New Updates on SCRC - 10/04/2012

Developed by the Office of Policy Development and Research in partnership with HUD’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (OSHC), the Sustainable Communities Resource Center (SCRC) is a section of huduser.gov dedicated to providing you with information that supports local and regional strategies, with an emphasis on sustainable housing and planning.

New on SCRC

Grantee Spotlight: Planning for a Sustainable Michigan Street Corridor
The city of Grand Rapids, Michigan is transforming the Michigan Street Corridor into a more livable and sustainable place. This 4-mile-long corridor carries up to 31,000 cars per day, which extends into Grand Rapids’ downtown area and is home to a number of Grand Rapids’ major institutions, including Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Community College, the Van Andel Research Institute, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Spectrum Health. Read More

Arizona Study Suggests Dense, Mixed-Use Development Patterns Reduce VMT and Congestion
A recent study released by the Arizona Department of Transportation demonstrates that higher-density, mixed land-use patterns reduce dependency on automobiles, traffic congestion, and residents’ vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The study, Land Use and Traffic Congestion, examined whether applying Smart Growth principles could reduce traffic congestion in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Read More

Neighborhood Energy Challenge Spurs Investments in Efficiency
In 2005, the city of Albany, New York made a commitment to sustainability when Mayor Gerald D. Jennings joined 140 mayors from across the United States to sign the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement, which now includes more than 1,000 mayors from across the United States, represents a commitment by local leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels through investments in energy efficiency and clean technology, among other considerations. Read More