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Overview
With the pace of economic recovery uncertain and the real estate market still
uneven, developers, policy makers and transportation professionals seek
information to guide their investments. At the same time, market analysis
reveals pent-up demand for walkable communities driven by demographic changes
poised to transform the real estate industry. In our new report, Growing
Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity, the Center for Clean Air
Policy (CCAP) considers ten commonsense principles that can help guide new
development in ways that respond to emerging market demand and bolster the
economy. We find that an inclusive planning process following smart growth
principles that yields more walkable neighborhoods with broader options for
housing and transportation can help communities, businesses and individuals make
money, save money and improve quality of life (see table below).
In Growing Wealthier we provide examples and studies from around the country, as
well as an annotated bibliography of evidence on smart growth, climate change,
the economy, and sustainability. We challenge popular notions about driving and
prosperity, considering standard economic indicators as well as livability
concerns such as public health and well being, community vibrancy and resource
sustainability. We show that reducing daily driving by just two and half miles
per person, in concert with vehicle and fuel improvements, can put the
transportation sector on path to meeting climate goals.
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