Cities Going Green

Over the past several decades, numerous planning movements have taken root within the United States. With names like “Urban Renewal,” “Garden Cities,” “Healthy Cities,” “Smart Growth,” “Eco-Cities” and “Sustainability,” these programs promote ways to create, protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of life in cities, towns and suburbs, especially in regards to the natural environment. This guide to the best practices of these programs introduces the rapidly evolving field before presenting more than 40 case studies of communities that are effectively “going green.” An assessment of the future of these towns and cities and resources for citizens and officials seeking additional information conclude the work. By compiling these success stories, this handbook makes an excellent resource for anyone seeking to facilitate the restoration of the natural environment within their community.

Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., ICMA-CM, has been a city manager on both the East and West coasts for more than 25 years. He is presently Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University and a Fellow of The Academy of Political Science.

Carl J. Stephani is a certificated manager of the International City/County Management Association, and, most recently, the executive director of the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency. He has held elected and appointed positions in city and county government, and is the author of a book on zoning, and a host of articles on municipal management, planning, and zoning matters.

Edited by Roger L. Kemp and Carl J. Stephani

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 251
Bibliographic Info: appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5968-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8698-4
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      viii
Preface      1

Part I. Going Green
1. Communities Give New Life to Old Neighborhoods
Steve Garman      5
2. Evolving Green Building Practices
Jim Heid      9
3. Ways to Balance Nature and Commerce
Edward T. McMahon      15
4. Preserving Nature for Future Generations
Thomas Arrandale      19
5. Green Technology and Economic Development
Chad Vander Veen      24

Part II. Best Practices
6. Annapolis and Other Cities Improve Their Water Quality
Don Waye      29
7. Asheville and Other Cities Redesign Their Roadways to Enhance the Environment Insurance Institute for Highway Safety      32
8. Atlanta and Other Cities Improve Their Urban Heat Islands
Maurice Estes, Jr., Dale Quattrochi and Elizabeth Stasiak      37
9. Austin and Other Cities Implement Green Government Practices
Zach Patton      42
10. Billings and Other Cities Encourage Updating Old Structures to Green Standards
Glen Martin      45
11. Blackwater and Other Cities Protect Their Natural Corridors
A. Elizabeth Watson      48
12. Central City Restores Its Watershed Areas
Sharon Harkcom      53
13. Charleston Preserves Its Coastline
Josh Murphy      55
14. Charlotte and Other Cities Construct People Friendly Streets
John N. LaPlante and Barbara McCann      58
15. Chattanooga and Other Cities Invest in Parks and Open Spaces
Margaret C.H. Kelly and Matthew Zieper      63
16. Chicago Develops Sustainable Streetscape Projects
Jay Womack      69
17. Columbus Combines Conservation with Development
Erin Sherer, Anthony Sasson and Tracy Hatmaker      72
18. Concord and Other Cities Encourage Restorative Development
Storm Cunningham      76
19. Dallas and Other Cities Focus Growth Around Transit Hubs
G.M. Filisko      80
20. Daybreak and Other Communities Balance Development and Preservation
Sam Newberg      83
21. Denver and Other Cities Develop Sustainable Neighborhoods
Miriam Landman      87
22. Detroit and Other Cities Join the Urban Greening Movement
Cherie Langlois      93
23. Eugene and Other Cities Create Energy Efficient Buildings
Matt Stansberry      98
24. Flagstaff and Other Cities Develop Walkable Communities
Dan Burden      101
25. Gaithersburg Cleans Its Rivers and Streams
Leah Miller      107
26. Greensburg and Other Cities Establish Eco- Districts
Johanna Brickman      110
27. Hartford Encourages Neighborhood Gardens
Theresa Barger      114
28. Huntersville Revises Its Zoning Laws to Control Growth
Tucker Mitchell      117
29. Ithaca and Other Cities Diversify Their Urban Forests
Jill Mazullo      121
30. Los Angeles and Other Cities Explore Measures to Reduce Air Pollution
Paul Tullis      124
31. Memphis and Other Cities Approve Sustainable Planning Guidelines
Joe McElroy      129
32. Minneapolis and Other Cities Provide Light Rail Transportation Options
John Van Gieson      133
33. North Fair Oaks and Other Cities Consider Health Issues in Their Planning
Heather Wooten      139
34. Oakland and Other Cities Promote Smart Growth Development Practices
Gary Binger and Paul Sedway      144
35. Oregon City and Other Cities Streamline Their Stream Restoration Process
Alan Horton      149
36. Philadelphia and Other Cities Encourage Bicycle Commuting
Lawrence Houstoun      153
37. Portland Advances Green Stormwater Management Practices
Glenn Reinhardt      158
38. Salt Lake City Turns Old Buildings into Green Buildings
Michael Glenn      163
39. San Francisco and Other Cities Reduce Their Air Pollution by Building Bikeways
Kyle Boelte      169
40. Santa Rosa Implements a Build- It- Green Program
Dell Tredinnick      172
41. Savannah and Other Cities Create Fused Grid Street Networks
Fanis Grammenos and Carl J. Stephani      175
42. Seattle and Other Cities Approve Green Building Design Standards
Christopher Hawthorne      182
43. South Amboy Revitalizes Its Aging Waterfront
Alan Hope      185
44. Syracuse and Other Cities Encourage Watershed Education and Restoration
Mat Webber      189
45. Tacoma and Other Cities Redesign Their Roadways for People
Barbara McCann      193
46. Tallahassee Approves and Enforces Clean Water Quality Regulations
John Abendroth      196
47. Washington, D.C., Encourages and Promotes Eco-Friendly Neighborhoods
Greg Plotkin      199

Part III. The Future
48. Communities of the Future
Robert McIntyre      203
49. Cities and Sustainability
Michael Willis      207
50. Cities and Transportation
Ryan Chin      212
51. Cities and Nature
Kevin Fletcher      217
52. Revitalizing America’s Downtowns
Roger L. Kemp and Carl J. Stephani      219

Appendices
A. Periodicals Bibliography      223
B. Glossary      224
C. Acronyms and Abbreviations      227
D. Regional Resource Directory      228
E. National Resource Directory      229
F. State Municipal League Directory      230
G. State Library Directory      231

About the Editors and Contributors      233
Index      235

“recommended”—ARBA.