Transportation for America and Smart Growth America’s technical assistance services help communities at all different stages of their efforts to improve transportation in their communities. In a suite of projects funded by AARP this year in communities across the country, we helped partners work on policy, planning, advocacy education and relationship building.
The Center for Zoning Solutions, a new program of Smart Growth America, is thrilled to announce the winner of the 17th annual Form-Based Code Award! This year’s jury, a diverse group that included a code writer, a community development director, an architect, and two consulting planners, selected Kingston, New York’s Form-Based Code, for its exemplary … Continued
On December 7, the Smart Growth Network gathered at the offices of the National Association of REALTORS® to discuss one of the most pressing issues today: the shortage of housing across the country. At December’s quarterly meeting, the Network brought together experts to discuss how communities can expand the availability of high-quality, resilient, and affordable … Continued
Smart Growth America (SGA) is seeking a Senior Manager with 5-7 years of experience to advance policy solutions that will lead to more much-needed housing and mixed-use development in vibrant, well-connected locations. The Senior Manager will play a key role in SGA’s land use and real estate work by managing the advocacy work of LOCUS, … Continued
Over the weekend, the Washington Post published a story titled “Why so many Americans prefer sprawl to walkable neighborhoods.” If the headline doesn’t make you raise your eyebrow, then the author’s reasoning certainly will: Citing a recent survey from Pew, the article discusses why people may prefer sprawl (and the big houses and longer commutes … Continued
On November 21, Smart Growth America and LOCUS joined a diverse coalition of nonprofit organizations to support bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives who launched the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) Caucus. Members of the YIMBY Caucus are brought together by their commitment to advance policies that address the housing access crisis. SGA … Continued
Local election results send a clear message: housing and the environment are priorities for voters across the country in diverse political climates. In this post, we delve into the key affordable housing, residential displacement, and climate resiliency measures that were passed in state, county, and local elections.
This moment, like after every election cycle, is one of both challenges and opportunities. No matter what lies ahead, we’ll be there to meet the moment, embody our priorities, and live up to our values. More than that, SGA stands ready to do what we have done for more than 20 years: support communities, primarily … Continued
As the dust from this election cycle settles, it is more apparent than ever that communities are facing increasingly severe and compounding challenges. Economic inequities and the financial pressures tied to the needs of daily life are squeezing communities of every shape, size, and geographic location—and housing and transportation costs are clear contributors to these burdens.
For decades, zoning has been used as a tool to segregate and exclude. It has contributed to some of the biggest problems that communities across America face today: people can’t afford to buy homes (let alone rent), there’s an over-reliance on single-family-only housing options, and our sprawling communities are harming people’s health and the environment—not … Continued