Blog

Coming soon: “The WalkUP Wake Up Call: Metro New York City”

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New York is the densest and most walkable city in the country. But just a few, relatively small walkable urban places—or WalkUPs—are responsible for an outsize percentage of the region’s population, employment, and GDP.

How do these WalkUps compare economically and socially to the region’s drivable suburban communities? What challenges will New York’s WalkUPs likely face over the next 20 years, and what can policymakers do to address them?

On April 4, 2017, the George Washington University’s Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis (CREUA) will answer these questions when they release The WalkUP Wake UP Call: Metro New York City. The report will include for the very first time a nearly 100 percent census of all real estate in the New York metro area as well as an analysis of growth trends in the region.

LOCUS

Complete Streets News — March 2017

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Upcoming webinar: Assessing the Return on Investment in Complete Streets — Join the National Complete Streets Coalition tomorrow, March 23, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT for our webinar “Creating Value: Assessing the Return on Investment in Complete Streets.” Co-host Stantec will join the Coalition to explain how to plan and design Complete Streets projects to make them more competitive for grants. Participants will learn how to use basic return on investment analysis to measure the benefits of Complete Streets. Missed our last webinar on Public Health in Complete Streets? View the recording here.

Complete Streets

A broadside against communities

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Yesterday President Trump released his blueprint for the next federal budget. The proposal would cut billions of dollars from domestic programs —including key programs that support economic growth in American communities.

Among its provisions Trump’s proposal would completely eliminate HUD’s Community Development Block Grants, USDOT’s TIGER program, and the National Endowment for the Arts. It would also make major cuts to the EPA and the Brownfields program; HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program; as well as development programs at USDA.

This is a broadside against the things that make communities work. Trump’s budget jeopardizes people’s homes, their abilities to get to work, and local economies across the country. Without these federal programs communities will see rising demands on their services and fewer opportunities to grow their economies—and we are here to fight it.

Advocacy

Statement: Trump budget would hamper community development and local economic growth

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Earlier today President Trump released his budget blueprint for fiscal year 2017-2018, which outlines increased military spending and cuts for many domestic programs—including key programs that support economic growth in American communities.

Notably the blueprint eliminates funding for HUD’s Community Development Block Grants, USDOT’s TIGER Grants, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and would make major cuts to the EPA; HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program; as well as development programs at USDA.

Advocacy Economic development

Statement: Trump budget would hinder private real estate investment

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Earlier today President Trump released his budget blueprint for fiscal year 2017-2018, which outlines increased military spending and cuts for many domestic programs—including key programs that support economic growth in American communities.

Notably the blueprint eliminates funding for HUD’s Community Development Block Grants and USDOT’s TIGER Grants, and would make major cuts to the EPA and the Brownfields program; HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program; as well as development programs at USDA.

LOCUS

An overview of training programs for artists and civic/transportation collaboration

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In cities across the country, artists are helping to solve civic problems. Whether it’s bringing people to an empty plaza through performance, improving navigation options through better design, or connecting neighborhoods through interactive installations, artists bring a unique perspective to many municipal challenges.

Artists and civic professionals do not always speak the same language, however. These two groups often answer to different stakeholders and work along different timelines. With the proliferation of new programs integrating arts and culture into community development—like municipally sponsored artist-in-residence programs—artists and cultural producers need to be trained to work with government agencies and community members, and to inhabit interdisciplinary roles that extend beyond the traditional duties of an artist.

Creative Placemaking Transportation

Got questions about Congress? Join LOCUS for a members-only town hall

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Less than two months in to the Trump administration and a new Congress, lawmakers are already talking about a $1 trillion infrastructure package, major cuts in federal spending, and tax reform—legislation that could have huge implications for community development.

What will this mean for transit-oriented development? And how might these changes impact programs that support community revitalization, housing affordability and walkable development?

LOCUS members are invited to join us for a town hall conference call on Friday, March 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm EST to hear from our policy experts with an inside track in Washington.

LOCUS

The communities in the running for the best Complete Streets policy of 2016

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Eddy Street Commons in South Bend, IN. South Bend had one of the highest scoring policies of 2015. Which communities will be on the 2016 list? Photo courtesy of the City of South Bend.

Last year, 130 communities passed Complete Streets policies, and all of them are in the running to win the title of best Complete Streets policy of 2016. Could your town or city be this year’s winner?

Complete Streets

Welcome to HUD, Secretary Carson

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Today, Dr. Ben Carson was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, putting him at the helm of the federal agency that oversees home mortgage lending practices and other housing-related programs.

To Secretary Carson we say congratulations. America’s housing and community development policies have a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of millions of Americans, and in your new position you have a unique and valuable opportunity to improve this country.

Smart Growth America and LOCUS are looking forward to working with Secretary Carson. He is an unconventional choice for this position, but can bring fresh eyes and renewed energy to the department. Under Secretary Carson HUD has the potential to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and address America’s housing affordability crisis. We believe the private sector can and should play a significant role in that work, and welcome a chance to collaborate.

LOCUS
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