Smart Growth America

Smart Growth America (SGA) is a US non-profit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. SGA's mission is to ensure that urban development policies foster safe, equitable, and sustainable community growth.[3]

Smart Growth America
Formation2000
Type501(c)(3) organization
PurposeUrban planning, smart growth, sustainable transport, advocacy
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.[1]
President and CEO
Calvin Gladney[2]
Websitesmartgrowthamerica.org

SGA is a coalition of advocacy organizations that have a stake in how urban sprawl affects the environment, quality of life and economic sustainability.[4] It is responsible for marketing smart growth ideas to urban planners and other important stakeholders throughout the U.S.[5]

History

Smart Growth America was established in 2000.[6] In 2002, SGA included over 70 groups, such as American Farmland Trust, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the League of Women Voters for Smart Growth, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the Enterprise Foundation.[1] In 2003, Parris Glendening became the president of SGA’s Leadership Institute.[7]

In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) collaborated with SGA to create the Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative. The initiative uses federal funds to improve public transportation systems in order to foster economic development. SGA offers this initiative on-site aid, a network of allies, and communicative support.[8]

Approach to smart growth

In 2004, SGA commissioned the first survey examining neighborhood preferences among Americans, finding that almost 50% of households prefer transit accessibility and commercial proximity.[9]

In a 2005 report detailing the interconnection between inner ring suburbs and metropolitan growth, SGA defines smart growth as follows:

Smart growth is well-planned development that protects open space and farmland, revitalizes communities, keeps housing affordable and provides more transportation choices.[10]

In a 2006 study examining the transportation benefits associated with smart growth policies, SGA:

Estimates that 69 percent of increased traffic can be attributed to factors associated with sprawl.[11]

Programs

Governors' Institute on Community Design

In 2005, The National Endowment for the Arts facilitated the creation of the Governors' Institute on Community Design, which was based on the Mayors' Institute on City Design and ran through a partnership between Smart Growth America and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.[12] The Governors' Institute on Community Design aids state governments on promoting sustainable community development which can foster social and economic growth.[13]

LOCUS

In 2008, SGA launched LOCUS, an alliance for promoting sustainable urban development in the United States.[14] LOCUS is a national network of real estate developers who launched the Rebuild America's Neighborhoods Campaign, promoting investment towards equitable and green urban development projects.[15]

Transportation for America

In 2008, SGA, Reconnecting America, and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership started a Transportation for America campaign aiming to reform the federal transportation law.[16] Transportation for America advocates for a transportation system that emphasizes maintenance, implements safety designs, and unites the public.[17]

National Complete Streets Coalition

In 2012, Smart Growth America the National Complete Streets Coalition, which advocates for safe and convenient transportation access.[18] The coalition is composed of policy organizations, including the American Planning Association, and user groups, including America Bikes.[19] By 2011, 125 jurisdictions across 38 states had implemented a Complete Streets policy.[19]

State Smart Transportation Initiative

SGA co-operates, alongside the University of Wisconsin, the State Smart Transportation Initiative (SSTI).[20] SSTI encourages environmentally sustainable transportation fostering economic development, while maintaining governmental transparency.[20]

Form-Based Code Institute

Form-Based Code Institute (FBCI) strives to improve the general understanding of form-based codes through creating standards, offering educational programs, and fostering discussions.[21] In a 2016 report about new urbanism in North Texas, FBCI advocated for the importance of form based codes in regulating physical development, rather than zoning areas by their usages.[22]

Partners

Partners include national, state and local groups, working on behalf of the environment, historic preservation, social equity, land conservation, neighborhood redevelopment, farmland protection, and labor. Member groups include the statewide "1000 Friends" organizations, Futurewise, GrowSmart Maine, New Jersey Future, Idaho Smart Growth, and the San Francisco Bay Area's Greenbelt Alliance.[23]

Financials

Smart Growth America's Form 990 shows that their donations rose from $4,826,301 in 2014 to $6,337,043 in 2017.[24]


SGA's Form 990 shows that their compensation related expenses rose from $3,619,183 in 2014 to $4,028,232 in 2017.[24]

References
  1. "Smart Growth and Economic Development: Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works" (PDF). govinfo.gov. March 6, 2002. p. 19. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  2. Boone, Timothy (November 14, 2018). "Want Louisiana to grow? Smart Growth America CEO says it starts with improving transit systems". The Advocate (Louisiana). Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  3. "Who we are". Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  4. "About Us". Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  5. Gray, Regina C. (2007). "Ten Years of Smart Growth: A Nod to Policies Past and a Prospective Glimpse Into the Future". Cityscape. 9 (1): 121. JSTOR 20868608.
  6. Jaffe, Harry (November 1, 2013). "Change Agent: DC's City Planner Harriet Tregoning". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  7. Stephenson, Mitchelle (June 2016). "5 Questions About Smart Growth". AARP. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  8. "Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance: Second Summary Report (Report 0124)". Federal Transit Administration. 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  9. Nelson, Arthur C. (2009). "The New Urbanity: The Rise of a New America". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 626: 192–208. doi:10.1177/0002716209344172. S2CID 153931158.
  10. Lee, Sugie; Leigh, Nancey Green (2005). "The Role of Inner Ring Suburbs in Metropolitan Smart Growth Strategies". Journal of Planning Literature. 19 (3): 330–346. doi:10.1177/0885412204271878. S2CID 73624675.
  11. Behan, Kevin; Maoh, Hanna; Kanaroglou, Pavlos (2008). "Smart growth strategies, transportation and urban sprawl: simulated futures for Hamilton, Ontario". The Canadian Geographer. 52 (3): 291–308. doi:10.1111/j.1541-0064.2008.00214.x. ISSN 1541-0064.
  12. "Governors' Institute on Community Design | Adaptation Clearinghouse". www.adaptationclearinghouse.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  13. "mission — Governors' Institute on Community Design". www.govinstitute.org. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  14. "LOCUS". Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  15. "As House unveils new tax plan, LOCUS launches Rebuild America's Neighborhoods campaign". Smart Growth America. November 3, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  16. Buffa, Andrea (January 8, 2010). "Transportation bill could produce environmental and job benefits in 2010". Grist. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  17. "Platform (Principles updated 2019)". Transportation For America. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  18. "National Complete Streets Coalition". Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  19. "Complete Streets in the United States" (PDF).
  20. "» About SSTI SSTI". Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  21. "About". Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  22. "RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN NEW URBANIST LANDSCAPES IN NORTH TEXAS: LEARNING FROM ADDISION CIRCLE, AUSTIN RANCH AND HOMETOWN" (PDF).
  23. "Partners". Smart Growth America. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  24. "Smart Growth America". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
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