Affordable Housing Update
The General Assembly adjourned in the early hours of
July 3 without revising the Low and Moderate Income
Housing Act. Grow Smart Rhode Island had supported
a position of "mend it, not end it".
A "compromise" bill which incorporates language
developed by Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy and
a group of stakeholders, including Grow Smart, as well
as provisions developed by Senator John Celona's
committee passed the House around 10 pm on the final
evening but was never introduced on the Senate floor.
The legislation would have balanced the need for
greater control by local governments with the need to
encourage the creation of additional affordable housing.
However, there is still a chance that the Senate could
take up the issue if it reconvenes as expected to
override the Governor's promised veto of the state
budget.
Housing Resources & Links
House Bill H6615
Senate Bill 300
Statewide Housing Action Coalition
RI Housing Resources Commission
Brookings Symposium speech on relationship between affordable housing & growth management
Affordable Housing Design Advisor
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Dear John,
Welcome to another issue of "Smart Growth e-Briefs", a
monthly update of the latest happenings in the smart
growth movement. Readers are invited to forward
items or suggestions for future material.
Click here
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| Grow Smart Earns Major Grant | | | The Jesse B. Cox Charitable Trust has awarded Grow
Smart Rhode Island a two-year grant totaling
$100,000.00. The grant will support Grow Smart's
policy reform activities. Among other things, Grow
Smart will work for a more smart growth-oriented
economic development strategy, a policy of targeted
state investments for designated growth centers, new
incentives for redeveloping vacant and abandonned
property - including brownfields, affordable housing,
aggressive land conservation and an update of our
Candidates Briefing Book for 2004 legislative candidates. While this grant represents a significant boost to Grow
Smart, the need for additional fundraising among
foundations, corporations and individuals remains
critical to the continued success of the smart growth
movement in Rhode Island. See Who Else is Contributing to Grow Smart | | |
| New Fire Rules Shouldn't Weaken Rehab Code | | | According to Thomas B. Coffey, Esq. and George S.
Farrell, the gains that were achieved through Rhode
Island's recent adoption of its rehab code will not be
negatively impacted by the new fire rules currently
being finalized for adoption. Tom serves as Executive
Director of the RI State Fire Board, Executive Secretary
of the RI State Rehabilitation Board and Legal Counsel
to the State Building Commission. George is
Providence's Deputy Fire Marshall, Chairman of the RI
State Fire Board and Chairman of the RI Joint Rehab
Board of Appeals. The two made a detailed
presentation to the Grow Smart Board of Directors at
its June 25 meeting. RI State Rehab Code
RI State Fire Code
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| Smart City Radio Available on Public Radio | | |  Smart City is a weekly, hour-long public radio talk
show that takes an in-depth look at urban life, the
people, places, ideas and trends shaping cities. Host
Carol Coletta talks with national and international public
policy experts, elected officials, economists, business
leaders, artists, developers, planners and others for a
penetrating discussion of urban issues. "Smart City" is
a nationally-underwritten program, free to public radio
stations.Want to hear "Smart City" in Rhode Island? Email your
public radio station and tell the program director you'd
like to hear Smart City in our area. Listen to archived shows anytime on-line
Email a request to WRNI
Email a request to WGBH
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| Brownfield Clean-up Fund Gets $3 Million Grant | | |  The U.S. EPA awarded the Rhode Island Economic
Develoment Corporation a $3 million grant to further
capitalize its Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund. The
money is available to applicants in the form of low-
interest loans to help assess, clean and redevelop
abandoned, contaminated parcels known as Brownfields.Nationwide, Brownfields assistance has leveraged more
than $4.6 billion in private investment, helped create
more than 20,000 jobs and has resulted in the
assessment of more than 4,000 properties. EPA
estimates that every acre of reclaimed Brownfields
saves 4.5 acres of greenspace and every greenspace
created, on average, has doubled the value of
surrounding properties. Understanding Brownfields / Apply for Financial Assistance
Citizens Guide to Brownfields
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| Economic-Environmental Partnership Conference - 7/17 | | | Grow Smart Rhode Island has teamed up with the
Rhode Island Chapter of the Enviromental Business
Council of New England to convene a forum entitled
Economic-Environmental Partnerships for Smartgrowth:
Shaping a New State Agenda. Come meet the directors of Rhode Island's principal
economic development and environmental regulatory
agencies and participate in an interactive moderated
discussion. Click Here for Details and to Register | | |
| Smart Growth Zoning Codes | | |  Communities throughout North America are calling for
development that creates humanscale neighborhoods
and not "garage-scape" subdivisions. Unfortunately,
many local governments' zoning codes are actually
standing in the way of the type of development that
residents want.Based on research of more than 150 smart growth
zoning codes from across the nation, this guidebook
helps planners design a zoning code that encourages
the construction of walkable, mixed use neighborhoods
and the revitalization of existing places.
Learn More
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If You Appreciate Our Work ... |
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... why not make a modest contribution. Grow Smart Rhode Island is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization representing a broad coalition of interests dedicated to reversing the negative impacts of sprawl and urban disinvestment. We depend on tax-deductible contributions from organizations and concerned individuals to carry out the fight for better-managed growth, a strong, sustainable economy, a healthy environment and a just society for all Rhode Islanders. Please consider a donation of $30, $50, $100, $500, $1000 or whatever is right for your budget. We'll send a written tax-deductible receipt for your records. Simply click on the credit card below. Thank you.
Download our printed form and mail in
See Who's Contributing to Grow Smart
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