News
New York State Implements Smart Growth Criteria
Date: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Posted in: National, Smart Growth
Governor David Paterson recently signed legislation requiring state agencies to meet 10 statutory criteria for smart growth before approving, financing or undertaking infrastructure projects. The State Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy also requires agencies to submit smart growth impact statements and to appoint advisory committees, all measures that aim to encourage sustainable growth and environmental quality. Read more.
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Survey Finds Developers Shifting to Mixed-Use, Pedestrian Friendly Neighborhoods
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Posted in: Housing, National, Smart Growth
A recent business survey conducted by the Strategic Alliance, a group of real estate-related companies, has revealed that sixty percent of builders and developers in the Tri-State and Mid-Atlantic regions are shifting away from the traditional, large home designs, to that of a more sustainable model of mixed-use and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods. According to the survey data, builders are realizing that not everyone wants a single-family detached home. Read more.
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Searching for Public Transportation? Ask Transit Score
Date: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Posted in: National, Transportation
Similar to Walk Score, a new online tool has been developed to show people how accessible their neighborhoods and businesses are to public transportation. Transit Score helps residents and businesses in more than 40 cities, including Boston and Chicago, to determine their proximity to public transportation and can also calculate commuting costs. Check it out!
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Over-developed in New Jersey
Date: Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Posted in: National
During 2002 to 2007, land development accelerated throughout the Garden State at a rate of 5.3 percent, even though the population rate increased by only 1.1 percent. As this trend persists, New Jersey has replaced forest land with buildings, parking lots and lawns. Read more about New Jersey's growing development pressures and what some studies have shown for the state's future.
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Mixed Use Developments Outperform Big Box Stores in Property Tax Revenue Per Acre
Date: Monday, July 19, 2010
Posted in: National
According to a recent analysis of property tax revenue in Sarasota, Florida, big box developments generate only about $150 to $200 more per acre than single family housing developments, and they rank significantly lower than mixed use projects. In fact, a mixed-use development in Sarasota's downtown that sits on less than an acre generates $800,000 in tax per acre -- ten times more than either a single family suburban house or big box store. This analysis adds to the mounting evidence of the...
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USGS Releases Detailed Map of Land-Cover in US
Date: Thursday, July 1, 2010
Posted in: National
The US Geological survey recently released a map detailing land-cover throughout the US. Available online, the map highlights vegetative associations including forest and woodland systems, grasslands and wetlands, as well as areas impacted by human land use and those that have been recently disturbed or modified. The goal of the map is to enable conservation professionals to identify land masses in the country that could support wildlife habitat. However, the complexity of the data could also...
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