University of Maryland School of Public Policy (MSPP), in collaboration with the US EPA's Environmental Finance Program,
proposes a 12 credit graduate Certificate Program in Environmental Finance. While the Certificate Program is pending
approval (anticipated for Spring 2009), MSPP and EFC are offering two courses this Fall 2008 to current UMD graduate
students, as well as to non-degree-seeking students. These courses will be held in downtown Washington, D.C., to make
them accessible to professionals practicing in the field.
For more information, go to:
EFC Courses for 2008 Fall
The Maryland Agricultural Exchange, created by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland,
is a new free online marketplace that can help Maryland farmers buy, sell, give away, or trade their agricultural
products. Functioning much like a 'Craig's List' for agriculture, the new agriculture products exchange website, located
at Agtrader.org, will facilitate exchanges among farmers in Maryland
and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region exchange products such as manure, compost, hay, fodder crops, fruits and vegetables,
organics, equipment, livestock, and much more.
Press Release
This new book, published by the Urban Land Institute documents how key changes in land development patterns could help
reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. Based on a comprehensive review of dozens of studies by leading urban planning
researchers, the book concludes that urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor
in combating it. The authors make the case that one of the best ways to reduce vehicle travel is compact development:
building places in which people can get from one place to another without driving. This includes developments with a mix
of uses and pedestrian-friendly settings.
To read the first chapter ("Overview") of the book, click here:
Chapter 1 Overview
To visit the Urban Land Institute Bookstore, click here:
ULI Bookstore
Study Shows Effect Inclusionary Zoning Policies Have on Production, Cost and Size of Housing
A new Center for Smart Growth study shows that policies aimed at increasing the stock of affordable
housing can stimulate construction of multi-family housing, but may also push up the price and reduce
the size of single family houses that are built within the cities that adopted the policy. The study,
by Gerrit Knaap, Antonio Bento and Scott Lowe and funded by the National Home Builders Association,
examined so-called "inclusionary zoning" policies implemented in California from 1998 to 2005.
To read a press release, click here:
Official Press Release
To read the entire report, click here:
Housing Market Impact of Inclusionary Zoning
Prince George's County Shortchanged on Federal Office Leases
A new University of Maryland study of federal office leasing activities in the Washington metropolitan area
concludes that Prince George's County is not receiving leases on a par with other jurisdictions in the region.
This study, conducted by the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and the university's Real Estate
Development Program, said the imbalance in leasing is occurring despite the fact that Prince George's County has more land and
generally offers lower rents than its neighboring jurisdictions.
Click here for Summary Report
Click here for Full Report
To read County Executive Jack B. Johnson's comments, go to:
Announcement
2007 NCSG Best Masters Thesis Award Winner Announced
The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland is proud to announce the
winner of the 2007 NCSG Best Masters Thesis Award.
The 2007 winner is Nigel G. Griswold of Michigan State University,
whose thesis is titled, "The Impacts of Tax-Foreclosed Properties and Land Bank Programs on Residential Housing
Values in Flint, Michigan". The runner-up for this year is Iris E. Patten of University of Florida. Her thesis is
titled, "The Use of GIS in Allocatiing Employment Centers that Minimize Land Use Conflicts and Satisfy Regional Economic
Potential". Mr. Griswold will receive $1,000 award.
For official announcement of 2007 Award winners and finalists, go to:
Official Winner Announcement
This thesis has been published as Michigan Land Policy Institute Report, and is available here:
MSU Land Policy Institute Report
New Book edited by Yan Song and Chengri Ding Examines China's Massive Migration to Cities
While China's overall population growth rate is projected to be seemingly modest 0.6%, its urban segment will be growing
faster than twice this rate for the next 10 years. To increase American and international awareness of China's
challenges in its "transition to a socialist market economy" and the wider repercussions, two researchers associated
with the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland examine the most
pressing challenges facing planners and policymakers in China today in the new book, titled "Urbanization in China:
Critical Issues in an Era of Rapid Growth."
The book, published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy focuses on four key areas: urban planning,
land policy, rural-to-urban migration, and financing China's urbanization. The book reflects the proceedings of the
Institute's May 2006 Conference on "Urban Strategies and Instruments" to promote "economically sound, environmentally
desirable, politically feasible, and socially acceptable" growth in China. For more information, go to:
New Book Introduction
State Agencies Lax in Tracking Smart Growth Spending
A new study by the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education shows that state agencies have been lax in
tracking and regularly reporting where they spend growth-related funds as required by Maryland's 10-year-old Smart Growth
law. The report, written by Center Executive Director Gerrit-Jan Knaap and Rebecca Lewis, a graduate student in the School
of Public Policy and research assistant at the Center, says this shortcoming makes it difficult to evaluate why the
state's incentive-based approach is not having much success.
Press Release
Full Report
Obstacles to Skinny Streets - New Article in Urban Land
A new Urban Land article written by Professor Reid Ewing, Ted Stevens, and Steven J. Brown examine obstacles to creating more
"skinny" streets. After years of discussion, the field of traffic engineering is slowly embracing narrow streets in practice.
Narrow streets have numerous advantages, including comfortable human scale for pedestrians, lower cost of development and
minimized negative impact on environment. However, there is another unexpected barrier to implementation: The Local Fire Chief.
The authors present case studies around the country where local fire codes prohibit building narrower street in the interests
of "safety first."
To read full text, go to:
Skinny Streets and Fire Trucks (Urban Land Aug 07)
Urban Land Institute Website
New Study Helps Predict Flooding In Urban Watersheds
A new U.S. Geological Survey study co-authored by Associate Professor Glenn E. Moglen provides researchers with
new ways of predicting flooding in urban watersheds. The study developed methods of applying existing Geological Survey
flood estimates, which generally apply to rural areas, to more urbanized areas by taking into consideration either
the amount of impervious surfaces or existing population density within the watershed.
Dr. Moglen, an associate research scientist at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education and an
associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, co-authored the study with Dorianne E.
Shivers while on a sabbatical at the U.S. Geological Survey. The full study, entitled "Methods for Adjusting U.S.
Geological Survey Rural Regression Peak Discharges in an Urban Setting," may be found at:
USGS Office of Surface Water
Two NCSG Affiliate Members Selected for Governor's Cabinet
Two of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's recent cabinet appointees are longtime friends of and affiliate
faculty members at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education.
Richard E. Hall has been appointed Secretary of Planning. Hall also serves on the Governor's Executive Council,
the Governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay, and the Smart Growth Subcabinet. He is also the President of the
Maryland Chapter of the American Planning Association.
John D. Porcari has been appointed as Secretary of Transportation. Porcari is also a member of the Governor's
Executive Council, the Governor's Subcabinet on International Affairs, and the Smart Growth Subcabinet.
He previously served as Secretary of Transportation under Governor Parris Glendening from 1999-2003 and as the
Vice President for Administrative Affairs at the University of Maryland , College Park from 2003-2007.
Both Hall and Porcari have worked with the Center on a variety of projects, including the Reality Check
growth visioning exercises held throughout Maryland in 2006.
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