 |
ULI and Smart Growth
Over the past decade, ULI has been at the forefront of smart growth
efforts. In addition to working with communities to implement smart
growth policies and development practices, ULI is one of the leading
voices in the smart growth debate through its research and education
efforts. ULI is a resource that a variety of stakeholders at the
national, regional and local levels turn to for information, advice, and
concrete ideas on implementing smart growth. Under the ULI
“tent,” these diverse stakeholders come together to discuss
common interests, work out differences and find solutions.
 |
|
Smart growth is a positive response to years of policies and
practices that have contributed to traffic congestion, an inadequate
supply of affordable housing, the jobs-housing imbalance and a loss of
green space. Smart growth policies and practices are economically sound,
environmentally responsible, and supportive of community
livability—growth that enhances quality of life. Smart growth is
not “no growth,” but rather a series of strategies for
harnessing the economic energy of growth or redevelopment to improve
community livability.
|
District Councils and
Smart Growth
Smart Growth Alliances
Smart
Growth Alliances Information Network (SGAIN)
Smart Growth News
Statewide Smart Growth
Initiatives
Smart Growth Resources
District Councils and
Smart Growth
ULI’s smart growth leadership has taken root around the country
at the local and state levels. ULI District Councils have taken the lead
with the creation of smart growth alliances, project recognition
programs and education for public officials. Nationally, the Institute
works with ULI District Councils to provide guidance for statewide and
local smart growth initiatives.
Through its non-biased, inclusive approach, ULI and its District
Councils:
- Help public and private leaders at the local and regional levels
collaborate on how their community can achieve smart growth.
- Bring the private sector into collaborative efforts to identify and
implement smart growth strategies.
- Define and disseminate best practice examples of how the public and
private sector work together at the local and regional levels.
For information on how ULI is involved in sustainability at the
global level, contact Andrea Carpenter, Managing Director of the Centre
for Regeneration and Sustainability in London at acarpenter@uli.org or
+44-20-7487-9574.
Smart
Growth News
Smart
Growth News is a monthly ULI E-newsletter and is available from ULI
at no charge by E-mail subscription or by
clicking here. Each issue contains 10 to 20 abstracts of articles
culled from more than 1,400 information sources, including major
national newspapers, business magazines, Web sites, national and
international wire services, and periodicals focusing on housing,
development, and real estate.
Smart Growth News covers regional planning initiatives,
transportation, affordable and infill housing, environment and open
space conservation, master-planned communities, economic development,
urban revitalization, and retail.
Statewide Smart Growth Initiatives
California Smart Growth
Initiative
In collaboration with its five California District Councils, ULI
organized the Statewide Coordinating Committee for ULI’s
California Smart Growth Initiative. This diverse public-private
coalition, which included representatives from business, real estate,
civic, environmental, social justice organizations and public officials,
examined growth and development trends in California, determined the
barriers to smart growth and identified specific local, regional, and
state solutions that advance a collaborative smart growth agenda.
Return to Top
 |
|
The Coordinating Committee produced Putting the Pieces Together: State Actions to Encourage
Smart Growth Practices in California, a set of recommendations to
improve the economic and social well-being of California’s
communities through better growth patterns. The report is the
culmination of 18 months of analysis to find ways to curb haphazard,
ill-planned development, and promote development that more closely links
housing to jobs and preserves open space. ULI, its California district
councils and the statewide committee continues to be involved in
promoting implementation of the recommendations through a variety of
educational activities. |
ULI/SCREC South Carolina Quality
Growth Initiative
The ULI/South Carolina Real Estate Center (part of the University of
South Carolina Moore School of Business) South Carolina Quality Growth
Initiative is an effort by a broad cross section of stakeholders and
leaders in the state to address South Carolina’s growth challenges
and to find pragmatic and effective solutions. A statewide committee
composed of 36 civic and environmental leaders, developers, other
business representatives and public sector officials guided the
initiative.
The Committee’s report Growing By Choice or By Chance: State Strategies for
Quality Growth in South Carolina presents the statewide
committee’s overall recommendations to enhance state, regional and
local efforts to encourage quality growth:
 |
|
- Create a commonly shared vision for quality growth in South
Carolina.
- Beginning with the visioning process, institute a broad-based
program to educate public and private leaders and the general public
about the prospects, challenges and opportunities inherent in quality
growth.
- Create a statewide institutional framework that works at the state,
regional and local levels to encourage and support improved,
comprehensive and issue-specific planning.
- Encourage interagency and inter-jurisdictional cooperation and
coordination in land use planning, infrastructure spending and
environmental protection.
- Protect, preserve and enhance environmental resources.
|
The report also includes 40 strategies for implementing these
recommendations. ULI and the SCREC recently published a brochure summarizing the Initiative.
For more information, see the Community Outreach Case Study:
“South Carolina Quality Growth Initiative”
Return to Top
Smart Growth Resources
Smart
Growth Network
ULI is a member of the Smart
Growth Network (SGN). Formed in 1996, the SGN aims to
increase community concerns about the need for
new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment, and
enhance community vitality. The Network's partners include
environmental groups, historic preservation organizations, professional
organizations, developers, real estate interests; local and state
government entities.
Smart Growth Scorecards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
compiled a set of smart growth scorecards and rating systems
currently being used in communities across the country. These tools help
communities choose the best policies and strategies to ensure that
growth and development benefits everyone. Some scorecards will help
communities understand how the local regulatory climate impacts
development patterns. Others are designed to determine if proposed new
developments meet community-defined smart growth goals.
 |
This Is Smart Growth
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has partnered with the International
City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Smart Growth Network
in releasing This
Is Smart Growth, a new publication illustrating and explaining
smart growth concepts and outcomes. This full-color booklet describes
how, when done well, development can help create more economic
opportunities, build great places where people want to live and visit,
preserve the qualities people love about their communities, and protect
environmental resources.
*Click here for additional Smart Growth Resources*
|
|
|
