Small Town Planning

A foray by HUD into telling small towns how best to use their land

Sat, 10/01/2011 - 10:06

In April 2009, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan spoke to the ULI Spring Council Forum in Atlanta; he stated that his administration’s goal was “to put the UD back in HUD,” and explained that HUD’s over-reliance on housing solutions wasn’t helping cities address their complex revitalization needs. Just over two years later, this small new funding program caught my eye on a list of new HUD announcements:

*** HUD HOPE VI – $0.5 million
Application Due: August 22, 2011
Eligible Entities: Local governments

»

Greensburg Sustainable Comprehensive Plan

Greensburg, KS was hit by an F5 tornado in May 2007, leveling 90% of the town. Greensburg, KS had already been in decline for several decades, but the town made a commitment to rebuild. Their plan shows respect for the land and a vision of a sustainable future. The plan protects social equity and maintains maintains the town's cherished rural character by establishing a framework for affordable, diverse housing. Greensburg City Council enacted a requirement that all publicly funded buildings over 4,000 square feet must be built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Platinum certification level.

12 February 2010 - 2:41pm

The Art of Civic Engagement

In Starksboro, Vermont, planners are using storytelling and community art projects to get at the heart of what matters to residents.

9 November 2009 - 9:00am

Burlington Free Press

Rural Town Brings in Students for Preliminary Planning

Middlebury College students have been commissioned to simply get to know Starksboro, Vermont for a semester. The hope is that their findings will help develop a plan that embraces growth while upholding the things unique to the small town.

5 December 2008 - 9:00am

The New York Times