The effects of the U.S. Green Building Council's new LEED-ND certification for neighborhoods leaves plenty of questions to be answered regarding its effects (intended or not) on land use, sprawl, and property values.
"Not only will there likely be a certain cachet associated with LEED-ND neighborhoods, the USGBC foresees certain tangible benefits to developer, namely local governmental incentives such as reduced fees or shorter development permit waiting periods. Among the intangible benefits stated by the USGBC, "leaving a good impression on your neighbors" illustrates the desire of the USGBC to influence the surrounding urban fabric.
The tenets of LEED-ND are not new, however. A resurgence of interest in traditional urban design principles led to a movement in the 1990s that redefined urban planning in the United States - new urbanism and neo-traditional neighborhood development. The new urbanism and neo-traditional town planning concepts were heralded by influential members of the urban planning community, and such concepts were transformed into reality by aesthetically pleasing developments such as Seaside and Celebration in Florida, Kentlands in Maryland and numerous other variations and adaptations throughout the United States. New urbanism was a reaction to suburban sprawl and irresponsible development patterns of the previous 50 years. Its focus was largely on new self-contained green-field developments in exurban areas."
FULL STORY: Certifying place with the new LEED-ND designation
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
