and/or are not receptive to solutions that require a higher cost or increased staff capacity to manage?&#8220;]
Messaging is key here. Avoid using language that may result in the conversation being dominated by critiques around verbiage rather than discussing the heart of the issue. Use outcome-oriented language that can be easily understood and that all people can get behind. When thinking about the results you would like to achieve, how can you frame this as a conversation that comes back to people? What positive impact would this intervention have on people’s lives in your community? How would it make their day-to-day better? Focusing on the end result can help to build support for the interim steps needed to achieve this goal.
Take advantage of statutory regulatory timeframes to advance innovative solutions; if your community has to update its zoning by law, this is especially the time to pursue innovative solutions such as climate-friendly zoning, FBCs (which are inherently climate-friendly), and/or performance-based green zones.
If there is no existing system in place to regulate your land uses, this may result in additional expenses for your community, as there is a lack of a standardized process and procedure to follow when assessing new development applications. This adds uncertainty for both developers and municipal staff. If there is buy-in to pursue a standardized regulatory process, this could be an opportunity for your region to encode its values within your local land use regulations (i.e., greening measures). Consider taking an alternative approach to zoning via the adoption of a form-based code, which allows your community to focus on the design standards of new development and new buildings’ interaction with the public realm, rather than focusing on a separation of land uses. Adopting a form-based code can increase your community’s flexibility in approaching land-use regulations and allow you to tailor your standards to reflect the local conditions of your community.
[/collapse]
[/collapsibles]

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Four takeaways from our Climate-informed zoning webinar

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