AROUND THE REGION

US Green Building Council (USGBC) Announces LEED-ND Pilot Project Selections

August 17, 2007
With eight pilot projects hailing from Illinois, the USGBC's LEED-ND program is underway. The Campaign was sponsor of legislation SB 135 which provides incentives for LEED-ND development in Illinois.

Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) Available by Public Application

May 30, 2007
The Urban Land Institute Chicago (ULI Chicago) partnered with the Campaign for Sensible Growth in 2002 to create a model of technical assistance to address different challenges that Chicago area communities face.

Campaign and Partners Release Findings of Two Watershed Planning Projects

May 9, 2007
Collaborative work completed in the Kishwaukee and Kankakee River watersheds paves the way for other communities seeking regional solutions to water management challenges.

Park Forest: the new community model

February 27, 2007
Campaign for Sensible Growth/Urban Land Institute-Chicago 2003 Technical Assistance Panel spawns success in south suburban Park Forest, Ill.

Smart Growth America’s States Initiative Includes Campaign in Illinois Governor Outreach

February 22, 2007
Read the letter sent to Gov. Blagojevich as well as SGA's planning policy framework.

Retail 1-2-3: a new resource for communities

February 2, 2007
This latest resource offers a complete look at retail development - from assessing your community's needs to attracting the businesses you want. Retail 1-2-3 is the third in a series of free workbooks designed to help Illinois communities achieve balanced growth. Similiar to Planning 1-2-3, the Campaign and its partners are developing a companion training workshop to help municipalities around the region apply the principles of Retail 1-2-3 to their own communities.

Comprehensive Planning Workshop Available to Municipal Officials

September 5, 2006
Three September dates have been set for roll-out events marking the release of Planning 1-2-3, a step-by-step guide for Illinois municipal officials to prepare a local comprehensive plan for their communities.

Reducing Oil Consumption Requires more than Simply Raising Prices

August 11, 2006
Michael Davidson, Manager of the Campaign for Sensible Growth, responds to a recent commentary from the Chicago Tribune. Posted in the online version of the Tribune on August 15.

Riverdale Secures Federal Funds for Further Redevelopment: Village Capitalizes on National Trend

July 17, 2006
Riverdale, which borders Chicago and is in the process of trying to revitalize its troubled Pacesetter neighborhood, is the recent beneficiary of federal funds for redevelopment and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Peterson-Pulaski Industrial Corridor TAP Highlights Local Strength in a Global System

June 29, 2006
A recent TAP was optimistic about the future of Chicago-based industry and manufacturing, suggesting that "nurturing" current strengths would generate more desirable results than more radical measures such as re-zoning. If it works, the panel decided, then don't fix it.

Campaign-ULI TAP Community Receives Big Financial Boost

May 19, 2006
Chicago Community Loan Fund made a record $1 million loan to the Historic Pacesetter Limited Partnership in 2005. The Riverdale neighborhood was the focus of a 2003 technical assistance panel sponsored by the Campaign for Sensible Growth and Urban Land Institute-Chicago, culminating in a bold plan to redevelop Pacesetter as a mixed-use, mixed-income community.

Kankakee County’s New Stormwater Ordinance a Step Toward Sustainble Growth

May 15, 2006
Kankakee County’s new ordinance for stormwater and erosion control will improve water quality, protect valuable resources, and encourage cooperation between municipalities. The ordinance details prohibited actions, discharge requirements, permitting, variances, and appeal processes, and is consistent with a federal initiative to mitigate the effects of construction and industry on the nation’s water supply. The ordinance goes into effect on August 1st for unincorporated areas of the county.

Promoting Community Dialog, Protecting Community Values: ULI Chicago and the Campaign Engage the Future of Chicago's Andersonville and North Clark Street

May 11, 2006
Andersonville faces distinct problems, namely, sustaining the character and affordability of Andersonville ’s center while generating sensibly planned growth to the north and south. Local leaders, believing development of both areas must be in sync, contacted the Urban Land Institute-Chicago (ULI) and the Campaign for Sensible Growth to organize a Technical Assistance Panel of experts to study the situation, meet stakeholders, and offer policy recommendations.

Pilot watershed projects complete action plans

January 31, 2006
Interim watershed plan reports have been released for the Trim Creek and Greater Marengo-Union Area watersheds.

Campaign, ULI honor TAP participants, hear results of three technical assistance panels

December 14, 2005
Panelists, participants hear reports on 2005 Midlothian, Peterson-Pulaski (industrial corridor) and Andersonville-Clark Street technical assistance panels.

St. Charles: A Regional Leader on Housing

October 19, 2005
The city of St. Charles has moved forward on retaining and increasing its affordable housing supply in a series of actions that should stand as a model for other communities.

Peterson-Pulaski Industrial Corridor: To be or not to be?

September 14, 2005
Panel of experts at Campaign for Sensible Growth/ULI Chicago Technical Assistance Panel look at remaking of Chicago industrial corridor to face the future.

LaSalle County votes for zoning, Campaign membership

August 22, 2005
In a raucous meeting, the LaSalle County Board took a giant step and approved continued work on zoning. The board also approved membership to the Campaign for Sensible Growth.

School Impact Fee Model Developed in Lake County

July 27, 2005
Committee works to find exact costs of new construction to local schools.

Midlothian: Building a New Town Center

July 11, 2005
Following two days of intensive review, a Technical Assistance Panel provides recommendations for development in downtown Midlothian.

Developer, Conservation Foundation Team Up to Create Conservation Friendly Neighborhood

March 4, 2005
Upscale development to feature native landscaping, open space and rain gardens.

Chicago is Second Most Global City in U.S.: Brookings

February 24, 2005
New study analyzes most "globally connected" metropolitan areas, ranking Chicago second, but noting European cities far more globally connected than American.

Update on Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act

February 15, 2005
An update on actions taken around the region by communities that must comply with the recently passed affordable housing act -- and those that see the need for affordable housing.

Landscape Honor Award to Campaign Member

February 11, 2005
Wolff Clements & Associates receives award for natural setting, conservation techniques in Orland Park project.

The Case for Joining Forces: Affordable Housing and Quality Education

January 17, 2005
Pointing out the public policy connections between affordable housing, quality of education and property taxes.

News about open land from Kane, Will and Kendall counties

December 30, 2004
Counties prepare for referenda on open space acquisition

Railroad Grade Separation Project – What a Grand Idea!

November 4, 2004
A major effort to alleviate congestion in Franklin Park and its surrounding area begins with ground-breaking on an underpass under Grand Avenue.

Sensible Growth Facts for the Northeastern Illinois Region

October 18, 2004
A compilation of regional statistics regarding population and development, as of October 2004.

Sensible Growth Facts

July 6, 2004
A compilation of statistics regarding population growth, employment, and development for the Chicago metropolitan area.

10 Principles for Rebuilding Neighborhood Retail

June 28, 2004
Michael Pawlukiewicz, national Urban Land Institute director of environment and policy education, reports on ULI’s newest booklet aimed at developers and neighborhoods on developing retail.

Chicago retail: It all depends on cycles

June 28, 2004
Retail specialist Stan Nitzberg looks at the city's retail development in relation to economic cycles and Urban Land Institute principles of retail development

Panel recommends strategy to revive downtown Joliet

June 1, 2004
ULI Chicago and the Campaign for Sensible Growth recommend housing and retail development strategies for the city of Joliet and City Center Partnership.

Urban Land Institute and Campaign for Sensible Growth to Lend Technical Assistance to Joliet's Downtown Revitalization Plans

May 13, 2004
MEDIA ADVISORY

CorLands aids Yorkville to buy, preserve riverfront land

May 7, 2004
The City of Yorkville has purchased preserved riverfront land for park space with the aid of CorLands.

Priority Places: Panel discusses ways to implement sensible growth, improve sense of place

April 13, 2004
At Kane County's annual planning workshop, a trio advised cities and towns how to improve a community's sense of place.

South suburban “Corridors of Tomorrow” look good; time to explode the myths

January 28, 2004
Look at the bright side of the hard statistics, advise business experts.

State of comprehensive planning in the six-county region: a NIPC analysis

January 28, 2004
Comprehensive plans emphasize economic development over environmental, transportation or housing issues.

South suburban planning, zoning commissioners gather for NIPC, APA training

January 28, 2004
Lessons learned on holding hearings for controversial projects.

Park Forest included in national exhibition on American transportation history; village continues to work on TAP goals

January 21, 2004
Park Forest, as an example of a post-World War II suburb, is featured with Chicago at the American National History Museum, Washington, D.C.

Corlands aids in preserving Boy Scout property

November 28, 2003
MOre than 400 acres will remain open space due to a purchase of the property through Corlands, funding from the feds.

Lake County Communities Get Help With Park Planning

October 31, 2003
While open space in Lake County is being developed at breakneck pace, some local governments are preparing to seize opportunities to save green space and parkland when it becomes available. CorLands, a nonprofit conservation group, has helped them develop open space master plans – free of charge.

A Compendium of Sensible Growth Facts for the Northeastern Illinois Region

October 18, 2003
Factors that affect sensible growth are compiled in a snapshot look at Northeastern Illinois

IIT offers certificate program for environmental manager

September 2, 2003
Courses offered in environmental management for those with undergraduate degree.

Does Where You Live Make You Thin?

August 28, 2003
New study finds relationship between obesity and sprawling communities in Chicago region.

Railroads, transportation agencies release action plan to ease Chicago rail congestion

August 6, 2003
Freight congestion means rail traffic takes two days from either coast to get to Chicago -- and two more days to get across town. The railroads and their supporters unveil a new plan to ease congestion.

APA Prexy Calls for Answers to Fundamental Challenges

August 5, 2003
The greatest change in federal transportation, housing and environmental policy since the late 1960s are at hand, and we should be concerned.

Burnham Award to IIT for Campus Master Plan

July 1, 2003
Updating classic campus with new residential living and links to surrounding neighborhood wins annual planning award.

Quad Cities Balanced Growth Project

June 12, 2003
Series of reports on MetroLINK efforts in the Quad Cities to foster regional commitment to development that will promote urban and economic growth in the 21st century.

Density needn't be that "dirty word"

June 6, 2003
Panel discusses use of concept, word density in planning.

All Aboard: Bringing Transit to a Community Near You

May 21, 2003
Transportation roundtable looks at dos and don'ts for securing federal funds under TEA-3

Chicago teens get jump-start on civic responsibility at Common Ground workshop

May 14, 2003
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission Common Ground process brings in teenagers who participate in identifying goals for 2030.

Public-private partnerships key to success of sensible growth

April 17, 2003
ULI Senior Fellow speaks to planners of ways to increase cooperation between public sector and private developers.

South suburban stakeholders work together on regional issues

April 7, 2003
Suburban groups work on transportation investment, property tax relief and rational and economic development.

Highland Park Establishes Community Land Trust; Seeks Executive Director

April 7, 2003
North Shore city seeking head of the region's first community land trust.

Lake County Launches Web-Survey on Plan

February 22, 2003
With most of the chapters completed in the Lake County Regional Framework Plan, the county is seeking public comment via the Internet.

Conference Explores Growth in Kendall County

January 3, 2003
At a fall conference in and about Kendall County, speakers urged county-municipal cooperation, natural plantings and watershed planning in the face of spectacular population growth.

Smart Growth -- How Does Chicago Measure Up?

November 20, 2002
Paul Farmer, president of the American Planning Association, talks of the new planning "rage" -- smart growth both nationwide and in Chicago at a Chicago Chapter APA meeting.

Highwood, Ill: Revitalizing Downtown

October 14, 2002
Officials in Highwood have begun to reassess the future of the city's downtown to accommodate a growing and more diverse population. The Campaign, in co-sponsorship with the Chicago Urban Land Institute, held a Technical Assistance Panel to recommend steps for redevelopment.

The Relationship Between Race & Sprawl: A Panel Discussion

October 10, 2002
Sensible growth experts, housing advocates and other concerned with inner city and inner-ring suburban growth met to begin to fashion an action agenda for the Campaign's Urban Affairs Working Group.

Action Agenda for Urban Affairs Working Group: DRAFT

October 10, 2002
Proposals from the GMLA "Race and Sprawl" discussion

Experts explain, advocate Traditional Neighborhood Design

September 17, 2002
Speakers at a recent sustainable development lecture series explained how traditional neighborhood design and green building techniques can make cities more livable.

Richmond, Ill.: Investing in the Past to Plan for the Future

August 20, 2002
A new series of technical assistance panels offered by the Campaign and Chicago ULI in 2002 will help Richmond, Highwood and Chicago's West Humboldt Park deal with their unique growth planning concerns.

Kane County farmers flock to preservation program

August 15, 2002
From the Chicago Sun-Times, a look at how Kane County farmers have accepted the idea of purchasing agricultural development rights.

Campaign, MPC support efforts to foster economic development in Chicago's Southland

July 15, 2002
An update on the activities of the Economic Development Roundtable, and a link to a database of organizations promoting sensible growth and economic development in the south suburbs.

Rochester Mayor to keynote Campaign membership meeting; topic is civil rights and smart/sensible growth.

July 5, 2002
Mayor William Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Task Force on Smart Growth and Regionalism, will address the Campaign's July 17th membership meeting.

Gubernatorial candidates speak on issues of sensible growth, education, transportation

July 1, 2002
At the Metropolitan Planning Council's annual meeting, the gubernatorial candidates explained their positions on issues of importance to the Campaign.

America is Engrossed in Smart Growth: APA Official

June 28, 2002
American Planning Association government affairs coordinator speaks to planners about increases in smart growth activity nationwide, urges action locally.

APA Metro Chicago offers scholarship for State Conference

May 15, 2002
The American Planning Association -Chicago Metro Section will offer four scholarships to the annual State Conference, June 13-14 at Starved Rock.

IDNR, Tri-County Planning Commission release maps of area growth

February 14, 2002
Using advanced GIS software, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Tri-County Planning Commission have mapped development patterns in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties, demonstrating the effects of 30 years of growth.

Sprawl Watch issues "Green Infrastructure" monograph

February 12, 2002
Mark Benedict and Edward McMahon of The Conservation Fund author a new report, "Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21st Century."

Planning Commissioner On-Line training class

January 28, 2002
The Lake County Department of Planning, Building and Development offers a 4-week training session on-site and on-line workshop for Planning Commissioners

Lake Forest secure downzoning in Route 60 corridor, option to acquire Conway property

January 17, 2002
The City of Lake Forest reached agreement with a local developer to eliminate potential commercial use on the largest remaining tract of undeveloped land within its boundaries.

National AFL-CIO adopts resolution on sprawl

December 13, 2001
The AFL-CIO passed its first-ever resolution on urban sprawl and smart growth Dec. 3 at its national convention. The resolution was submitted by the Chicago Federation of Labor.

Garfield Farm Museum seeks funds to save adjoining farm, thwart development

December 10, 2001
Garfield Farm Museum, LaFox, seek to raise $2.5 million to buy adjacent Mongerson Brothers farm.

Gov. Ryan Announces Illinois Tomorrow Award Winners

December 7, 2001
At a meeting of the Campaign for Sensible Growth, Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood presented nine Illinois Tomorrow awards.

What's Up for Sensible Growth?

November 12, 2001
Paul Green, Barack Obama, Brook McDonald will speak at the December Campaign membership meeting on "What's Ahead Politically?" for sensible growth legislation.

Campaign Roundtable to focus on natural resource preservation

October 29, 2001
Farmland preservation, water quality action and a new initiative for natural planning will be the topics at the Campaign's next Roundtable Nov. 7.

Rescheduled! National experts tackle region's #1 housing problem

October 3, 2001
On October 24, an Urban Land Institute panel will recommend better ways to develop housing for working families in Humboldt Park, Highland Park and Hanover Park.

Campaign/ULI Symposium rescheduled to Oct. 24, 2001

September 12, 2001
Forging Partnerships: Overcoming Community Resistance to Developing Workforce Housing, the third annual symposium of the Campaign and ULI, has been rescheduled to Oct. 24, 2001.