Smart Growth

William H. Whyte Award

For his contributions to creating more environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable communities through his work as a developer, academic, and author.

“When you start with everything, you start with nothing,” Beth Osborne, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy at the US Department of Transportation (DOT), stated of the importance to narrow the focus of a livability agenda in order to be effective.

At Partners’ recent forum on September 22, “Building Livable Communities: Creating a Common Agenda”, many discussed livability’s ubiquitous nature on both macro and micro levels. The panelists spoke of the need for access and affordability to the many factors that serve as part of a system to create livable communities: transportation, housing, and education, to name a few. But when does a boundless agenda for livability, incorporating all relatable factors that serve to shape a livable community, become unproductive? In brief,  what is the ‘tipping point’ for livability?

February 3-5, 2011 - Charlotte, NC

Today, more than ever, we are faced with environmental and economic challenges that will define our generation, shape our future, and test our resilience as cities, regions, states and a nation. Join leaders from across the U.S. as we tackle these challenges head-on and demonstrate smart growth solutions that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create a green economy, assure a healthy population, and expand transportation and housing options for all Americans.

The key to livability is “putting people first,” according to Danish urbanist Jan Gehl. This could not be presented more simply, nor more accurately. 

Last week, in concert with the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy’s exhibit “Our Cities Ourselves,” Jan Gehl, along with co-author Walter Hook, published a report on the principles of improved transportation in urban areas that place the pedestrian as their priority.  The report is called “Our Cities Ourselves: 10 Principles for Transport in Urban Life” and the exhibit launched on Thursday, June 24th, at the New York Center for Architecture.  Gehl’s principles aim to address the challenges that we face in the 21st century, such as rapid population growth and climate change, to reposition cities as lively, safe, sustainable and healthy, as they were meant to be.

Maryland

A program adopted by the state of Maryland as part of a Smart Growth initiative to encourage workers to move closer to their workplaces.