As part of PBS’s “Blueprint America,” Dan Kildee, president of the Center for Community Progress, discusses the benefits of the survival of “shrinking cities” within a national perspective. He uses his past experiences in Flint, Michigan to explain the ways in which post-industrial cities are able to reposition themselves through a land bank model.
-> Continue reading Dan Kildee Discusses Land Banking within the National Agenda
Approximately ten years ago, Dan Kildee developed the concept of land banks. In a land bank, public authorities or non-profit organizations take the land title of vacant or abandoned properties and work to redevelop or beautify it to improve the condition of the local community. Land banks have grown several-fold and according to Kildee, “gives
-> Continue reading 2011 Land Bank Conference Successful
In 2008, the EPA provided technical assistance to several cities to promote environmental sustainability at local brownfields projects. Assistance improves the environmental performance/sustainability of assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. The pilot assistance also encourages initiatives such as energy efficient and affordable housing, reuse and recycling of construction materials, establishment and maintenance of community green roofs, development
-> Continue reading EPA’s Brownfields Sustainability Pilots
The EPA selected 23 communities to receive up to $175,000.00 in grant funding and/or technical assistance to develop an area-wide plan for the assessment, cleanup, and reuse of brownfields. The program will help under-served and economically disadvantaged communities by confronting brownfield-related public health and environmental issues and, thus, creating opportunities for economic development and job
-> Continue reading EPA’s Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Programs
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society published “Reclaiming Vacant Lots: A Philadelphia Green Guide.” The document outlines a strategy for vacant land reclamation, site control – determining the land owner and how that ownership determines the reclamation strategy, site assessment guides, site design elements and options, site preparation – cleaning, grading, and soil preparation, tree planting and
-> Continue reading Reclaiming Vacant Lots: A Philadelphia Green Guide