To find affordable homes, many in the workforce have followed the popular advice to “drive till you qualify” by moving to remote suburbs such as Warren and Fauquier counties, VA, in the west; Spotsylvania County, VA, and Charles County, MD, in the south; Frederick County in the north; and Calvert County, MD, in the east. As reflected in this report, however, efforts to save on housing expenses often lead to higher transportation costs, with the result that an even larger portion of household budgets are consumed by the combined burden of housing and transportation costs.
Category: Resources
PBS Frontline Documentary “Poisoned Waters” Featuring Stewart Schwartz
PBS’s Pulitzer-prize winner journalist Hedrick Smith exposes in his new Frontline documentary “Poisoned Waters” the damage being done to the nation’s delicate aquatic ecosystems like Puget Sound and the Chesapeake Bay. During his investigation, he finds that one of the major sources of the problem is our land use decisions and how we have chosen to grow. Low-density residential and commerical development built in the Chesapeake Bay watershed provide acres of impervious surface that send stormwater, laden with pollutants from parking lots and highways, rushing into the bay.
Stewart Schwartz, CSG’s Executive Director, leads Hedrick Smith on a tour of Arlington County and shows how smart growth helps protect the Bay by reducing stormwater runoff through redevelopment of parking lots into compact, walkable, urban communities. Watch the clip of the tour below, or see the full video on PBS’s website. Chris Miller, the president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, our partner organization, also comments on the options for our region during the clip.
Stranded At the Station: Transit Cuts and Fare Increases Hurt Communities
Even as transit ridership has soared, many local and regional transit agencies have had to make deep budget cuts, leaving many transit-users without another option. This report shows a national snapshot of the problem and offers suggestions to fix it.
REGIONAL – Toolkit for Affordable Housing Development
The Coalition for Smarter Growth prioritizes the production and preservation of affordable housing, especially with access to transportation choices and jobs, as one critical element of truly interconnected, sustainable communities.
Spending the Stimulus – D.C. Report
Our priorities for federal stimulus spending in D.C.
Spending the Stimulus – Virginia Report
Our priorities for federal stimulus spending in Virginia
120 Day Stimulus Spending Report – Background Information
The states and the stimulus — Are they using it to create jobs and a 21st century transportation system?
DC – Support for Giant Rezoning in Ward 3
I am pleased to testify in support of this pedestrian-oriented mixed use redevelopment project. This is a wonderful proposal that is far better than simply replacing an old grocery store with a new one. Thanks to Stop & Shop for making the extra effort to create a truly smart growth project.
D.C. – Fair Budget Coalition’s Annual Budget Recommendations 2009
The Fair Budget Coalition fights for a just and inclusive District of Columbia through advocacy and organizing and by advancing budget and public policy initiatives which reflect the inter-dependency of the District’s community and economic development systems. Organized in 1994, Fair Budget is a coalition of grassroots community groups, human service providers, advocates, faith organizations, and concerned community members.
Cheryl Cort Commentary on WAMU
Our Policy Director, Cheryl Cort, speaks about the importance of investing in transit, walking and biking after the success of Inauguration Day, where 2.6 million people used Metro in three days.