top of page

Resources

This page contains links to organizations focused on creating better places for people, books, reports, and videos that were integral to our work in designing the Mid Town Project. 
 
We would be happy to discuss any of the information in more detail, if you have any questions please send us an email on our CONTACT page.

Place-Based Development Definition

PLACE-BASED

DEVELOPMENT

REPORT

“Place-based development…is a holistic and targeted intervention that seeks to reveal, utilize and enhance the unique natural, physical, and/or human capacity endowments present within a particular location for the development of the in-situ community and/or its biophysical environment.”

Organizations

ACCELERATOR FOR AMERICA

“Led by an Advisory Council consisting of mayors and leaders from the labor, business and non-profit sectors. Currently, our work is conducted in two specific verticals: Transit & Infrastructure and Economic Development. We are the R&D arm of cities and mayors. We are a do tank, not a think tank.”

OPPORTUNITY

ZONE EXPO

"The Opportunity Zone Expo is the country’s leading education, networking and marketing platform for key players in the industry, including fund managers, attorneys, real estate developers, tax specialists, investment banks, institutional investors and government officials.”

URBAN LAND MICHIGAN INSTITUTE

“The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.”

URBAN SUSTAINABILITY ACCELERATOR

“The Urban Sustainability Accelerator helps cities and regions implement their sustainability projects - moving from plans, concepts, and policies to reality.”

STRONG

TOWNS

"Strong Towns is an international movement that’s dedicated to making communities across the United States and Canada financially strong and resilient.”

SMART GROWTH AMERICA

“We envision a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient.” “Smart Growth America works with everyone involved in the process of urban planning and development to think strategically about building better towns and cities.”

PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES

"Project for Public Spaces (PPS) is a nonprofit planning, design, and educational organization dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger communities."

Education

READING RESOURCES

A comprehensive list of recommended books for learning more about how to build strong communities, create social engagement, build better experiences for people’s lives.

NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY ZONES RANKING REPORT

"This new LOCUS report—National Opportunity Zones Ranking Report—identifies which Opportunity Zones are positioned to bring positive social, environmental, and economic returns, by ranking all Opportunity Zones by their smart growth potential and current social equity. Second, the report includes policy recommendations for communities to ensure that development results in more walkable places that are healthy, prosperous, equitable and resilient."

VIDEO RESOURCES

Brent Forsberg's Youtube playlist featuring lectures, presentations, interviews from world leaders in Urban Design and Scale.

THE EXCEPTIONAL CITY

DISCUSSION

GROUP

This Group is set up to showcase places we live and visit. What makes your community Exceptional? When you see something or experience a place that you feel others would enjoy please share. Have a thought regarding parks, art, or life in cities and towns? Please ask and get a discussion thread going. If you have a problem you want to be discussed please provide solutions to it and ask for feedback. All Civic, Social, and Infrastructure discussions are encouraged. This space is for positive open respectful discussion and will be moderated as so. I know everyone that joins this group will be an Awesome Contributor!

bottom of page