12.31.05
While we hate to close the year on a low note, here's an interesting website that claims to list some of the world's worst places. Sadly, the American suburban environment is fairly well-represented on the list (though thankfully--we think--nowhere in the River Region made the rankings).
12.30.05
Here's an article from the Montgomery Advertiser discussing the new mixed-use projects that the City Loft Corporation is doing in Cloverdale. Needless to say, this is the type of infill project that is the epitome of smart growth. And, indeed, we've seen detailed renderings and the project looks absolutely great.
Hopefully this is the type of event that instigates more high-quality infill re-development in the area.
12.28.05
Today's Montgomery Advertiser has an article discussing how Millbrook is providing incentives to Walmart (essentially rebating half of its sales tax charges in order to reimburse for infrastructure expenses incurred by Walmart--a truly one-sided deal in favor of this retailing giant if we've ever seen one).
Ken Groves hits the nail on the head with this quote though:
"People should not be giving Wal-Mart incentives. They know where they're going to make money," he said. "What communities ought to be doing is deciding what they're going to require of Wal-Mart to participate in their market and you can get better than just a plain blue and gray Wal-Mart store."
Mayor Kelley of Millbrook noted his disagreement but its nevertheless misplaced. The reality is that nobody "recruits" Walmart to their community. Walmart decides in advance where it wants to be--and then creates an artificial bidding war with a foregone conclusion. In these instances the question is not "if" Walmart will locate in Millbrook, but only "where" within Millbrook it will locate.
In other words, Millbrook could not offer a single incentive and Walmart would still come. Oh sure, it may feign that its walking away from the table but, in reality, Walmart has already made the decision that its coming to Millbrook and now its simply trying to get Millbrook to give away whatever Walmart can talk them out of.
Unfortunately, one drive through Millbrook's commercial strip and it appears that Walmart is simply doing what many others already have. That is why Millbrook is poised to become a perfect example for how not to develop in so many ways...
12.20.05
As the year comes to a close, the River Region has experienced some fantastic Smart Growth efforts this year like continued development of The Waters, the Hampstead (wonderfully creative Christmas cards, by the way) and Historic Southview charrettes, and Pike Road's passage of a SmartCode.
Unfortunately, one area that still continues to face many contradictory results is downtown Montgomery itself. This article, this article, and this article--all recently from the Montgomery Advertiser--demonstrate the continued struggle downtown.
The truth is that, while convention centers and ballparks are important, downtown Montgomery simply will not achieve true revitalization until it fosters a permanent resident population. That's just a reality if you look around the country at other downtown successes.
Hopefully, the loft projects and several others rumored to be on the drawing board will create this critical mass. As one really smart and informed person once remarked--"downtowns are first revitalized by meeting the needs of local residents and then tourists and visitors."
12.19.05
Here's a story from Sunday's Jackson Clarion-Ledger regarding Ocean Springs, MS and their efforts to adopt transect-based zoning in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
12.15.05
Don't believe the suggestions that commuter rail service is viable outside the Northeast?
This article further refutes that inaccurate argument.
Is there really any reason why the River Region couldn't do this too?
12.14.05
Here's a good article from this month's New Urban News on some of the zoning code issues from the Mississippi Renewal Forum. Ken Groves and I will be returning in mid-January to do more Q&A sessions regarding transect-based zoning--this time for Gautier and Pascagoula.
Also, for those of you who might be interested, you can find the preliminary FEMA flood maps for the Mississippi Gulf Coast here.
12.13.05
This editorial from the Atlanta Journal Constitution does an excellent job making the point that we've been advocating since we started: If left to its own devices, the private market will gravitate toward smart growth projects because 1) the general public is increasingly demanding such projects and 2) smart growth projects make more fiscal sense.
This is why we feel entirely comfortable seeking only that transect-based coding (like the SmartCode) be a legal option in all municipalities. Another zoning tool in the overall zoning toolbox.
Comfortable because this is where the private market will end up on its own without regulatory forcing.
12.12.05
Here's an interesting article discussing the future of big box retailers, including some of the zoning regulations that some North Carolina municipalities are adopting to restrict the negative long-term effects of these type buildings. One key thing to note from the article is that simply requiring "prettier" facades to buidings won't mitigate their negative impacts. Instead, the building itself must be built to sync up properly with an overall context.
12.11.05
Click here, here, and here for images from last week's SmartCode discussion session in Ocean Springs.
12.09.05
Ken Groves and I returned from some very interesting SmartCode discussion sessions with various Mississippi Gulf Coast municipalities affected by Hurricane Katrina. The discussions were sponsored by the Governor's Commission and proved very effective and well-attended.
Here is an article and here is another regarding one of those meetings.
12.05.05
Here's an interesting article about how several New Urban/Smart Growth leaders have been tapped to assist in the Louisiana recovery effort too. Combined with the Mississippi effort (incidently, where I'm typing this entry from right now as it's midnight at the Gulf Hills resort in Ocean Springs and Ken Groves and I just finished a long, rewarding day of advising local communities on zoning code issues), and it appears that the mainstream decision-makers are beginning to realize that Smart Growth is a mainstream response in these important times.
11.29.05
Notice also that we've now added the Pike Road, Alabama SmartCode Text, Adopting Ordinance, and Introduction on the left toolbar. We hope to add the actual Pike Road SmartCode tables later.
11.28.05
Notice on the left sidebar that we've just added the SmartCode text and SmartCode tables for Flowood, Mississippi. Feel free to contact us at cemerson@faulkner.edu if you have any questions.
11.25.05
My recent editorial regarding Smart Growth schools has been picked up by the New Schools Better Neighborhoods website. Overall, a great website resource for this important issue.
11.24.05
For those of you with decently fast computers, a great video from the Mississippi Renewal Forum is now available for free download. It's professionally done and does a good job catching the unique "feel" of the event.
11.22.05
The lastest Smart Growth America email newsletter is now out and it includes several recent stories from the Montgomery Advertiser.
Also, the EPA has announced its annual Smart Growth awards--with a former amusement park now mixed-use Denver area project taking top honors. Definitely worth a read.
11.20.05
The Seaside Institute will be holding an important New Urbanism conference at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi from November 30-December 1. Contact Leslie Scott at the Seaside Institute (850.231.2421) for more details.
Also, be on the lookout for the January issue of Planning magazine as we've been interviewed several times regarding the SmartCode and Flowood, Mississippi.
Finally, the law school is excited to announce that it will be offering for its students what it believes to be the nation's first law school course focused solely on Smart Growth law. This seminar course will be on Thursday afternoons this upcoming Winter/Spring semester and will result in a variety of "white papers" on Smart Growth legal issues. The course will be conducted by Professor Chad Emerson with Nathan Norris of The Waters and Placemakers also participating. Contact cemerson@faulkner.edu for more details on this exciting development.
11.16.05
All of the final community plans from the Mississippi Renewal Forum are now posted. We highly, highly recommeding taking the time to read these amazing documents as they represent the very best of what Smart Growth and New Urbanism have to offer. And, while you're at it, you might browse the Forum website in general as you'll find many interesting articles and other presentations.
Also, I'll be moderating a day-long, intensive SmartCode Work Session for the Governor's Commission on Friday in Gulfport, MS at the Jefferson Davis Branch of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. So far, the response has been huge to this free work session with a capacity crowd expected (Ken Groves, Montgomery's Director of Planning and Development will also be participating along with Sandy Sorlien, Bill Wright, and Kevin Watson from the Forum codes team).
Just another example of how the Gulf Coast citizens are determined to turn this terrible tragedy into a unique opportunity that could serve as a great legacy for years to come.
11.15.05
We're excited to pass along news that the next SmartCode Workshop has been scheduled for March 2-4, 2006 in Biloxi. The proximity of this event to the River Region makes for a great opportunity to attend this highly-informative workshop led by Andres Duany.
11.08.05
Here we are on the first day at River Region Smart Growth's new location. Please make sure and re-bookmark the site as all future Updates will be made here (though the old site will remain up for old Updates--at least for the foreseeable future.
And, to start our first day off on an interesting note, here's a recent article discussing how Wal-Mart might be willing to think outside the box as it considers rebuilding its destroyed stores on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Cautiously encouraging is our feeling...
NOTE: THE UPDATES BELOW HAVE BEEN IMPORTED FROM THE OLD RIVERREGIONSMARTGROWTH.COM WEBSITE. DURING THE IMPORT, ALL LINKS WERE LOST. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE LINKED ARTICLE, YOU CAN EITHER CONTACT US AT cemerson@faulkner.edu OR GO /o/admin/websites/cemerson/RiverRegionSmartGrowth.htm
The convention business is a “mature” industry. It is not growing. In fact, top-tier cities are cannibalizing and competing for business with smaller cities.