What's New at "A Good Community"

Here are the most recent important changes to our website, including new articles, visitor questions, and editors' answers. You'll also find links to significantly revised pages and time-sensitive or short items we want to bring to your attention. Sometimes we also add short items of interest, especially time-sensitive notes about conferences, webinars, or seasons.

A Fresh Streetscape Can Give a Business District New Legs

Tailor a custom streetscape with eye-catching sidewalks, landscaping, street trees, benches, lighting, and good-looking signs. But some things aren't worth doing.

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Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits of Cluster Housing

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Cluster housing groups homes into a cost-effective conservation subdivision that preserves open space for ecological or recreational reasons.

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Mixed-Income Housing Helps Create an Exciting Neighborhood

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Mixed-income housing opportunities increase equity for young and marginalized people, renews street life and energizes civic life. Make it easy to develop.

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How to Make City Planning Yield Results

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Quality city planning for land use, transportation, public services, prosperity, and amenities helps any community. This page outlines typical topics.

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A Bikeable Community Is Fun and Eco-Friendly

Here's how to create the bikeable community that increases quality of life for all residents, while promoting health and mobility options.

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Summer Newsletter Ideas Offer Many Choices

summer newsletter ideas

If you are stuck for summer newsletter ideas for your neighborhood association, or even for its social media, here are some ideas.

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Sustainable Development Practices for a Healthier Neighborhood

Discover sustainable development practices that you can implement at the local level to benefit your community and its residents.

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SWOT Analysis for Your Community or Neighborhood

SWOT analysis helps communities name and decide what to do about their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. We show you how.

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Small Town Sprawl Threatens Downtown and Family Businesses

Small town sprawl often occurs as highway development dilutes historic downtowns and urban land uses mess up rural landscapes. We talk about what you can do.

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Can Good City Planning Avoid Land Subsidence Headaches?

Land subsidence, which means sudden or gradual sinking, is a community planning challenge. See if better land use placement could limit sinkhole damage.

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Two Times an Urban Community Land Trust Makes Sense

urban community land trust

An urban community land trust is perfect for keeping housing costs down, boosting home ownership affordability, and preventing displacement.

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Four Options for Dealing With Abandoned Buildings

Find out four options to deal with abandoned buildings and vacant lots that threaten the integrity and appeal of neighborhoods.

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Crash Course in Re-Zoning Opposition

Re-zoning opposition is more likely to be effective if you know how the process works. Here is some sage advice to give you best possible chance to win.

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Church Zoning May Be Permitted, With Conditions, in Many Districts

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Church zoning once was permitted in almost all residential districts. But traffic and expanded programs have led cities to require a conditional use permit.

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Strip Mall Redevelopment: A Current and Future Land Use Challenge

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Strip mall redevelopment will increase in importance for residents and neighborhoods as vacancy rates and suburban blight increase. Read what to do next.

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