During the first quarter of 2019, the Center reached out to lawyers, citizens, academics, and land use professionals, publishing a book with the ABA, delivering a distinguished lecture at a partner law school, distributing a 300 page manual with a prominent environmental advocacy organization, and hosting a regional conference. These efforts reflect what we have learned in our field and clinical work on inclusive communities, water conservation and water quality, and affordable and fair housing: all aspects of our comprehensive work on sustainable development. These outreach efforts involved our staff working or travelling in the Interior West, the Northeast, Baltimore, San Francisco, and at home in our Hudson Valley laboratory.
NEW: Vacant and Problem Properties Book
In May, the American Bar Association Section of State and Local Government Law released a new book co-edited by Executive Director Jessica Bacher, Vacant and Problem Properties. The book provides an assessment of the problems of vacant and distressed properties, the many actions that can be taken to bring these deteriorating assets back into use, and how to write defensible and effective local ordinances and regulations. As part of the book launch, Jessica presented at the ABA Land Use Institute in Baltimore and the American Planning Association National Conference Bettman Symposium in San Francisco. You can order a copy of the book here.
Calming Troubled Waters: Local Solutions
Professor John Nolon delivered the 15th Annual Norman Williams Distinguished Lecture in Land Use Planning and the Law at Vermont Law School on April 4th. His lecture, Calming Troubled Waters: Local Solutions focuses on troubles with regulating water quality under the federal system of law and ideas for building a coherent framework involving all levels of government. The lecture can be accessed here.
Integrating Water Efficiency into Land Use Planning Guidebook
Earlier this year, Western Resource Advocates andthe Center published Integrating Water Efficiency into Land Use Planning Guidebook to help growing communities throughout the Interior West reduce the water footprint of new development. “This comprehensive guidebook will be an invaluable resource to land use lawyers and planners looking for ways to manage water demands as they face a growing population,” said lead author Jennie Nolon Blanchard, Center Senior Staff Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law.
Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit
On May 2nd, in partnership with Goldstein Hall PLLC, Housing Action Council, and NHP Foundation, the Center hosted the Third Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit. Panel topics included Opportunity Zones, faith based housing, and a variety of policy and legal approaches to creating affordable housing. You can access the Summit video here.
Gaining Ground Database
Visit our Gaining Ground Information Database featuring a comprehensive collection of land use resources, including federal, state, and local ordinances; commentaries; research papers; and research aids.
