Smart Growth America
{{Short description|US non-profit organization}}
{{primary sources|date=April 2008}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Smart Growth America
| logo = Smart Growth America Logo.jpg
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| formation = 2000
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| type = 501(c)(3) organization
| purpose = Urban planning, smart growth, sustainable transport, advocacy
| headquarters = 1152 15th St NW, Suite 450, Washington, D.C., U.S.{{cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-107shrg83687/pdf/CHRG-107shrg83687.pdf|title=Smart Growth and Economic Development: Hearing Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works|page=19|date=March 6, 2002|website=govinfo.gov|accessdate=July 21, 2019}}
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| leader_title = President and CEO
| leader_name = Calvin Gladney{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/article_9190cdbe-e7a2-11e8-8f8a-abe12c7f27bf.html|title=Want Louisiana to grow? Smart Growth America CEO says it starts with improving transit systems|newspaper=The Advocate (Louisiana)|last=Boone|first=Timothy|date=November 14, 2018|accessdate=July 21, 2019}}
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| website = {{URL|https://smartgrowthamerica.org}}
}}
Smart Growth America (SGA) is a US non-profit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. {{Cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition/who-we-are/|title=Who we are|website=Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-05}}
Smart Growth America focuses on three specific priorities: Climate change and resilience, advancing racial equity, and creating healthy communities. SGA covers interrelated areas, including housing, zoning, planning, land use, economic development, transportation, and others.
SGA is also the leader of several advocacy programs that have a stake in how urban sprawl affects the environment, quality of life and economic sustainability.{{Cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/about-us/|title=About Us|website=Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-15}}
History
Smart Growth America was established in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2013/11/01/change-agent-dcs-city-planner-harriet-tregoning/|title=Change Agent: DC's City Planner Harriet Tregoning|last=Jaffe|first=Harry|publisher=Washingtonian|date=November 1, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2019}} In 2002, SGA included over 70 groups, such as American Farmland Trust, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the League of Women Voters for Smart Growth, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the Enterprise Foundation. In 2003, Parris Glendening became the president of SGA's Leadership Institute.{{cite web|url=https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/livable-in-action/info-2016/interview-parris-glendening-smart-growth-america.html|title=5 Questions About Smart Growth|last=Stephenson|first=Mitchelle|publisher=AARP|date=June 2016|accessdate=July 21, 2019}}
In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) collaborated with SGA to create the Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Initiative. The initiative uses federal funds to improve public transportation systems in order to foster economic development. SGA offers this initiative on-site aid, a network of allies, and communicative support.{{Cite web|url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/transit-oriented-development-technical-assistance-second-summary-report-report|title=Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance: Second Summary Report (Report 0124)|date=2018-08-13|website=Federal Transit Administration|language=en|access-date=2020-03-05}}
Approach to smart growth
In 2004, SGA commissioned the first survey examining neighborhood preferences among Americans, finding that almost 50% of households prefer transit accessibility and commercial proximity.{{Cite journal|doi=10.1177/0002716209344172|title=The New Urbanity: The Rise of a New America|year=2009|last1=Nelson|first1=Arthur C.|s2cid=153931158|journal=The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science|volume=626|pages=192–208}}
In a 2005 report detailing the interconnection between inner ring suburbs and metropolitan growth, SGA defines smart growth as follows: "Smart growth is well-planned development that protects open space and farmland, revitalizes communities, keeps housing affordable and provides more transportation choices."{{Cite journal|doi=10.1177/0885412204271878|title=The Role of Inner Ring Suburbs in Metropolitan Smart Growth Strategies|year=2005|last1=Lee|first1=Sugie|last2=Leigh|first2=Nancey Green|s2cid=73624675|journal=Journal of Planning Literature|volume=19|issue=3|pages=330–346}} In a 2006 study examining the transportation benefits associated with smart growth policies, SGA "estimates that 69 percent of increased traffic can be attributed to factors associated with sprawl."{{Cite journal|last1=Behan|first1=Kevin|last2=Maoh|first2=Hanna|last3=Kanaroglou|first3=Pavlos|date=2008|title=Smart growth strategies, transportation and urban sprawl: simulated futures for Hamilton, Ontario|journal=The Canadian Geographer|language=en|volume=52|issue=3|pages=291–308|doi=10.1111/j.1541-0064.2008.00214.x|issn=1541-0064}}
Programs
= LOCUS =
In 2008, SGA launched LOCUS, an alliance for promoting sustainable urban development in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/locus/|title=LOCUS|website=Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}} LOCUS is a national network of real estate developers who launched the Rebuild America's Neighborhoods Campaign, promoting investment towards equitable and green urban development projects.{{cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/house-unveils-new-tax-plan-locus-launches-rebuild-americas-neighborhoods-campaign/|title=As House unveils new tax plan, LOCUS launches Rebuild America's Neighborhoods campaign|date=November 3, 2017|publisher=Smart Growth America|accessdate=July 21, 2019}}
= Transportation for America =
In 2008, SGA, Reconnecting America, and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership started a Transportation for America campaign aiming to reform the federal transportation law.{{cite web|url=https://grist.org/article/2010-01-07-transportation-bill-environment-green-jobs/|title=Transportation bill could produce environmental and job benefits in 2010|last=Buffa|first=Andrea|date=January 8, 2010|publisher=Grist|accessdate=July 21, 2019}} Transportation for America advocates for a transportation system that emphasizes maintenance, implements safety designs, and unites the public.{{Cite web|url=http://t4america.org/platform/|title=Platform (Principles updated 2019)|website=Transportation For America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}}
= National Complete Streets Coalition =
In 2012, Smart Growth America the National Complete Streets Coalition, which advocates for safe and convenient transportation access.{{Cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition/|title=National Complete Streets Coalition|website=Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}} The coalition is composed of policy organizations, including the American Planning Association, and user groups, including America Bikes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartgrowthusa.org/documents/cs/resources/cs-trb-2011.pdf|title=Complete Streets in the United States|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} By 2011, 125 jurisdictions across 38 states had implemented a Complete Streets policy.
= State Smart Transportation Initiative =
SGA co-operates, alongside the University of Wisconsin, the State Smart Transportation Initiative (SSTI).{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssti.us/about-ssti/|title=» About SSTI SSTI|access-date=2020-03-04}} SSTI encourages environmentally sustainable transportation fostering economic development, while maintaining governmental transparency.
= Form-Based Code Institute =
Form-Based Code Institute (FBCI) strives to improve the general understanding of form-based codes through creating standards, offering educational programs, and fostering discussions.{{Cite web|url=https://formbasedcodes.org/about/|title=About|website=Form-Based Codes Institute at Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-04}} In a 2016 report about new urbanism in North Texas, FBCI advocated for the importance of form based codes in regulating physical development, rather than zoning areas by their usages.{{Cite web|url=https://rc.library.uta.edu/uta-ir/bitstream/handle/10106/27181/PRADHAN-THESIS-2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|title=RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN NEW URBANIST LANDSCAPES IN NORTH TEXAS: LEARNING FROM ADDISION CIRCLE, AUSTIN RANCH AND HOMETOWN|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
Partners
Partners include national, state and local groups, working on behalf of the environment, historic preservation, social equity, land conservation, neighborhood redevelopment, farmland protection, and labor. Member groups include the statewide "1000 Friends" organizations, Futurewise, GrowSmart Maine, New Jersey Future, Idaho Smart Growth, and the San Francisco Bay Area's Greenbelt Alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://smartgrowthamerica.org/our-vision/partners/|title=Partners|website=Smart Growth America|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-07}}
Financials
Smart Growth America's Form 990 shows that their donations rose from $4,826,301 in 2014 to $6,337,043 in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-0038938|title=Smart Growth America|last=|first=|date=|website=www.guidestar.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-05}}
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SGA's Form 990 shows that their compensation related expenses rose from $3,619,183 in 2014 to $4,028,232 in 2017.
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