2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Booklet
Featured Resource
From 2002 to 2015, EPA presented the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement to recognize and support communities that used innovative policies and strategies to strengthen their economies, provide housing and transportation choices, develop in ways that bring benefits to a wide range of residents, and protect the environment.
Awards were given in the following categories in 2012:
- Overall Excellence: The BLVD Transformation in Lancaster, California
- Main Street or Corridor Revitalization: The Cooperative Building in Brattleboro, Vermont
- Honorable Mention: The Larkin District in Buffalo, New York
- Programs and Policies: Destination Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia
- Equitable Development: The Mariposa District in Denver, Colorado
- Honorable Mention: Northwest Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Overall Excellence: The BLVD Transformation in Lancaster, California
This Smart Growth Award recognized the transformation of a dilapidated corridor into a lively, mixed-use district, through investments in the streetscape, housing, and business development. The BLVD Transformation in downtown Lancaster, California generated economic growth and ushered a new era of community revitalization.
Main Street or Corridor Revitalization: The Cooperative Building in Brattleboro, Vermont
This Smart Growth Award recognized the Cooperative Building, a new, energy-efficient, multi-story building in Brattleboro, Vermont. The building features a food co-op, affordable apartments, and innovative, money-saving environmental features.
The Cooperative Building has contributed to the vibrancy of Brattleboro's Main Street while promoting healthy living.
Honorable Mention for Main Street or Corridor Revitalization: The Larkin District in Buffalo, New York
This Smart Growth Honorable Mention recognized the Larkin District in Buffalo, New York. The District was a former industrial area that experienced the rehabilitation of a warehouse building and public spaces.
This has effort sparked widespread revitalization and redevelopment of a mixed-use district that reconnected a historic neighborhood to the rest of the city.
Programs and Policies: Destination Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia
This Smart Growth Award recognized Destination Portsmouth, a comprehensive overhaul of development and land use regulations in Portsmouth, Virginia. This effort captures the community's vision for a livable and pedestrian-friendly city while providing additional opportunities for economic development and reinvestment.
Honorable Mention for Programs and Policies: Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund in the San Francisco Bay Area, California
This Smart Growth Honorable Mention recognized the Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund. This fund is a $50-million revolving loan fund that provided investments in affordable, transit-accessible housing options in a high-cost area.
The Eddy & Taylor Building (pictured right), participated in the program and provided housing for low-income households and a ground-floor grocery store.
Equitable Development: The Mariposa District in Denver, Colorado
This Smart Growth Award recognized the development of the Mariposa District, a community-oriented master planned area, in Denver, Colorado.
This diverse neighborhood is transit-accessible and experienced the construction of affordable housing, health improvements, and educational services.
Honorable Mention for Equitable Development: Northwest Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
This Smart Growth Honorable Mention recognized Northwest Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After decades of disinvestment, this downtown neighborhood became a robust, sustainable, self-sufficient community with affordable homes, workforce training, community gardens, and civic pride.
The community has seen projects, such as the Northwest Gardens' 7,000-square-foot urban farm (pictured right), which generated $1,000 worth of vegetables per week and sold food to local restaurants and residents.