November 20, 2009
EPA's new, interactive green homes site
The federal EPA has a new and very handy "what you can do" web site on green homes. Click on a portion of the house and you'll be taken to a page with tips that pertain to that... Kaid Benfield
November 19, 2009
A close-up look at a revitalization district (Indianapolis, part 2: the challenges)
Earlier this month I began a series of posts about Indianapolis's Smart Growth Redevelopment District, which I have had the honor of advising. The area in question is a distressed part of the city, two miles northeast of... Kaid Benfield
November 18, 2009
Living green above the big box
Cool Town Studios has a very interesting new blog post about an award-winning development called The Rise in Vancouver. Although the project is anchored by big-box retail, the parking is underground, there are 90 homes above, the... Kaid Benfield
November 16, 2009
Urban education: the next environmental and smart growth frontier
Today I am pleased to present a very good guest post by my friend and frequent collaborator Lee Epstein: Reading Kaid's recent posts on the great value (and sometime dearth) of environmentalists engaging on urban redevelopment issues made me recall... Kaid Benfield
November 13, 2009
New book ‘Green Community’ defines and illustrates sustainable neighborhoods, towns, cities
I am most pleased to announce the release of Green Community, a new book produced and published jointly by the National Building Museum and the American Planning Association. It's a terrific book of essays, if I do say so. (Full... Kaid Benfield
November 11, 2009
“Housing First” offers glimmer of hope for homeless veterans, others
On this Veterans' Day, when we remember those who have served, it is troubling to note that, although veterans make up around 9 percent of our population, they comprise 23 percent of our homeless population and fully a third of... Kaid Benfield
November 6, 2009
Walk Score incorporates transit, real estate industry takes note
Walk Score keeps getting better, and it was already very good. With assistance from the Rockefeller Foundation, the locational rating system has now incorporated transit service data from 40 metro regions into its service, so that its maps... Kaid Benfield
November 5, 2009
Federal officials, other leaders stress “sustainable communities” at national planning forum
"Sustainable communities" was the phrase of the day at the annual symposium of the American Institute of Certified Planners, held last week at the National Building Museum. Federal officials from the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development... Kaid Benfield
November 4, 2009
All aboard: Cincinnati voters emphatically reject anti-streetcar measure
Cincinnati voters have rejected "Measure 9," an anti-streetcar initiative, by a 56-44 percent margin. The measure was aimed at killing a streetcar plan approved earlier this year by the city council, and would have required further referenda... Kaid Benfield
November 2, 2009
An Indy neighborhood could become a model of smart, green revitalization – so where are the enviros?
Last week I had the honor of being one of seven smart growth types recruited by the American Institute of Architects to work with the city of Indianapolis and community residents on the model revitalization of a distressed urban neighborhood. ... Kaid Benfield
