Green development is gathering steam in Sal Lake City, where the downtown area is gaining popularity with new residents and developers.
"Various developers are targeting downtown and the nearby areas as locations to construct trendy condominium and townhouse projects, many of which will be "green" and energy-efficient."
"Since taking office, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has been an ardent supporter of conservation and improved environmental policies. The Salt Lake City Council last year passed an ordinance requiring new buildings that use city money to be environmentally friendly."
"The ordinance requires city-funded buildings of at least 10,000 square feet to become certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. Buildings earn points toward LEED certification for elements that improve conservation, sustainability, water and energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality."
"'People that live downtown really want to live downtown, and they find a way to make it work,' said LouAnn Lakis, a sales agent with real estate brokerage Urban Utah."
"Lakis said urban dwellers tend to enjoy a less complicated lifestyle that doesn't include long commutes or lots of yard work. She added they are willing to sacrifice some of the amenities of suburban living such as larger homes and bigger lots for the simplicity of city life that allows them to enjoy the attributes of an active urban community."
"Wiese said as more businesses relocate to Salt Lake City, they bring new workers who often want to live near where they work, as they have in many big cities around the nation."
FULL STORY: Downtown green: Eco-friendly housing projects becoming an urban trend

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie