Small towns like Carmel, Indiana have gained national prominence after redeveloping into "cities where people can live, work and play," writes Haya El Nassar.
"It's a trend emerging in an increasing number of commuter suburbs," observes Nassar, "from Texas and Colorado to Alabama, continuing to blur the lines between urban and suburban." The former bedroom community of Carmel, Indiana is a prime example of this new type of hybrid community with its "cosmopolitan flair unusual in suburbia." Having "forged a national reputation because of its embrace of the arts, European-style street design and urban housing," Money magazine ranked Carmel the No. 1 best place to live this year, reports Nassar.
"These small but growing towns are applying some of the most forward-thinking planning tenets to create true downtowns, art districts and new traffic patterns that alleviate congestion and encourage walking. They're changing zoning to build city-style condos and apartments above stores. And they're getting away from big parking lots and strip malls by putting parking underground and behind stores." Nassar notes, "Often, the downtowns are created around a new city hall, transit stations, arts center - or all three." Other notable small cities that have successfully undergone this smart growth transformation include Homewood, Alabama; West Jordan, Utah; Lakewood, Colorado; and Southlake, Texas.
FULL STORY: More small towns thinking big

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Poorest NYC Neighborhoods Pay Price for Delivery Boom
The rise of ‘last-mile’ e-commerce warehouses — and their attendant truck traffic and air pollution — is disproportionately impacting the most historically disadvantaged parts of the city.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.
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