|
|
| Title: |
Livable Communities Project Descriptions |
| Resource type: |
Program/project |
| Topics: |
Buildings, Business, Communities, Land Use
|
| Keywords: |
communities, livable communities, grants, housing |
| Audience: |
All
|
| Region: |
Twin Cities
|
| Summary: |
A descriptive listing is available of millions of dollars in grants awarded by the Metropolitan Council for community and economic development projects in the Twin Cities Metro Area that help to create livable communities. |
| Content: |
Enabled by the Livable Communities Act (LCA) of 1995, the Metropolitan Council makes annual grants, which have ranged from $20,000 to $2.5 million, to community and economic development projects in order to help:
* Create development or redevelopment that demonstrates efficient and cost-effective use of land and infrastructure, links a range of housing types and costs, jobs and services, walkable neighborhoods, and easy access to transit and open space.
* Clean up polluted land for redevelopment and new jobs.
* Create and preserve affordable rental and ownership housing.
Recognized nationally by the Environmental Protection Agency as one of five 2003 Smart Growth Award winners (see http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sg_awards_publication_final_10_17.htm), as of 2003 the Metro Council's Livable Communities Program had awarded 292 grants totaling nearly $100 million. The grants are expected to leverage more than $3.3 billion in private and other public investments. LCA funding has helped create an anticipated 7,260 new or rehabilitated housing units, 1,911 new or rehabilitated rental units, 11,400 new or retained jobs, and 940 acres of reclaimed polluted land.
Of particular note on the program web site below are links to short one-paragraph descriptions previously funded community projects -- including many town center projects - grouped into three PDF files for the three types of funding (Tax Base Revitalization Account, Livable Communities Demonstration Account, Local Housing Incentive Account). These previously funded project descriptions are listed alphabetically by community.
Some sample descriptions for projects funded in 2003 include Ramsey's $1.1 billion transit-oriented downtown redevelopment: New Urbanism billed as 'development, done right, that ends sprawl.' See http://www.ci.ramsey.mn.us/Documents/Front%20page/A%20Brief%20Summary%20of%20the%20Ramsey%20Town%20Center%20Project%20business%20connection.pdf
Burnsville's Heart of the City New Urbanist redevelopment, which broke ground in 2002, is guided by a framework design manual and zoning ordinance which outlines design standards and other requirements to assure that future development is consistent with the community's vision. It is a 54-acre smart-growth based, mixed-use, pedestrian friendly downtown, featuring a host of retail shops, business and office space, hotel and training center facilities, a community arts center, community park and diverse housing opportunities. See http://www.burnsvilleheartofthecity.com
An updated summary of accomplishments of the LCA grant program through December 2006 can be found at http://www.metrocouncil.org/services/livcomm/LCAResults.pdf
|
| Website: |
http://www.metrocouncil.org/services/livcomm.htm |
| Suggested by: |
Philipp Muessig
|
| Added: |
06/29/04 |
| Updated: |
10/27/09 |
|
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