Kaid Benfield
Kaid Benfield is director for sustainable communities and smart growth at The Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, DC.
He has his own blog on land development and community issues and enjoys contributing here, too, since there is so much common ground.
Giving New Meaning to “Green” Transit
In the US, we tend to think of public transportation as inherently green, which of course it is compared to...
When the Market Recovers, Smart Growth Will Claim a Larger Share
Even before the recession began, the market for residential and commercial property in the US was changing away from a model of unmitigated suburban...
Strong Centers Make Healthier Regions
The signs continue to mount that the housing market continues to move in favor of central locations, and away from sprawl. It’s all a...
It�s Time To Adjust To The Metropolitan Reality
One of the recurring themes of my writing (for example, here) has been that, to achieve sustainability in our cities,...
HUD & DOT Team Up To Promote Sustainable Communities
This is awesome. Here is an excerpt from yesterday’s joint press release from HUD and DOT:
“WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Housing and Urban...
Giving Community Organizing A Good Name In East Hollywood
Through the combination of my insatiable curiosity and the wonders of the internet, I have stumbled upon a magic kingdom in Southern California. No,...
Sprawl’s share of US housing starts has declined dramatically, says EPA
A new report from the US Environmental Protection Agency documents a dramatic shift in the pattern of new development in the nation over the...
Where We Live Affects How Much We Drive and What We Can Afford
The Urban Land Institute has produced a remarkable report that examines in depth how where we live affects how much we drive, and consequently...
The Trailer Park as Affordable Urban Housing?
Where I grew up, a lot of people lived in mobile homes, as a way to enter the housing market at an affordable price....
Beyond the Stimulus: Whither Communities In The Next Transportation Bill?
I am immensely grateful to my colleagues at NRDC and in the broader smart growth movement for being on top of what’s been going...
Two Americas On Display: DC & Las Vegas
I was struck by two hugely contrasting stories in Sunday’s Real Estate section of The Washington Post. If you want evidence that John Edwards’s...
Transforming the market for development location
One of the most popular tags on the blogging site of my organization, NRDC, is “market transformation.” I’m a believer. Not everything...
To The New First Family: Welcome To My Hometown
What an exciting time to be a D.C. resident.
In this historic and wonderful week, the Obamas are moving not only to a new job...
Parks For Revitalization
The image in this post, which photographer Bill Lim has made available to us through the wonder of the Creative Commons, is of the...
Visions for Transforming America
President-elect Obama will take office next week vowing to fight climate change, tackle oil dependency and revive the U.S. economy. NRDC believes that...
For The Holidays: These Are a Few of My Favorite…Places
Herewith, some of my very favorite smart, livable places that are contributing positively to the environment, as I’ve written about them on my NRDC...
President-Elect Obama on Smart Growth, Transportation, Cities, and Regions
Here’s a little about what this week’s historic election may mean for smart growth, sustainable development, and metropolitan America, based on Barack Obama’s statements...
Smart, Sustainable Development Can Aid Economic Recovery
Whatever Wall Street does next, we’re going to have to find more efficiencies in our economy. Consumers are going to have less to...
Portland Shrinks Carbon Footprint with Revitalization, Walkability
Portland, Oregon has become such a recognized model of progressive planning and development that people like me are actually discouraged from talking about the...
Needed: National Leadership for Sustainable Development
Imagine a country of walkable neighborhoods, transportation choices, healthy homes, less time in traffic, and more disposable income, complemented by a beautiful landscape of conservation lands and working forests and farms. That is still within our reach with vision and leadership.