Results tagged “sustainability”

Of Note - Week of May 31, 2010

2 Jun 2010
Upcoming Webinar - Renewable Energy Development on Contaminated Lands
The webinar will be held on June 3, 2010 and covers identifying and eliminating deal breakers to redeveloping environmentally challenged properties. The session will also highlight the Environmental Protection Agency's new initiative, "RE-Powering America's Land: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Land and Mining Sites." 

Speakers include: Jim Price, Partner, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne; Lura Matthews, Program Analyst, US EPA; Josh Berkow, Project Manager, Apex Wind Energy; and Kenneth W. Patterson, Director of the Regional Support Division, US EPA.

For more information see the webinar brochure.

Philadelphia Sustainability Plan Receives National Award
Philadelphia's Sustainability Plan, "Greenworks Philadelphia," was recently awarded the Siemens Sustainability Community Award, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The plan focuses on environmental stewardship and clean technologies.

Key goals of the plan include: 
  • Energy: Philadelphia reduces its vulnerability to rising energy prices
  • Environment: Philadelphia reduces its environmental footprint
  • Equity: Philadelphia delivers more equitable access to healthy neighborhoods
  • Economy: Philadelphia creates competitive advantage from sustainability

Click here to download Greenworks Philadelphia.
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Posted by Abbie Emison on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 12:02 PM

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Using Zoning to Increase A Municipal Tax Base, Optimize Land Use, and Structure the Public Realm - May 21, 2010

24 May 2010

May 21, 2010 - 12:00pm eastern
Leslie Creane - Town Planner, Hamden, CT


A new approach to zoning encourages the protection of open space, the strategic location of denser mixed-use development and equitable infrastructure investment. Believe it or not, opportunity abounds when a municipality is "built-out!" It is possible to make land more profitable for a property owner and a municipality.

Sustainable development starts with creating the "big vision". What criteria should be used to develop that plan? How can structures positively contribute to the formation of the public realm? How do you determine where to actively preserve open space? What tools are available to encourage development that can adjust to changes in market demand? How can you increase your tax base? Where can you provide housing options for your children and your aging parents? Is it possible to integrate infrastructure improvements, quality design, mass transit, community gardens and economic start-ups in one development?

Click here to download slides from this webinar.

Continue reading Using Zoning to Increase A Municipal Tax Base, Optimize Land Use, and Structure the Public Realm - May 21, 2010.
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Posted by Vita Nuova on Monday, May 24, 2010 at 2:43 PM

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Of Note - Week of March 29, 2010

5 Apr 2010
Upcoming Conference: Local Food Systems in Old Industrial Regions
This conference will cover the development and maintenance of local food systems from both the academic and practitioner perspectives.  It will be held in Toledo, OH on August 3-7, 2010.

For more information on the conference and how to submit a paper for presentation, see the conference website.

EPA Signs Sustainability Agreement with NJ's Largest Developer
On March 11, 2010, Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc., New Jersey's largest developer, through an agreement with EPA, committed to reduce energy and water use at its retail and commercial properties.  The agreement stipulates that Hartz must maximize recycling efforts, join EPA's Energy Star and Waste Wise programs, seek LEED designation for certain projects, cut water usage, evaluate solar energy, and take other sustainable steps.  Hartz's progress on these measures will be submitted to EPA in annual status reports.

EPA has a history of creating similar agreements with a variety of companies and organizations, such as the New York Jets, Cushman & Wakefield and Montclair State University.

For more information, see EPA's press release.

APA Zoning Practice Focuses on Urban Agriculture
The March 2010 issue of APA's Zoning Practice discusses the growing urban agricultural movement and how cities are integrating urban agriculture into their land use planning efforts.

For more information, see the full text of the article.

Upcoming Treasury Grants

Capital Magnet Fund
This fund provides grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and non-profit housing organizations for financing activities related to the development of affordable housing and community facilities, as well as other economic development activities (e.g., creation of day care centers, workforce development centers).  The funds can be used for a variety of financing tools, such as loan loss reserves, risk-sharing loans, loan guarantees, or capitalizing a revolving loan fund, affordable housing fund or other related fund.  Treasury estimates that approximately $80 million will be available for the 2010 round of funding.

Applications for this round of funding are due April 15, with awards being announced in the fall. 

For more information, see the CDFI Fund website.

Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI)
This initiative is a TARP program that provides lower-cost capital to CDFIs in order to encourage investment in small businesses located in disadvantaged areas.  Through the initiative, CDFIs are eligible to receive capital with an initial dividend rate of 2% (as compared to 5% under the Capital Purchase Program).  Only CDFI banks, thrifts and credit unions that have been certified by Treasury (must provide over 60% of their small business lending and economic development activities to underserved communities) are eligible.

The application deadline has been extended to April 30.

For more information, see the CDCI website.
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Posted by Abbie Emison on Monday, April 5, 2010 at 4:13 PM

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Building Vibrant Communities - Linking Revitalization with Other Opportunities - March 26, 2010

29 Mar 2010

March 26, 2010 - 12:00pm eastern
Ann Carroll, USEPA Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization



With growing interest in urban and rural agriculture and communities thinking about food systems more holistically, join us for a look at how brownfields and land revitalization can improve urban agriculture practice and contribute to more local and sustainable local food systems.   We'll hear from brownfields contacts at EPA as well as get a different community organization perspective on how brownfields revitalization can contribute to local food solutions and sustain communities.

Click here to view the presentation slides.

Related Resources

Earlier Brownfields garden/farm/greenhouse program examples:

Philadelphia example - turning existing buildings and structure into food uses:

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Posted by Abbie Emison on Monday, March 29, 2010 at 9:00 PM

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Of Note - Week of March 1, 2010

5 Mar 2010

EPA Region 1 Releases Clean and Green Policy

EPA's Region 1 Office of Site Remediation and Restoration released a set of goals and policies that outline their approach to all EPA-related cleanups.  The approach emphasizes reducing environmental footprints and follows green remediation goals, where possible.


FoodNYC: A Blueprint for a Sustainable Food System

The Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer, released a comprehensive report on New York City's food production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. The report is the result of the December 2009 NYC Food & Climate Summit at NYU and focuses on increasing access to healthy food in underserved neighborhoods and expanding the food economy.

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Posted by Abbie Emison on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 10:27 PM

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EPA, DOT and HUD Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities

27 Jun 2009

On June 16, 2009 Administrator Lisa Jackson of EPA, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan announced a new interagency partnership that aims to create more sustainable communities nationwide. The new partnership builds on a previous partnership, announced earlier this year, between DOT and HUD.

Continue reading EPA, DOT and HUD Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities.
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Posted by Abbie Emison on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 9:56 AM

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The Land Code

18 Jul 2008
The Land Code is an excellent tool for measuring sustainable land development. It is based on quantitative measures and science-based best practices. A comparison of LEED-ND and the Land Code was done in spring 2008.  Click here to view a LAND Code fact sheet. 

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Posted by Vita Nuova on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 10:11 AM

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