Hoxie Prairie Garden, by Enrique Gonzales
This summer, we learned about some of the region’s great public spaces through MPC’s “What Makes Your Place Great?” contest. From Montrose Harbor in Chicago at sunset to the tranquil grandeur of the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at Governors State University in University Park, Ill., the submissions represented the wide variety of public spaces that make the region truly special.
Now that we know about some of the public spaces that make Chicagoland home, let’s tell the rest of the country! Smart Growth America, a coalition of national, state, and local organizations that works to improve planning and development in cities, towns, and metropolitan regions across the country, wants to know about your little corner of the world. Tell them about your…
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A recent Crain’s Chicago Business column by Greg Hinz noted, “[T]ough times bring the freedom to think thoughts that you couldn’t possibly ponder when times are good and money is flowing.” And it’s true: While the economy forces a painful hiatus on new building and development, now is the opportune time to bring everyone to table and reach consensus on big-picture plans for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
MPC’s 2010 work plan has no shortage of bold ideas. We will continue to advance proposals for infrastructure projects such as streetcars, bus rapid transit, and high speed rail, which have the potential to transform communities and the entire region. We know improved transportation options not only will help households and businesses save…
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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is a widely accepted classification system that promotes environmentally responsible building design. In the past few years, the LEED rating system has moved to the next level, promoting energy-efficient neighborhoods through LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND). Signed into law in Illinois in 2007 and currently in the pilot phase nationwide, LEED-ND promotes compact, mixed-use development; housing that is near jobs, services and transit; pedestrian and bicycle-friendly streets; and accessible open space.
On behalf of MPC, long an advocate for LEED-ND, I recently helped shape the rating system for Illinois by participating as a member of the LEED-ND Illinois Regional Prioritization Credits task force. Regional Priority…
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Today, Congress approved the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) budget for FY2010, which includes $150 million in funding for the new Sustainable Communities Initiative, a program aimed at coordinating planning and investments in housing, transportation, and the environment by bringing HUD, DOT and EPA to the same table. This is long anticipated news for MPC and other advocates of smart and sustainable growth around the country.
For the past two years, MPC has partnered with the City of Chicago to lead a planning effort called Reconnecting Neighborhoods, to supplement the Chicago Housing Authority’s HUD-funded Plan for Transformation with new investments in transportation, pedestrian access, and retail improvements near the new mixed-income housing developments.…
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High Speed Train Station in Sevilla, Spain
Just last week, the Chicagoland area was hit with the season’s first gust of wintery weather. Snow, strong winds, and dropping temperatures combined to put a kink in travel plans. Tuesday’s weather caused more than 200 flight cancellations at O’Hare Airport, while Midway Airport saw delays averaging five hours. These conditions brought air travel to a grinding halt, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. Rather than waiting hours at O’Hare or Midway in hopes of catching a flight, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for passengers to have a transportation option that delivered effectively under both normal and abnormal conditions? Winter weather advisories should not dictate our mobility. How can we get where we need to go more efficiently? One solution is rail…
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