We must walk more gently on the Earth. Households in the United States emit an average of 21.5 metric tons of carbon per year – almost 5 times the global average. Our goal for planetary health should be closer to … [Read more...]
How should the City of Frederick accessorize?
When it comes to accessory dwelling units, the City of Frederick is playing catch-up. Numerous jurisdictions around the country have eased restrictions on what were once known as granny flats, garage apartments or in-law … [Read more...]
Smart Growth Maryland Announces New Smarter Growth Alliance for Howard County
Smart Growth Maryland is proud to have partnered with the Howard County Sierra Club and The People’s Voice, LLC to create the Smarter Growth Alliance for Howard County, which brings together organizations focused on … [Read more...]
We Used to Just Call These “Houses”
We have a way in the modern world of rediscovering things that humans have always done but branding them as something trendy and a little alien. So it goes with the explosion of interest in "tiny houses" as an answer to … [Read more...]
Malls to mixed-use centers and other opportunities
While hundreds of malls are declining, they are also being reused for all kinds of purposes—including walkable urban places in communities lacking in this kind of environment. The retail industry … [Read more...]
Home Builders report shows housing is changing
The American housing industry is changing course—and this will transform neighborhoods and communities over time by providing more and different choices in housing. A new report from the National … [Read more...]
Making normal neighborhoods legal again
I've spent over two-thirds of my life so far living in anarchic environments where the rule of law did not prevail. It's a wonder I survived at all. You see, when I was born, my parents lived in a duplex, in a … [Read more...]
A Duplex, a Triplex and a Fourplex can cut a block’s carbon impact 29%
The carbon savings from 'middle housing' are voluntary, self-financing and immense. So why are they illegal? To understand why housing policy is climate policy, consider two city blocks with 18 … [Read more...]