Kalamazoo, Michigan, is dealing with a problem seen in a number of cities across the US: a state highway running through the downtown as a “couplet,” two parallel one-way streets. These two wide and fast state-owned routes cut through a downtown neighborhood full of parks, restaurants, and museums near Western Michigan University. Six lanes with … Continued
This case study was written as part of our Dangerous by Design Technical Assistance program. This initiative brought together champions from across the country to advance street safety efforts through data collection and storytelling. This study was written by Nolan Bergstrom from the City of Kalamazoo. West Michigan Avenue, from Howard Street to the city … Continued
Latin for “place,” LOCUS is a national network of real estate developers, investors, and professionals, united to advance equitable, walkable urban development in communities across the country. Together LOCUS members work to increase funding and financing for smart growth development; improve regulations at all levels of government to support smart growth; and change federal programs … Continued
Michigan is going through an urban transformation that’s making the region more walkable—and we are bringing together the people making it happen. Join LOCUS, the Michigan Municipal League, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on May 2, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. EDT to learn more about the real estate market, the Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC), and opportunities for … Continued
The National Complete Streets Coalition has been working on an exciting new project with Indiana communities along the border of Michigan, in a region known as “Michiana.” Together with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), we are helping to bring together communities interested in Complete Streets to make the entire region safer and more convenient for everyone, no matter their age, ability, income, race, or how they choose to travel.
After conducting a competitive application process with the Michiana Council of Governments (MACOG), we are excited to announce the winners of a MACOG-specific Complete Streets workshop. Next month, we will travel to Northern Indiana for a one-day workshop with the three winning cities to help them learn how to design & build safer, more complete streets in their communities.
A bike lane that only lasts one block is not particularly useful. That’s why a Complete Streets approach is about more than remaking one given street. It’s about creating a connected network, where people can easily travel anywhere they need to go by a variety of travel modes.
A similar philosophy is the basis of a new project we are doing with Indiana communities along the border of Michigan, in a region known as “Michiana.” Together with the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG), we are helping to bring together communities interested in Complete Streets to make the entire region safer and more convenient for everyone, no matter their age, ability, income, race, or how they choose to travel.
Are you thinking about using Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) in Michigan, and want to learn more about how to create a great application?
Join LOCUS, the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan, and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority on Thursday, February 9, 2017 for a day-long discussion about how to create a great LIHTC application under the Qualified Allocation Plan.
Participants at our 2016 workshop in Chattanooga, TN.
Last week we announced the six new communities that will receive one of our free standard technical assistance workshops in 2017. This program, now in its sixth year and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Sustainable Communities’ Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program, has helped more than 70 communities across the country use development strategies to meet their goals.
As we look forward to working with next year’s communities, we wanted to take a moment to look back on the diversity of faces and places we’ve visited this year.
The Michigan Sense of Place Council, representing numerous state agencies under the direction of Governor Snyder, has partnered with Smart Growth America to provide technical advisory services to six communities of Michigan pursuing livable communities initiatives. Assistance was offered in two primary areas – community mobility management and strategic transportation demand management (TDM). The effort … Continued