Urban Growth and Decline: The Role of Population Density at the City Core
December 21, 2011|Economic Commentary, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
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In recent decades, some cities have seen their urban centers lose population density, as residents spread farther out to suburbs and exurbs. Others have kept populous downtowns even as their environs have grown. Population density in general has economic advantages, so one might wonder whether a loss of density, which may be a symptom of negative economic shocks, could amplify those shocks. This paper looks at four decades of census data and show that growing cities have maintained dense urban centers, while shrinking cities have not. There are reasons to think that loss of population density at the core of the city could be particularly damaging to productivity. If this is the case, there could be productivity gains from policies aimed at reversing that trend.
Cleveland's EcoVillage: Green and affordable housing through a network alliance
January 1, 2011|Urban Planning and Environmental Studies, Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
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Abstract
This article presents a case study of the inter-organizational network that formed to produce four housing projects in Cleveland's EcoVillage designed to integrate social equity and ecological stewardship as the basis for neighborhood redevelopment. Our paper builds on concepts of community development and housing production through inter-organizational networks spanning nonprofit, public, and private organizations that developed and supported four green and affordable housing projects. We are interested in understanding how development of the housing projects changed and connected traditional neighborhood development and ecologically-oriented organizations and how their interaction changed the practice of housing production and environmental and sustainability advocacy locally and regionally. The results of the study reveal that the marriage of green and affordable housing in Cleveland, despite some challenges, was viewed as important and beneficial by the organizations…
Preserving Affordability and Access in Livable Communities: Subsidized Housing Opportunities Near Transit and the 50+ Population
September 30, 2009
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Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION
A livable community has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive features and services, and adequate mobility options for people, regardless of age or ability. As communities address the general shortage of affordable housing, preserving affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) is one of the challenges that communities can address to increase their livability.
TODs are compact, walkable, mixed-use communities that are developed around high-quality public transportation. Residents often prize these places for the advantages created by the proximity to transportation and other amenities. One consequence of this desirability is that it can increase land and property values, exacerbating housing affordability challenges.
As policymakers try to extend the benefits of TODs to affordable housing locations, they must ensure that those benefits are available to people of low and moderate incomes and to those with different mobility…
Re-Imagining A More Sustainable Cleveland
March 3, 2009
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Introduction
Re-imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland starts from the premise that the loss of population over the last 60 years is not likely to be reversed in the near term and that Cleveland’s future ability to attract and retain residents depends in large part on how the city adapts to population decline and changing land use patterns. The reuse of vacant land is crucial to Cleveland’s potential to be a “green city on a blue lake.”
There are approximately 3,300 acres of vacant land within city limits, and an estimated 15,000 vacant buildings. Many of these vacant properties are poorly maintained and they diminish the value of the remaining, more viable buildings and neighborhoods in the city.The city demolishes about 1,000 vacant houses per year; private demolitions and fires are also reducing the number of derelict structures in the city. After demolition, surplus land becomes a raw asset for the city–a resource for future development as the city’s population…
Preserving Opportunities: Saving Affordable Homes Near Transit
January 1, 2008|National Housing Trust, Reconnecting America
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Study examines federally assisted affordable housing located in close proximity to public transportation in 8 cities (2008)
Cleveland Transit Oriented Development Guidelines
February 1, 2007|Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
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In a proactive planning effort, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is developing guidelines for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects within their service area. The ultimate goal of these guidelines is to promote vibrant and livable station areas that benefit RTA customers and the surrounding community, as well as promote the use of RTA as a primary means of transportation.
Transit Oriented Development Best Practices Manual
February 1, 2007|Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
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This report documents the first task in the process: a survey of best practices for facilitating successful TOD, as employed by other agencies, to be used as a basis for developing guidelines for GCRTA. This “Lessons Learned” methodology offers the opportunity to utilize the most effective guidelines, without repeating the time- and money-consuming processes of attempting all approaches. The TOD practices of the following seven transit agencies were investigated and are documented within this report
Request for Proposals — Consultant Services To Prepare TOD Plan For Lee/Van Aken Rapid Transit Station
March 22, 2006|City of Shaker Heights, Ohio
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Request for Proposals — Consultant Services
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Plan The City of Shaker Heights, Ohio Submittal Deadline: August 9, 2006
Invitation
The City of Shaker Heights is seeking proposals from qualified and responsible multi-disciplinary firms or teams to prepare a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for the Lee/Van Aken rapid transit station. This TOD plan will include a station improvement plan for the existing rapid transit station and an economic development analysis and land use/urban design plan for the immediate surrounding area.
The City is working closely with the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in this project. Additional information about the City of Shaker Heights is available on the City's website at www.shakeronline.com, and additional information about RTA is available at www.rideRTA.com.
Background
The primary purpose of this transit-oriented development (TOD) planning study is to significantly leverage…
Parking Spaces / Community Places: Finding the Balance through Smart Growth Solutions
January 1, 2006|U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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When you shop, you may visit a mall, or go to your town’s main street. At the mall, you probably cruise past rows and rows of empty parking, the spaces filled only one day a year. Maybe you head downtown, but can only find vacant storefronts. And where things are bustling, you can’t find convenient parking near the stores you want to visit. All three of these scenarios represent a “parking problem” that has a negative impact on other community goals. At the mall, overbuilt parking consumes land and wastes money. Downtown, storefronts may sit empty because new businesses that would like to move in can’t meet high parking requirements – and too little parking makes good businesses less viable.
Strategic Regional Policy Plan
April 14, 2005|Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments
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The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) is an association of local governments, business organizations, and community groups committed to developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs to improve the quality of life and economic vitality of the tri-state region that includes Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties in southwest Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties in northern Kentucky; and Dearborn County in southeastern Indiana. OKI is also the federally-designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning, and is the tri-state’s only multipurpose regional entity that is in a position to plan for and coordinate intergovernmental solutions to growth-related problems.
