Choosing Our Community's Future is the rare resource designed specifically for regular citizens who want to make a positive contribution to shaping the growth and development of their neighborhoods, towns and regions. The guidebook from Smart Growth America will help readers make rational, compelling arguments against poorly conceived plans, but more importantly, it will help them paint a vision of the development that they would like to see take place in their community.

The guidebook will help you learn how to:

· Tame "big box" retail centers

[Read More] The 90-page book is available for purchase for $10.00

Grow Smart Rhode Island will provide a FREE copy to the first ten people that request one. Email us to request a free copy.

State Police Headquarters Siting

State Historic Preservation Investment Tax Credit Program

Watch for a more complete legislative wrap-up analysis in next month's issue.

Over 75 smart growth practitioners and advocates from around Rhode Island gathered at the Rising Sun Mills on June 24th to network and exchange ideas on implementing smart growth development.

The event, hosted by Grow Smart and sponsored by Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse, PUENTE Providence and The Armory Revival Company, was designed to build a stronger network among Grow Smart's supporters and leaders ranging from advertisers in Grow Smart's online Yellow Pages and major funders to our Board of Directors, Advisory Council and staff.

- See more pictures from the event

When the United States Supreme Court voted on June 23rd, by a 5-4 vote, to uphold the rights of government to take land by eminent domain for private economic development purposes, it unleashed a national debate among community planners, citizens and smart growth advocates.

Below is a selection of reaction and news accounts from national and local sources.

The American Planning Association

Smart Growth America

The New York Times

CNN

Providence Journal

Providence Business News

The State of Rhode Island, together with the Providence Plan, has recently created on-line maps of 1000 state buildings and 23,000 acres of state land. The maps are precise and comprehensive in the 12 communities that provided digital parcels maps (indicated in dark green). The also provide key descriptive data and allow users to pick the scale and adjust what is viewed. State buildings were mapped using aerial photography and guidance from state officials. Land and buildings were matched up against municipal digital parcels maps.

It is hoped the remaining communities that have parcels data (light green) will share it in a next phase to further complete the maps. (Communities in red do not have data.)

Visitors can explore this technology by clicking HERE

Grow Smart would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals and organizations for their generous support during the second quarter of 2005.

Individuals

Foundations

Corporations

Nonprofit Organizations

Your tax deductible donation to Grow Smart RI enables us to continue producing this newsletter and developing and spreading the word about smart growth policies and programs that strengthen our cities and protect our countryside.

See how easy it is to make a secure online contribution

Over the past 26 years, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission has produced 60 survey publications for each of the state's 39 towns, for specific neighborhoods, and for thematic projects. Although the publications are out-of-print, they remain invaluable resources for researchers, history buffs, and residents.

NEW! All survey publications have now been converted into pdf-format documents to read online and to download.

Click here to find the survey for your community.

How can community assets be best mobilized to benefit the communities in which they are located? This question lies at the crux of the Lincoln Institute's CommunityLots website which ties together four initiatives on land markets:

• Brownfields/Abandoned Lots Redevelopment;
• Universities and Neighborhoods;
• Community Land Trusts (CLTs); and
• Toolbox for Community Based Organizations:

The Community Lots website will bring together a diverse group of people committed to revitalization and development of neighborhoods and communities. Highlights of the CommunityLots website include:

• Discussion forum to facilitate information sharing;
• On-line submission and posting of community examples and experiences;
• Calendar and on-line registration for courses, workshops and seminars; and
• Resource Library:

National

Statewide

Aquidneck Island

Barrington

Block Island

Exeter

Foster

Middletown

Newport

North Kingstown

Providence

Shannock Village

South Kingstown

Warren

West Warwick

Westerly

Woonsocket