http://www.smartgrowth.org A selection of published news articles, resources, and events relating to smart growth issues. en-us Copyright 2003 DevX http://backend.userland.com/rss Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:00 EST webmaster@smartgrowth.org http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7774 Despite being set in the middle of a key scenic bike touring route through the Rockies, Black Hawk, Colorado, has banned bicycling on its main streets. ''It's an important issue to us, and we believe that Black Hawk should have the right to control its streets,'' said City Manager Mike Copp in a Los Angeles Times report. Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7769 Smart growth is increasingly proving its broad adaptability for mixed-use, diverse and sustainable neighborhoods. Still, many middle-class families with school-age children struggle to find apartments that are large enough, affordable, and located near good public schools. ''Unsubsidized apartments built today are almost exclusively designed for and marketed to people without school-age children,'' says University of Maryland Professor Emeritus of Architecture Roger K. Lewis. Lewis calls the situation ''a bit of a dilemma for anti-sprawl advocates'' in their work to locate ''a significant amount of future metropolitan growth'' in compact, walkable, transit-served urban areas, with jobs and affordable housing. Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7770 The Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved a project to convert the old Community Action Agency building into a Pro's Ranch Market store. According to report in the Sun-News, the store will revitalize ''a moribund commercial center,'' fitting perfectly into the El Paseo corridor vision being created ''through the federal government's 2010 Smart Growth Implementation Assistance program.'' Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7773 In the 1920s, El Paso was a city of 100,000 with a dynamic downtown business district. At that time, urban planner George Kessler (1862-1923) expected the city to become an economic and quality-of-life model under a boulevard-based master plan he drew up just before his premature death. El Paso officials are now re-launching that effort through smart growth. Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7771 The Jordan School District is eliminating busing along 75 percent of walking routes throughout its six municipalities just south of Salt Lake City. Part of a larger effort to reduce costs, the move will save some $900,000 each year. The district includes nearly 50,000 students. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, thousands of students are left with no busing, causing worry among cities and parents over their children's safety, especially on major thoroughfares lacking enough sidewalks, crosswalks or traffic lights. Tues, 1 Sep 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7763 Astonished by the Accretive Group's mailer claiming a Sierra Club endorsement for its controversial Valley Center Sustainable Community (VCSC) proposal to build 1,476 varied-lot homes and a commercial hub on 416 unincorporated acres in San Diego County, Escondido North County Times – Californian columnist Brigid Brett found the claim to be a hoax. ''Not only do we not endorse this development, but we adamantly oppose it,'' said Sierra Club San Diego Development Coordinator Richard Miller. ''The developers have deliberately attempted to deceive the public by taking our words out of context and using them in this way.'' Tues, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7768 With a third of metro area populations eager for pedestrian-friendly settings, a key path out of the recession leads through urban infill and walkable mixed-use redevelopment of car-dependent suburban malls and strips – some 10,000 now awaiting new life. Meeting that pent-up market demand will take a generation, said Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program Visiting Fellow Christopher Leinberger at the fifth annual Louisiana Smart Growth Summit. Leinberger advised cities to combine transportation and affordable housing strategies to ensure the viability of walkable neighborhoods, saying, ''Plan for your walkable future. Economic development will follow.'' Tues, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7762 Between 1950 and 2004, the size of the average American home increased from 983 to 2,349 square feet, as Americans strived for large homes with 3,200-plus square feet. Consumers are moving toward smaller houses again, entering a ''right-sizing'' trend. Citing multiple earlier reports of a ''McMansion glut'' or ''backlash,'' and new market research, CNBC writer Cindy Perman says the era of giant houses is ''over.'' Case in point: A survey conducted in July 2010 by Harris Interactive for Trulia.com found that just 9 percent of respondents still believe the ideal home should have at least 3,200 square feet. Tues, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7764 When deciding where to live and work, not only do you want to know what amenities and services are nearby, you also want to understand your transportation options. How easily can you walk, bike or take the bus? How long will it take to get from point A to point B? And how much will it cost? Now, Walk Score has launched Transit Score, along with custom commute reports, and a home and transportation costs calculator, which together empower anyone to quickly understand the proximity of public transportation, their commuting options and associated costs. Tues, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7766 New York City is planning to redesign more than 60 miles of streets for pedestrian safety next year. ''It's unprecedented re-engineering of our streets,'' said Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, to make them ''safer and better to walk around on.'' The plan involves installation of countdown pedestrian signals at 1,500 intersections, overhaul of 20 intersections on key two-way streets, and several safety programs, including a 20-mph neighborhood zone test. Tues, 24 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7756 With initial funding from the 2009 Recovery Act, redevelopment of San Francisco’s 71-year-old Transbay Transit Terminal into a mixed-use multimodal Transbay Transit Center is now underway. The first phase of the project is slated for completion by 2017. The $4.2 billion transit center will include two underground levels – a shopping concourse, and both Caltrain commuter tracks and the future high-speed line below – and two higher levels, a bus connection platform, and a 5.4-acre rooftop park. Flanked by a first-phase 100-floor residential tower, and many other skyscrapers planned for the whole new neighborhood later, the center will link services of 11 transit agencies, serve up to 45 million people a year, and cut the area’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by some 36,000 tons. Tues, 17 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7759 ''We must have a state-of-the-art light-rail system to be competitive in the 21st century,'' says Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, stressing the need again and again at town meetings and other events as she campaigns across Hillsborough County for voter approval of a penny sales tax increase this November. The increase, from 7 to 8 cents per dollar, reports the Florida Independent, would provide 75 percent of the new revenue for the proposed light rail and for expanded bus service, and the rest for road improvements. Tues, 17 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7757 Chosen by EPA for its Smart Growth Implementation Assistance (SGIA) in April 2009, Las Cruces is gathering public input on redevelopment of its economically depressed El Paseo Road corridor. The process of visioning and following community preferences for the 1.7-mile corridor, from downtown Las Cruces through mostly low-income neighborhoods to the New Mexico State University (NMSU) campus, will be a model for the city's other locally focused and eventually wider master planning, and for its involvement in implementation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) comprehensive regional plan currently in the works. Tues, 17 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7758 Already overburdened by infrastructure and maintenance costs, Amarillo needs a development pattern change before its 2009 population of 190,000 reaches some 250,000 by 2030, reports Amarillo Globe-News writer Karen Smith Welch from a Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee workshop with city and planning and zoning commissioners. ''It's time we try to look outside of what's comfortable and what we're familiar with, and think outside the box,'' stressed Steering Committee Vice Chair Lilia Escajeda. ''The citizens, in nearly every sector, said they did not want more sprawl. They want revitalization.'' Tues, 17 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7760 Last March, the Utah Legislature authorized the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to partner with developers for mixed-use projects on its surplus land at five TRAX light-rail stations. Now, UTA has announced two such ventures, to augment its revenue and help more people shift from cars to trains. Both ventures are expected to ensure lenders' repayment priority, a 5-percent return on UTA land value, and an even partnership split of additional profits, reports Salt Lake Tribune writer Brandon Loomis. Upon project completion, each partnership would co-own the land and pay local property taxes. Tues, 17 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7750 With $125 million raised by business and civic leaders and $25 million awarded through the U.S. DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, Detroit's 9.3-mile Woodward Avenue light-rail project will now enter the Environmental Impact Statement stage. The 9.3-mile line is likely to cost between $450 million and $500 million, with much of the money expected to come from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), under the New Starts discretionary grant program. Construction could begin next year, with the whole line operational by 2016. Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7743 A new ride-share matching service has been launched along Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior. The Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) recently announced North Shore Ride Share, a free service connecting drivers and riders for travel, carpooling, and package pickup/delivery. The North Shore Ride Share website matches drivers who have space with those looking for rides. Drivers and riders simply go to the website, sign up for a membership, post listings for rides offered or needed, and then search or reply to other listings. The service is free. Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7755 The Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance, Old North St. Louis Restoration Group and Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise) recently announced the opening of Crown Square, a $35 million restoration of 27 buildings now comprised of retail/commercial space and homes, transforming what was the 14th Street pedestrian mall. Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7754 Tulsa, Oklahoma, plans to crack down on neglected vacant properties, reports Tulsa World. Calling the vacant properties "eyesores," Interim Director of Community Development Dwain Midget outlined a process during the most recent council meeting ''that includes a vacant building registry and maintenance ordinance, expanded enforcement efforts, and fines and penalties.'' Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7748 Systematic in translating its sustainability commitments into practical measures, the El Paso City Council has adopted the innovative Housing + Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index to evaluate the financial feasibility of low-income housing locations. A few days later, the Council re-zoned land for apartments in a planned ''smart growth'' community. Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7747 Light Rail Now recently held its first meeting, where it rallied support for a long-envisioned 10-mile Virginia Beach light-rail line that would link with Norfolk's 7.4-mile Tide line opening next May. Formed by the business community in 1993, the non-partisan Virginia Beach Vision organization lost a light-rail referendum in 1999, and the loss has now inspired its inclusive Light Rail Now nonprofit to run the campaign. Tues, 10 Aug 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7738 With the recent $63 million in federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants supplementing the $88 million in Regional Transportation Authority funds approved by Pima County voters in 2006, Tucson's four-mile Modern Streetcar Project is on track for construction. The streetcar line will connect downtown Tucson, its redevelopment area, the 4th Avenue and Main Gate business districts, the University of Arizona (UA) campus and its Health Sciences Center. Tues, 27 Jul 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7741 To encourage private investment, the Portland City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive rewrite of the development code. The rewrite would establish project submission standards, infrastructure investment benchmarks, and site plan review timelines. While the transparency of the new system benefits developers, they also will have to change their ways of doing business, and some may need to spend more on engineers and architects, Tues, 27 Jul 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7737 The U.S. Department of Energy has announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American homes. These highly-qualified, multidisciplinary teams will receive a total of up to $30 million for the initial 18 months of the projects to deliver innovative energy-efficiency strategies to the residential market and address barriers to bringing high-efficiency homes within reach for all Americans. Tues, 27 Jul 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7740 To raise cash for affordable housing construction throughout the city, the Charlotte Housing Authority (CHA) is planning a mixed-use redevelopment of its underused 17 acres near the LYNX light-rail station in the Dilworth neighborhood into mostly market-rate dwellings, offices and shops. While the City Council is receptive to the idea, the project does pose concerns, strongest among neighbors from single-family homes. The concerns center largely around density and building heights exceeding the 100-foot limit in transit-oriented development zones. In a move toward compromise, CHA scaled down two proposed high-rises from 200 to 160 and 120 feet, respectively, and one from 120 feet to 100 feet. It also reduced the total footage of the project from 1.3 million to 1.2 million square feet. Tues, 27 Jul 2010 17:10:30 EST http://www.smartgrowth.org/news/article.asp?art=7742 Spearheaded by Mayor Ralph Becker, the current overhaul of the Salt Lake City code addresses alternative energy, transportation, housing, community health, food production, recycling and open space. In addition, the first package of proposed code updates – now being reviewed by the Planning Commission – encourages transit-oriented development. Tues, 27 Jul 2010 17:10:30 EST