The efforts of 12 counties, four big cities, and four metropolitan planning organizations, as well as universities, major foundations, cultural institutions, and some 10,000 residents in Northeast Ohio have been rewarded.
"Northeast Ohio's biggest regional planning effort in a half-century has won the planning profession's top award for a comprehensive plan," reports Steven Litt.
"Vibrant NEO 2040, the product of three years' work by the nonprofit Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium, has been awarded the 2015 Daniel Burnham Award of the American Planning Association."
The award, described by the jury chair as the APA's top award, will be officially presented at the APA National Convention in Seattle this April.
Litt also provides a little insight into the content of the Vibrant NEO 2040 plan, "which calls for focusing new development on existing communities, particularly the region's aging urban cores." Moreover, "[o]ther recommendations call for focusing growth and development around existing transportation corridors, creating stronger transit links between cities and counties, preserving open space and safeguarding the region's air and water."
FULL STORY: Vibrant NEO 2040 regional plan wins prestigious Daniel Burnham Award from American Planning Association

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
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North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

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.

Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.

From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program
The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.

Planting Relief: Tackling Las Vegas Heat One Tree at a Time
Nevada Plants, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is combating the city’s extreme urban heat by giving away trees to residents in underserved neighborhoods, promoting shade, sustainability, and community health.
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