16 Must-Visit Web Resources for Those Wishing to Build Sustainable Communities

See below for a small selection of online resources for those interested in developing more sustainable communities:

• The Annie E Casey Foundation hosts a “Knowledge Center” with various articles on the community change process including community building, resident leadership and meeting facilitation.  The Knowledge Center also presents issue-specific articles on youth development, economic development, education, health, and other areas.
• The Foundation’s Responsible Redevelopment: Relocation Road Map 1.0 outlines some of the major issues and challenges to be faced when low-income families and children are displaced involuntarily by redevelopment projects and suggests some alternative standards and practices. 
• Community Benefits Agreements: The Power, Practice, and Promise of a Responsible Redevelopment Tool focuses on the use of responsible redevelopment practices. This report provides a summary of a consultative session on community benefits agreements that took place in May 2007.
• The National Housing Institute provides case studies of several major Comprehensive Community Initiatives supported by organizations such as the Ford Foundation and Enterprise Community Partners.  The site includes a collection of related articles and tools to help those considering a comprehensive revitalization initiative.
• The EPA “Green Communities” toolkit walks you through the process of planning for a sustainable community.  The site provides case studies, publications, lists of funding sources, indicators to measure your progress, and links to other resources.
• The Center for Neighborhood Technology describes itself as a “think and do” tank that promotes urban sustainable development.    They provide research papers and various calculators on their website that address issues including sustainable transportation, stormwater management, mixed-use and mixed-income development, the relationship between housing affordability and transportation costs, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, and other topics.
• The Local Government Commission is a nonprofit organization working to build “livable communities.”  You can find information on community design, transportation, waste prevention, economic development, energy, environment (including air and water issues), and “people and community” (health and social aspects of sustainable development).
• Restoring Prosperity is a collaborative effort among organizations promoting the restoration of America’s older industrial cities.  Read about their prescription for turning around these communities.
• The Sustainable Communities Network website has a planning starter kit called “Placemaking: Tools for Community Action,” and resource kits on issues including Creating Community, Smart Growth, Growing a Sustainable Economy, Protecting Natural Resources, Governing Sustainably, and Living Sustainably.
• The American Planning Association has a wealth of publications, conferences, trainings and other resources to help community planners.  It also is the licensing organization for professional planners (the American Institute of Certified Planners or AICP).
• Partners for Livable Communities is a non-profit leadership organization working to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity. Their website includes a best practices database, publications, descriptions of their initiatives, and a national directory of other organizations working to create more livable communities.
• PolicyLink has focus areas on a variety of specialized topics including Infrastructure Equity, Improving the Built Environment, Improving Access to Healthy Food, Bringing Home the Green Recovery, Meeting the Needs of Young Men and Boys of Color, Supporting Civic Engagement, and others.
• KnowledgePlex contains a large library and resources on community development topics.
• Cyburbia and Planetizen are both enormous information warehouses geared towards community planners covering a wide array of topics relevant to sustainable communities.  Planetizen also offers some online courses for planners as well as a useful e-newsletter.
• The Planners Network has links to trainings, its magazine, Progressive Planning, and case studies.