Small Cities

Voices from Forgotten Cities: Innovative Revitalization Coalitions in America's Older, Smaller Cities
Prepared by Lorlene Hoyt and André Leroux
Practitioners, political leaders and scholars speak about understanding and renewing smaller cities when resources are scarce and the economy has changed. Download publication.

The State of the Cities: Revitalization Strategies for Smaller Cities in Massachusetts
Prepared by CHAPA and MACDC, 2006
In 2005, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) jointly embarked on a significant research and public policy advocacy project to support the revitalization of cities in Massachusetts. Both organizations recognized that while some cities have flourished, others have floundered, increasing economic and social disparities across the Commonwealth. The unique challenges facing many cities require that the State and localities develop new strategies to more effectively improve the health and well-being of these important population centers. This is the final report. Download publication.

Land use

Community Rules: A New England Guide to Smart Growth Strategies
Conservation Law Foundation, 2002.
Written by the Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Forum on Sprawl, Community Rules: A New England Guide to Smart Growth Strategies is a guidebook for volunteer board members, planners, concerned citizens and others who want to achieve smart growth in their communities through better planning, zoning and permitting. Community Rules is accessible and authoritative, and is chock-full of examples of communities in New England and elsewhere that have laid the groundwork for smart growth through sensible planning, zoning and other strategies. Download publication.

Environment

Losing Ground: At What Cost? Changes in Land Use and Their Impact on Habitat, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services in Massachusetts.
Mass Audubon, 2003.
Despite progress in protecting land and a growing appreciation for the natural resources of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts continues to lose ground each day to development. The impact of development is being felt in regions of the state containing some of our most sensitive rare species habitat and natural communities. And what is being built is becoming less and less sustainable, in terms of larger average house and lot sizes supporting fewer people. The findings are sobering and should be a call to action for citizens and public officials to work together to protect the nature of Massachusetts.
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Transportation

Safe Routes to Schools Toolkit for Communities: How to Start Your Own Walk-to-School-Bike-to-School- Traffic-Reduction-and-Safety Program
WalkBoston, August 2003.
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Housing

The Greater Boston Housing Report Card 2003: An Assessment of Progress on Housing in the Greater Boston Area
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, April 2004.
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Active Living

Active Living by Design: Increasing physical activity through community design
Active Living by Design, 2004.
This primer presents an overview of the relationships between our environments and physical activity. Download publication.

Energy and Smart Growth

Energy and Smart Growth: It’s about How and Where We Build
The Funders’ Network and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2004.
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Smart Growth Policymaking

Getting to Smart Growth II: 100 More Policies for Implementation
ICMA and the Smart Growth Network, 2003.
This is the newest primer that follows on the heels of the extremely popular first volume of Getting to Smart Growth. It serves as a road map for states and communities that have recognized the need for smart growth but are unclear on how to achieve it. Download publication.
Features of this volume include:
An entirely new list of 100 policies for implementation
More case studies and examples in each chapter
An appendix listing funding resources for smart growth projects.