News for May, 2011
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
Photo from GreenMLS Toolkit – www.greenthemls.org
CNT and our affiliates are dedicated to making communities more economically and environmentally sustainable and providing information that helps people make more informed decisions. That includes making the energy use of our buildings more apparent so people know what they’re getting into when purchasing a new home.
CNT Energy is at the forefront of efforts to make energy information transparent to the real estate market and to get the market to place greater value on energy efficiency. The efforts are making an impact from national best practices to the local scene. Read more »
Posted in Energy, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
CHICAGO (May 23, 2011)—Despite a persistent high unemployment rate and a history of inefficient development, Columbus has the economic and transportation assets to foster sustainable future growth, according to a new analysis of Columbus’s regional economy by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). The analysis found that the proposed North Corridor light rail line would enable the city to capitalize on national real estate trends when the economy and housing market rebound. It also found that attracting industrial and logistics businesses to South Columbus would allow the region to take advantage of the expanding freight rail industry.
“The Columbus region generates a fifth of the state’s economic activity but its development patterns over the years have undermined rather than reinforced its sizable economy,” said Scott Bernstein, president of CNT. “Central Ohio is at a turning point. It can continue with the status quo, stretching jobs and people farther and farther apart, or the city can forge a new path.”
The Columbus report is part of a broader partnership with CNT, then-Governor Ted Strickland’s administration and nearly 50 leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Columbus. The two-year project analyzed the economic development opportunities in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Specifically, the Columbus report documented that:
- Since 2000, homebuilders constructed 43,000 more units than the market could support.
- Residents spend $6.1 billion per year to pay for transportation, with gas costs alone draining $817 million from the local economy. As Columbus residents face gas prices of $4 per gallon, their spending on gasoline alone could surge beyond $2.2 billion a year if their travel patterns stay the same.
- Auto-dependent, high-transportation-cost neighborhoods have as many as 3 in 10 properties with a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
- Retirees and young professionals are projected to demand more compact development through 2030, but as a whole these kinds of developments are in short supply in Columbus.
- National investors rank Central Ohio poorly as a market for multifamily and mixed use development.
The CNT report identified several strategies that Columbus could implement to promote growth that is more efficient for household, business, and municipal budgets. The strategies include:
- Moving forward with the proposed North Corridor light rail line. The North Corridor would connect downtown to Ohio State University, which represents 163,693 jobs, the second largest concentration of employment in Ohio.
- Encourage transit-oriented development along High Street to connect people from neighborhoods south of downtown to OSU and points farther north.
- Promote cargo-oriented development (COD). Columbus has two intermodal freight terminals—Rickenbacker Yard to the south and Buckeye Yard to the west. The region can capitalize on this intermodal advantage and attract industrial and logistics businesses that would benefit by locating near multiple modes of freight transportation, complementary firms, and a ready workforce.
- Direct public investments in housing in areas where the combined cost of housing and transportation do not exceed 45 percent of household income. CNT’s Housing + Transportation Affordability Index analysis found that less expensive housing costs in communities outside of I-270 often have transportation costs that meet or exceed the cost of housing.
“The region’s economic development efforts need to refocus on investments that make the region more economically and environmentally resilient,” said María Choca Urban, CNT’s director of Transportation and Community Development. “The prevailing development patterns of the past contributed to the current economic situation of foreclosures, recession and unemployment.”
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CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
CHICAGO (May 23, 2011)—Despite a persistent high unemployment rate and a history of inefficient development, Cleveland has the economic and transportation assets to foster sustainable future growth, according to a new analysis of Cleveland’s regional economy by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). The analysis found that a focus on transit-oriented development around three of the city’s fixed rail stations would enable the city to capitalize on national real estate trends when the economy and housing market rebound. It also found that attracting industrial and logistics businesses around the convergence of the Port of Cleveland, Interstate 77, and two Class 1 freight rail lines would allow the region to take advantage of the expanding freight rail industry.
“The Cleveland region generates the greatest single portion of the state’s economic activity, but its development patterns over the years have undermined rather than reinforced its sizable economy,” said Scott Bernstein, president of CNT. “Cleveland is at a turning point: continue with the status quo, stretching jobs and people farther and farther apart, or forge a new path.”
The Cleveland report is part of a broader partnership with CNT, then-Governor Ted Strickland’s administration and nearly 50 leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Cleveland. The two-year project analyzed the economic development opportunities in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
Specifically, the Cleveland report documented that:
- Since 2000, homebuilders constructed 48,831 more units than the market could support.
- Residents spend more than $8.5 billion dollars per year to pay for transportation, with gas costs alone draining $1.2 billion dollars from the local economy. As Cleveland residents face gas prices of $4 per gallon, their spending on gasoline alone could surge beyond $3.2 billion a year if their travel patterns stay the same.
- Auto-dependent, high-transportation-cost neighborhoods have as many as 1 in 3 properties with a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
- Retirees and young professionals are projected to demand more compact development through 2030, but as a whole these kinds of developments are in short supply in Cleveland.
- National investors rank Cleveland as one of the least favorable markets for multifamily and mixed use development.
The CNT report identified several strategies that Cleveland could implement to promote growth that is more efficient for household, business, and municipal budgets. The strategies include:
- Moving forward with the proposed Blue Line extension at Warrensville and Van Aken. An extension of the Blue Line to the Outerbelt would bring transit to a major employment center and increase job access for households living along the entire system.
- Encouraging transit-oriented development in Downtown, University Circle, and Shaker Square. These places sit at key hubs of the city’s rail system, share a stable housing market, and possess a street grid that makes it easy for residents to walk to destinations.
- Promote cargo-oriented development (COD). CODs bring industrial and logistics businesses together with access to multiple modes of freight transportation, complementary firms, and a ready workforce. Cuyahoga County boasts a fresh water port, two rail-to-truck intermodal terminals, 20 transloading facilities, and ample rail service from Norfolk Southern and CSX. The region should capitalize on these assets to attract businesses to nearby underutilized industrial sites.
- Make better use of the Port of Cleveland. The Port of Cleveland is the fourth busiest US port by tonnage but could take better advantage of trends that favor shipping by making upgrades to the port with resources from the US Department of Transportation, Economic Development Administration, and Ohio Department of Transportation.
- Directing public investments that affect housing and economic development to areas where the combined cost of housing and transportation do not exceed 45 percent of household income. CNT’s Housing + Transportation Affordability Index analysis found that less expensive communities in Lorain, Geauga, Medina, and Lake Counties may be out of reach for some because transportation costs often meet or exceed the cost of housing.
“The region’s economic development efforts need to refocus on investments that make the region more economically and environmentally resilient,” said María Choca Urban, CNT’s director of Transportation and Community Development. “The prevailing development patterns of the past here in Cleveland, across Ohio and across the country contributed to the current economic situation of foreclosures, recession and unemployment.”
###
CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
Posted in Press Releases | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
The Great Recession has hammered Ohio. The unemployment rate topped 9 percent in its three largest regions of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. And the 2010 Census revealed that the cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland lost 10.4% and 17.1% of their population over the course of the decade.
But in three recently released reports funded by Living Cities, CNT found that Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus possess the transportation infrastructure and urban form to spark new and sustainable investment as the economy recovers. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
The recent release of the first ever scorecard of energy and environmental performance for federal government operations is a landmark step toward improving government sustainability. The White House Executive Order 13514, which was signed in October 2009, requires all federal agencies to appoint a sustainability director, take inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, and work to meet sustainability targets.
The scorecard, released in April, shows that the federal government operations resulted in emissions of 121 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e)—over three times more than the emissions caused by all residents and businesses in Chicago in a year. Of this federal total, 55%— 66 MMTCO2e— is covered by reduction targets under Executive Order 13514, with the remaining (largely defense-related) emissions tracked, but not targeted for mitigation. Read more »
Posted in Climate, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011
CNT has been recognized for its innovative work in promoting urban sustainability. The U.S. Green Building Council –Illinois Chapter presented CNT with a Natural Leaders Award at its 6th Annual Emerald Gala on May 21st. CNT’s president Scott Bernstein was recognized recently by Planetizen, one of the most respected websites for the city planning, design and development profession. Planetizen’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, Chris Steins, included Scott in his list of 25 leading thinkers and innovators in the field of urban planning and technology. CNT’s website has also been acknowledged as one of the best resources for urban planning, design, and development. We are grateful for all this recognition. Read more »
Posted in General News, H+T | No Comments »
