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.

Nonprofit Housing Developers and CDCs Aid Revitalization

Nonprofit housing developers, or community housing or development corporations, build or renovate housing where markets fail to meet community needs..

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Commercial Corridor Redevelopment Boosts a City's Image and Finances

Las Vegas Strip

Commercial corridor redevelopment along major roads and highways improves a community's image and increases the likelihood of business success.

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Rural Community Development Requires Clever Use of Resources

man on tractor in field

Rural community development focuses on increasing problem-solving capacity, a sound economic base and school system, essential businesses, and clean-up.

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Community Development Grant Narratives Must Tug at Heart, But Use Data

community-development-grant-narratives-nice-trash-receptacle

To strengthen your community development grant narratives, you must engage both the heart and the brain if you want to receive funding for your non-profit.

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Asset-Based Community Development Empowers Neighborhoods

Asset-based community development emphasizes identifying neighborhood strengths and talents instead of problems. This creates energy for change.

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Manufactured Housing Advantages and Disadvantages to Communities

manufactured hsg 2

Here is some help in deciding if manufactured housing, once called a mobile home or trailer, is an affordable hero or a blighting villain to the community.

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How to Organize Cleaning Up Your Neighborhood Park

Learn the steps for cleaning up your neighborhood park, starting with event preparation all the way to post-project activities.

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Four Options for Dealing With Abandoned Buildings

Abandoned buildings and vacant lots threaten the integrity of neighborhoods. Learn about the best steps the community might take to find relief.

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Five Essential Principles in Planning a Community Mural

mural Oculus

Learn the steps for painting a successful community mural. If you avoid pitfalls, this project can initiate revitalization or reinforce neighborhood identity.

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Walkable Community Solutions

walkable community new jan 2018

Devising a walkable community promotes health, sociability, and efficient transportation. Walking also supports local businesses.

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"Front of lot" Interpretation

Visitor Question: Hello. I have some deed restrictions on my property. One of which says no residence or outbuilding can be 50 feet from the front of

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Land Subsidence Can Cause Major Headaches for Taxpayers

Land subsidence, the term for sudden or gradual sinking, is a community planning issue. Development approvals can lead to dewatering.

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17 Questions for Climate Change Planning

climate change planning

I think local climate change planning takes one of four pathways. Here we describe how your community can decide on an approach.

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Ideal composition of a CDC board of directors

Visitor Question: We are trying to start a new CDC to help us dig out of the urban mess in our neighborhood. The three of us who are working the hardest

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What is agrivoltaics and why is it significant

Visitor Question: I'm in New Jersey and am very interested in a possible new comprehensive plan or something similar that my county is discussing. This

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