Urban sprawl refers to the development of
single-family houses such as suburban track homes and housing developments that
are steadily replacing our farmlands and rural landscapes. With the current
rate of population growth worldwide this is an issue that has serious
implications. This smart Growth initiative is an interesting subject that
begins to address it as well as appropriate uses for brownfields.
The following is an excerpt taken from the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Web Page.
(Fehttp://www.epa.gov/brownfields/policy/initiatives_co.htmatures
Bridgeport, CT, Clearwater, FL, and Tacoma, WA Pilots)
Smart
Growth
The occurrence of urban sprawl and non-sustainable development has
become a growing concern for communities across the nation. The concept of
smart growth recognizes the connections between development and quality of
life, leveraging new growth that complements the area while revitalizing
underutilized and abandoned brownfields in established communities. Smart
growth helps to protect open space and prime agricultural lands. The features
that define smart growth vary from place to place and community to community.
In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring
vitality to center cities and older suburbs. Successful communities tend to
have one common thread – a vision of the future and an understanding of what is
important to their communities.
Smart growth is development that serves the economy, the community,
and the environment. It changes the terms of the development debate away from
the traditional growth/no growth question to "how and where should new
development be accommodated."
Brownfields redevelopment is an integral component to smart growth. By
redeveloping a brownfield in an older city or suburban neighborhood, a
community can remove blight and environmental contamination, create a catalyst
for neighborhood revitalization, lessen development pressure at the urban edge,
and use existing infrastructure.
Success
Stories: Green
Theme Story (Sustainable Redevelopment)
