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Citistates Links
Regionalism on the Web
Here’s
a list of web sites where you’ll find valuable
information on regionalism and its related topics
— from land use to sustainability to governance
reforms.
Alliance for Regional Stewardship
— http://www.regionalstewardship.org
The premier organization now working directly to
foster alliances within metropolitan regions, and
information-sharing among them. Be sure to check the RegionLink page for examples
of alliances across the U.S. based on the New Economy, livable community,
social inclusion and government reform. The main site includes a monthly newsletter one can sign up for. Major
support comes from the Irvine Foundation, Morgan
Family Funds and Heinz Endowments.
Brookings Institution Center on Urban and
Metropolitan Policy — http://www.brookings.edu/es/urban/urban.htm
A lead research organization focused on how changes in national
policy could reduce wasteful sprawl development and enhance social
equity and a fair break for inner cities and older suburbs.
It conducts many major policy studies, holds conferences, seeks
to coordinate action in the field.
Regional Community News For a free Yahoo subscription send an e-mail to:
regions _ work-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
This very handy and informative bi-weekly electronic bulletin lists articles on regionalism from across the United States and the world, with a brief description of each item and the necessary links). Tom Christoffel, the author-sponsor, is a Virginia-based planner associated with the World Future Society and National Association of Regional Councils (http://www.regionalintelligence.com/pages/881769/index.htm)
National Association of Regional Councils — http://www.narc.org
The official organization of America’s regional councils of
government. This is also the home site for NARC’s Institute
for the Regional Community, conducting leading-edge research, and
the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Lincoln
Land Institute — http://www.lincolninst.edu
A lead U.S. research organization on land uses and land taxation,
including the famed Henry George theory of land-based taxation.
See especially as recommended by the Alliance for Regional Stewardship:
· Regionalism on Purpose: An excellent Lincoln Land Institute Report
summarizes both theory and practice on such topics as: what is regionalism,
why all the attention now, what can regionalism provide that localism
can't (and visa versa), where is regionalism occurring, in what
ways, to what effect, and who leads in a regional world? This report
addresses the all-important question -- regionalism for what? Regionalism
should not be seen as an end in itself (or even as an ism) but rather
a means for achieving important ends such as competitive economies,
more livable communities, an increasingly equitable society and
an open and democratic decision-making process. The paper provides
some important historical and theoretical background on regionalism
in America, case studies of practice from six diverse regions, and
important challenges to regionalism. The report also offers the
following observation: “One practice-based model to emerge from
these realities [of networked and shared power] is that of ‘regional
stewardship,’ which emphasizes a commitment to place rather than
issue, an integrated approach to issues and solutions, and the development
of broad coalitions sharing a regional vision. Copies of this report
can be ordered from Coretta Rival (CORETTA@lincolninst.edu) for
$14.00.
Planetizen Web Site — http://www.planetizen.com/
A cornucopia of articles from leading newspapers, and directly submitted
commentary, on critical urban planning issues.
International Economic Development Council — http://www.iedconline.org/
Top-notch information on development practices, from Main Streets
to industrial revival.
Surface Transportation Policy Project —
http://www.transact.org
and www.istea.org
(now tea3.org)
STPP was the critical group in making
ISTEA — the first federal legislation of the citistate era
— a reality, and now follows TEA-21 regularly. Excellent web
page on all transportation-related issues.
EPA's Smart Growth Site http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/
To its credit, the federal government's EPA took interest in the
smart growth movement under the Clinton administration -- and has
continued in the Bush administration, under formerly New Jersey
Gov. Christie Todd Whitman. The web site now has a cornmucopia of
information on smart growth-related topics and organizations.
Smart Growth Network — http://www.smartgrowth.org
A premier networking contact on the whys and hows of compact metropolitan-area
development. Formed from inside the Environmental Protection Administration
in 1996, now in alliance with the Urban Land Institute and others
on smart growth agendas.
International Downtown
Association — http://www.ida-downtown.org
Urban Land Institute —
http://www.uli.org
Top developer organization in the USA, now taking much more interest
in the futures of cities and more rational land use. You may wish
to consider subscribing to the ULI's excellent weekly News
Roundup including key development news from papers around the
U.S.
Center
for Neighborhood Technology — http://www.cnt.org
Headquartered in Chicago, CNT conducts research and projects aimed at developing more equitable and sustainable communities. Among its major projects: invention of the location efficient mortgage, popularizing the idea of “hidden assets” in older urban areas, and support for broadened public transportation service.
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
— www.icic.org
Founded by Harvard Business School’s Prof. Michael Porter,
the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is seeking to
spark new thinking about the real world business potential of inner
city areas so often written off as unproductive and unprofitable.
Virginia Tech Metropolitan Institute Web
Site — http://www.planetizen.com/
An interesting collection of research, articles, references on growth-related
issues, including well-known work of Robert Lang.
Sustainable
Urban Neighborhoods — www.louisville.edu/org/sun
Site of a model outreach into an inner city community, conceived
and carried out by the University of Louisville.
National Association of
Counties — http://www.naco.org
National League of Cities
— http://www.nlc.org
U.S. Conference of Mayors
— http://www.mayors.org
American Planning Association
— http://www.apa.org
Congress for the New Urbanism
— http://www.cnu.org/index.html
A progressive group that’s gone way beyond
its original charter to promote neotraditional architecture
and planning — now a major voice for thoughtful
regional development.
Collaborative Economics
— www.coecon.com
America’s leading firm designing economic strategies
for region — experts in cluster analysis, civic
entrepreneurship. Principals Doug Henton,
Kim Walesh and John Melville are authors of Grassroots
Leaders for a New Economy.
California Center for Regional
Leadership — http://www.ccrl.org/
The California statewide alliance to promote Golden State regional
leadership attuned to the economy, social equity, the environment,
governance reform and social equity. California lagged for
yours on regional thinking and leadership; now it may be leaping
to the head of the pack.
Local Government Commission
— http://www.lgc.org
The title says government, but this is really a
Sacramento-based independent non-profit that blazes
trails in the West for sustainability, healthy local
economies and sound planning linked to social equity.
The commission and its affiliated Center for Livable
Communities helped develop the now famous “Ahwanhee
Principles” for resource-efficient local and
regional land-use planning. Now it’s working
on a parallel set of economic development principles
tied to sound growth and livability. The site is
rich in references to particular projects.
National Association to Restore Pride in
America’s Capital City — http://www.narpac.org
Every regional of America could use a web site like this. It’s
focused on the future of Washington, D.C., but in a broad regional
context. Its contents include regional comparisons, official studies,
issues of governance, alternative futures for the city and region.
Especially impressive: a full listing, with descriptions, of relevant
agencies and organizations, among them the D.C. Agenda Project and
the new “Greater Washington” operation for regional citizenship
led by Bruce Adams.
About Planning
-- http://www.narpac.org
About
Planning is an independent and unaffiliated clearing house for information,
websites, publications and essays on land use planning, growth management,
smart growth and New Urbanism.
Smart Communities Network — http://www/sustainable.doe.gov/
The Department of Energy’s site on sustainable development,
including numerous citations on land use planning, transportation,
municipal energy, sustainable business and the like.
Last updated January 20, 2004 |
