In a small but suburbanizing city on the extreme northern edge of metro Seattle, a temporary pedestrian crossing and median refuge helped improve safety, reduce speeds, educate residents and drivers about the importance of slower speeds and better walking access, and spark important conversations about the future of the community in Arlington, WA.
Airway Heights, WA deployed their safety demonstration project on a key north-south connector in the city that abuts the town’s only school and a public park, generating excitement in the community and creating new safe spaces for people to gather during the pandemic.
Last fall, the Form-Based Code Institute successfully hosted its most popular class—FBC 101: The ABCs of Form-Based Codes—in a virtual, synchronous setting for the first time. FBCI staff worked for several months with seasoned instructors and other form-based code experts to develop the content and activities. Because of increased interest and use of form-based codes across the country, FBCI is pleased to announce the class will be offered again this spring, launching at the end of March! This is an opportunity for those who are interested in form-based codes to learn from experts and collaborate with other practitioners and interested participants.
On December 14, 2021, members of the Coalition’s leadership team and Environmental Justice and Health Committee joined EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) along with other national brownfield advocacy organizations for a roundtable discussion focused on issues of gentrification and displacement of long-term, lower-income community members related to brownfield redevelopment. By hosting this discussion, EPA sought to gain insight on best practices to support brownfield communities across the country in mitigating the potential adverse impacts of new development while continuing to advance their environmental remediation and economic development goals.
The National Brownfields Coalition was proud to testify before the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment in a congressional hearing focused on “promoting economic and community redevelopment and environmental justice in the revitalization and reuse of contaminated properties.”
Today, Smart Growth America, joined by 36 other organizations and researchers, submitted a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau opposing the Bureau’s plan to limit the geography of data from the block and tract level to the county level. Their proposed change would be devastating to the research SGA and many other groups conduct.
Smart Growth America is seeking an experienced videographer to help us produce 4-8 minute videos from (at least two, as many as three) specific cities telling a tight, simple story about their need to improve street safety, why and how they passed a Complete Streets policy, and the results they are seeing and/or hoping to see as a result.
Smart Growth America seeks a dynamic and passionate individual to support the Thriving Communities Team. The new Program Manager will collaborate with a dynamic team to support the smart growth movement and contribute to advancing our strategic priorities: Racial Equity, Climate, and Public Health.
Beyond the devastating effects on a community, economic disasters can present an opportunity for change by highlighting a risky over-dependence on a single industry sector and motivating local leaders and planners to invest in the long-term resiliency of their community. Our work on the economic development team at Smart Growth America seeks to strengthen local economies through diversification—one of the most effective ways to increase long-term economic resilience.
Smart Growth America (SGA) seeks a program associate to join the land use and development team, and support research, advocacy, communications, operations and coalition-building work for LOCUS, as well as coalition activities for the National Brownfield Coalition (NBC).