Blog

Statement: Trump budget would hinder private real estate investment

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Earlier today President Trump released his budget blueprint for fiscal year 2017-2018, which outlines increased military spending and cuts for many domestic programs—including key programs that support economic growth in American communities.

Notably the blueprint eliminates funding for HUD’s Community Development Block Grants and USDOT’s TIGER Grants, and would make major cuts to the EPA and the Brownfields program; HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Choice Neighborhoods and the Self-help Homeownership Opportunity Program; as well as development programs at USDA.

LOCUS

An overview of training programs for artists and civic/transportation collaboration

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In cities across the country, artists are helping to solve civic problems. Whether it’s bringing people to an empty plaza through performance, improving navigation options through better design, or connecting neighborhoods through interactive installations, artists bring a unique perspective to many municipal challenges.

Artists and civic professionals do not always speak the same language, however. These two groups often answer to different stakeholders and work along different timelines. With the proliferation of new programs integrating arts and culture into community development—like municipally sponsored artist-in-residence programs—artists and cultural producers need to be trained to work with government agencies and community members, and to inhabit interdisciplinary roles that extend beyond the traditional duties of an artist.

Creative Placemaking Transportation

Got questions about Congress? Join LOCUS for a members-only town hall

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Less than two months in to the Trump administration and a new Congress, lawmakers are already talking about a $1 trillion infrastructure package, major cuts in federal spending, and tax reform—legislation that could have huge implications for community development.

What will this mean for transit-oriented development? And how might these changes impact programs that support community revitalization, housing affordability and walkable development?

LOCUS members are invited to join us for a town hall conference call on Friday, March 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm EST to hear from our policy experts with an inside track in Washington.

LOCUS

The communities in the running for the best Complete Streets policy of 2016

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Eddy Street Commons in South Bend, IN. South Bend had one of the highest scoring policies of 2015. Which communities will be on the 2016 list? Photo courtesy of the City of South Bend.

Last year, 130 communities passed Complete Streets policies, and all of them are in the running to win the title of best Complete Streets policy of 2016. Could your town or city be this year’s winner?

Complete Streets

Welcome to HUD, Secretary Carson

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Today, Dr. Ben Carson was confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, putting him at the helm of the federal agency that oversees home mortgage lending practices and other housing-related programs.

To Secretary Carson we say congratulations. America’s housing and community development policies have a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of millions of Americans, and in your new position you have a unique and valuable opportunity to improve this country.

Smart Growth America and LOCUS are looking forward to working with Secretary Carson. He is an unconventional choice for this position, but can bring fresh eyes and renewed energy to the department. Under Secretary Carson HUD has the potential to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and address America’s housing affordability crisis. We believe the private sector can and should play a significant role in that work, and welcome a chance to collaborate.

LOCUS

Complete Streets Partner Spotlight: AARP St. Louis

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Left: Sheila Holm (AARP Missouri) presenting at the Complete Streets Networking Breakfast in St. Louis. Right: Sheila Holm, Emiko Atherton (NCSC), and Coralette Hannon (AARP) gather for a photo.

The National Complete Streets Coalition was in St. Louis, MO last month for the New Partners for Smart Growth conference. While we were there we had a chance to collaborate with AARP St. Louis, the local chapter of our Steering Committee member AARP. AARP St. Louis is working to improve walkability, increase transportation options, and encourage healthy, active living, especially for people aged 50 and older, and we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the great work they’re doing in St. Louis.

Complete Streets

“The Role of Public Health in Complete Streets” webinar recap

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Last week we hosted the first webinar of our new series, Implementation & Equity 201: The Path Forward to Complete Streets. Together with Voices for Healthy Kids and the American Public Health Association, we explored “The Role of Public Health in Complete Streets”. Watch the full video recording of the webinar above, or download the PDF of the presentations.

Complete Streets

New guide and webinar: “The Why and How of Measuring Access to Opportunity”

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Transportation systems link people to their daily destinations as well as broader opportunity. And transportation agencies across the country are increasingly interested in measuring how well their systems do this. Many practitioners are not sure where to start on that ambitious goal, but a new guide from the Governors’ Institute on Community Design is designed to show them how.

The How and Why of Measuring Access to Opportunity: A Guide to Performance Management is a brand new guidebook on the data, tools, and methodologies transportation officials need to measure access to opportunity, as well as how to integrate these measurements into their planning and investment decisions. The new guidebook provides background on the changing priorities in transportation performance management, how some transportation agencies are already incorporating measures of access into their programs, and discusses the data and tools available to support measuring it. This guidebook might also be useful to elected and civic leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders who wish to work with transportation agencies to address these important priorities.

Transportation

Register now for “Creating Value: Assessing the Return on Investment in Complete Streets”

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The National Complete Streets Coalition is excited to continue our monthly webinar series, designed to help professionals from a variety of disciplines put Complete Streets principles into action. Implementation & Equity 201: The Path Forward to Complete Streets is exploring a new issue each month related to creating safer, healthier, more equitable streets.

Our next webinar in the series, “Creating Value: Assessing the Return on Investment in Complete Streets” will take place on Thursday, March 23, 2017 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT. Co-host Stantec will join the Coalition in answering questions such as: How can benefit-cost analyses emphasize the value of Complete Streets? And what can advocates do to make Complete Streets a higher priority in city and state budgets? This webinar will explain how to plan and design Complete Streets projects to make them more competitive for grants. It will also teach participants how to use basic return on investment analysis to measure the benefits of Complete Streets. Registration is now open—we hope you’ll be able to join us.

Complete Streets
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