Grassroots Planning & Development

Sustainable planning comes through understanding and respecting the history of a place before thoughtfully considering its future. This process begins by loving your community well, caring for your neighbors, and becoming more future-minded.

Community-Driven Development

Finding like-minded community members is a great way to make a difference. Grassroots groups with a strong vision gain public consensus, assist local government, and connect developers with sustainable thought leaders. How can you and your neighbors take actionable steps to build a more connected, vital community? Discover the grassroots approach:

• Finding like-minded community members to make a difference.

• Assisting local government in the decision-making process.

• Connecting developers and investors with sustainable thought leaders.

• Read the full article: Your Common Thread Stitches a Vibrant Community

Neighborhood Placemaking

Neighborhood placemaking focuses on building better relationships with others living nearby. Traditionally, next door neighbors have a high chance of becoming close friends. They watch over your home from the security of their own. Want to unlock new ideas for your home, neighborhood, or downtown? Discover how an interactive design workshop can bring people together:

• What a design charrette is and why it works.

• How to navigate the split paradigm between public and private realms.

• Gathering stakeholders to create sustainable progress.

• Read the full article: Design Charrette: Workshops for Strong & Vibrant Communities

Placemaking & Downtown Design

Placemaking is the art of putting people back together, and downtown is the best opportunity to develop new placemaking projects. Downtown placemaking can be led by the local Main Street group, other civic groups, individuals, or even the City. Whether you are a family household or a community-minded group, you can take action to improve your surroundings. Learn the nitty-gritty steps to facilitate change:

• Why a rapid, solution-seeking workshop builds consensus.

• How complexity shifts as you move from private to public realms.

• Practical tools to guide downtown design and placemaking.

• Read the full article: Vision and Teamwork for Successful Design Charrettes

Livability & Walkability

The suburbs are not the only place with problems. As practitioners of sustainable planning and green development, we need to look at opportunities for redevelopment in-town, too. As a place to begin understanding livability and walkability, use the AARP Livability Index to learn more about your community's quality of life. Then, visit Walkscore to get a feeling for places you live or are considering living.

Rethinking Development

Sustainable planning and green development are guided by the principle of sustainability, where people, planet and profit are all in balance. We only need to re-frame our thinking into that paradigm. Do you want to better understand your place in the world and leave it better for the next generation? Learn the simple equation to make the places you love stronger:

• Viewing our natural environment as a gift and a resource.

• Shifting our thinking to lighten our environmental footprint.

• Balancing people, planet, and profit for long-term sustainability.

• Read the full article: The Equation for Strong Places You Love

Traditional Neighborhood Redevelopment

Most established neighborhoods have potential for redevelopment. Neighborhood revitalization, infill development, mixed-uses, and concepts of placemaking can give them new life and add new value. Many historic downtowns are suffering from a cycle of disinvestment, but it doesn't have to be this way. Learn how to combat blight and bring new life to your town:

• Understanding the seven ugly sins that lead to decaying properties.

• How to implement minimum maintenance standards to protect neighborhoods.

• The power of public-private partnerships in revitalization.

• Read the full article: Die Hard: 7 Ugly Sins Killing Your Community

Smart Growth

Smart Growth is economically efficient community development. Principles include limiting outward expansion, promoting infill construction, and preserving open space. The Smart Growth America website is a great reference to learn more.

Infill Development

Infill development is low-impact, because it uses existing infrastructure. The historic district offers a special opportunity, as rebuilding downtown can yield the highest ROI in town. Why does rebuilding in your historic downtown offer the highest return on investment in the city? See how infill development can transform your community:

• Breaking the cycle of disinvestment by utilizing existing infrastructure.

• Why the historic district is the most valuable place for quality infill.

• How to use Sanborn Maps and historic photos to guide new development.

• Read the full article: Quality Infill Development: Begins in the Past

Conservation-Based Development

Conservation-based development begins by optimizing existing resources, and so the formula for a Green Heart Town begins with the historic townsite. Can we develop new homes while still preserving the natural environment and local ecology? Explore a greener alternative to typical suburban development:

• How conservation-based development optimizes existing resources.

• Maximizing infrastructure efficiency while protecting natural ecosystems.

• Reconnecting our development patterns with the land.

• Read the full article: Conservation-Based Development is a Return to the Land

New Urbanism

The principles of New Urbanism align closely to development before the prevalence of the automobile. Streets become places again for people, and less width is given to cars while sidewalks and front porches create engaging places for neighborhood relationships to grow.

Urban Amenities

Density, diversity, mixed modes of transportation, and mixed-use development have all been the standard of sustainable development for centuries. Today we can do it better than ever.

Green Heart Town

True community development does not happen in a vacuum—it begins by loving your community well and empowering local citizens to take action. Browse our most recent planning and development posts below to discover practical insights on facilitating local design charrettes, championing quality infill, and the art of community placemaking.

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