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Who We Are
In recent years, smart and sustainable growth has gained national attention as a solution to the challenges associated with growth. Successful initiatives have relied on a simple but powerful formula based on collaboration. Here in the National Capital Region, seven distinct organizations representing business, development, civic, and environmental interests that often sit on opposite sides of table when it comes to growth issues, have elected to put aside their differences and work together on common goals for smart growth. Together, these organizations create a unique partnership for success - the Sustainable Growth Alliance.
Vision
By 2030 the Washington region is expected to grow by 2 million new people and over 1.6 million new jobs. To ensure that the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the region are maintained and improved while it grows, Alliance members have agreed that the region's unique economic, cultural, community and environmental assets must be protected. This will require all interests -- government, business, civic, and environmental -- to work collaboratively to develop policies and practices that ensure that every new resident and every new job enhances, rather than detracts from, the region's quality of life. If this can be achieved, the region will meet its broad economic objectives, while enhancing the environment and preserving the character and culture of its communities.
Mission
The mission of the Alliance is to research, identify, and encourage land use development and transportation policies and practices that support smart and sustainable growth in the Washington region.
Goals and Objectives
The goal of the Alliance is to enhance regional collaboration; encourage mixed-use, pedestrian- and transit-oriented development projects; promote housing and transportation choices for a range of incomes throughout the region, particularly infill situations; and respect and conserve significant environmental, cultural, and recreational resources. To achieve that goal, the Alliance established the following objectives to guide its work program:
- Conduct education and outreach programs to inform and elevate the sustainable growth dialogue at the regional, community and neighborhood levels.
- Compile and communicate growth and development trends and their impact on economic, environmental and equity resources and interests.
- Identify barriers and incentives, collect best practice case studies, and develop strategies to improve policy decisions that advance sustainable growth in the region.
- Develop and implement a recognition program for proposed development projects that reflect the core characteristics of smart and sustainable growth.
- Develop and implement a program to promote regional conservation initiatives that will contribute most to more sustainable development patterns and our regional quality of life in the future.
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Alliance News
Highlights
Alliance Grants Smart and Sustainable Recognition to an Approved Project in Bethesda-Chevy Chase
(Bethesda – July 19, 2012) For the first time in the ten-year history of the recognition program, the Alliance has granted Smart and Sustainable Growth Recognition to a project that has already received all its local approvals or entitlements - 4500 East-West Highway, by Carr Properties. This
223,000 square-foot trophy office building is located in the central business district of Bethesda, Maryland. The project is committed to achieve LEED Platinum certification and offers an array of natural and built amenities serving the tenants and the community.
For all the details...click here for the PDF format press release with graphics. (High resolution graphics are available by request to dwestbrooke@sgalliance.org.)
Recognition Program Receives Applications for Recognition of Approved or Completed
Projects
(Bethesda – July 2012). The Alliance is receiving applications for approved or completed projects under the expanded development recognition program. Like the project above - the first to receive this type of recognition - successful applications will enable the Alliance to highlight the region’s growing inventory of smart and sustainable developments as examples of excellence and accomplishment.
The original purpose of the program remains – to help smart and sustainable development projects gain local approval and acceptance.
Click here to read the press release detailing this and changes to the program deadline schedule. Click here for the updated Call for Applications in PDF format.
Alliance
in the News
Click here to read a nine-page full-color article about the Alliance entitled "Promoting Sustainable Development Through a Recognition Program." (PDF 3.5MB)
The article appears in a recent issue of Land Development, a publication of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Land Development is a quarterly must-read for the development industry and is available by subscription at www.nahb.org/landdevelopment. NAHB promotes smart growth and sustainable development through this and other publications and web resources. Local home builder organizations MNCBIA, DCBIA, and NVBIA participate in NAHB and are also important members of the Alliance.
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