We already know that, in many cases, retaining older buildings -- especially those of architectural or historic character -- can strengthen the enduring legacy and enjoyment of a community.  But is it good for the environment?  Lots of people think so, including architect Carl Elefante, who coined the wonderful...

If you are like most of us, you have wondered whether or not a proposal for new development in your community was a good idea, whether it was environmentally friendly, or whether you should support it. A Citizen's Guide to LEED for Neighborhood Development is a hands-on introduction to just...

Long-disinvested communities frequently lack amenities, including walkable access to neighborhood parks.  Yet parks and neighborhoods need each other.  In his well-researched book Urban...

Earlier this month, the Eastern Shore (MD) Land Conservancy announced the launching of a new Center for Towns to support “models of sustainable, walkable, diverse, well-defined and vibrant communities within our...

One thing that I have learned in six months in my...

This past Saturday, Bill Clinton, basketball legend Alonzo Mourning...

Guiding the growth and development of cities and regions in order to make efficient use of land, take advantage of accessible locations, and provide transportation choices enhances community prosperity and generates economic benefits for local businesses, households and governments, according to a new report published last week by the Center for...

Designer/educator Christine Franck and I travel in some of the same urbanist circles.  Recently she was a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame in...

I wrote quite a bit toward the end of last year about the connection between places that are sustainable environmentally and those that are sustainable...

2010 was a robust year in the world of environmentally responsible land development. While 2011 looks to be different in some respects, I predict it will be no less rich in stories. Here are some of the ones that I plan to watch in the coming year:

• What will...

A study by the Natural Resources and Earth System Science program at the University of New Hampshire finds that residents of neighborhoods with walkable access to shops and services have “higher...

On December 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored five projects with the 2010 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for their comprehensive approach to improving quality of life. “The projects make cities safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and bicyclists, manage growth to ensure long-term prosperity and health,...

Three months ago, I wrote a blog post headlined “Why doesn’t the public health community get it about...

You’re looking above at AT&T Park, where the World Series champion San Francisco Giants play.  It’s one of the greenest stadiums in the country,

Check out the spiffy new subway station in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Pretty nice, don’t you think?  It’s actually not new but a...

Can an urban place be located and designed so that it nourishes and heals?  Mark Holland, one of the key principals involved in the planning and certification of...

In the 1950s...

In a breathtaking series of press conferences and releases along with publication of a new report, the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities - which is led by EPA, HUD, and the Department of Transportation - has announced an impressive amount of federal assistance to a wide array of sustainability projects across the...

Last month, Alabama governor Bob Riley issued an executive order creating a Coastal Recovery Commission for his state.  The Commission’s task is “to shape, in the wake of BP’s Deep Water Horizon oil spill, a roadmap to resilience for South Alabama.”  The three deeply interconnected subjects on the group’s...