CNU e-Update
December 2008

Happy Holidays from CNU!

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1. Charter Awards Submissions Due January 20
2. Greening the Holidays: Comment on LEED-ND!
3. Chapter Membership Restructuring
4. Last Chance to Submit Papers for CNU 17
5. Norquist Receives Ed Bacon Award for Professional Excellence
6. CNU Updating Membership Dues
7. CNU Is Moving! Please Update Your Address Book
8. A New Urbanist Version of Change.gov
9. Florida Chapter Conference February 5-6, 2009
10. New England Chapter Conference April 2-3, 2009
11. What's New @ CNU.org
12. Call for Smart Growth Streets Case Studies
13. New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Visits the Great American Southwest in January 2009
14. Seaside Institute: Upcoming Events
15. Form-Based Codes Institute: 2009 Driehaus Form-Based Codes Awards and Upcoming Trainings
16. National Charrette Institute: Upcoming Trainings

Dear [Firstname],

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1. Charter Awards Submissions Due January 20

Submit Your Work for New Urbanism's Premier Annual Award by January 20, 2009.

Where conventional sprawl generates enormous amounts of carbon emissions, erodes the bonds of community and strains the connection between cities and the rural areas that help sustain them, the revival of urbanism produces places of enduring delight, value, and resiliency.

CNU's Charter Awards recognize the best of that work. In doing so, the awards demonstrate how today's urbanism strengthens communities by creating the physical setting for rich public life and by working to connect people of diverse backgrounds with housing options, equitable transportation, and access to opportunity. In recognizing design and development that strives for sustainability without trivializing the complexity of urbanism, the awards demonstrate how urbanism is a remedy our planet needs—a vital way to green the American Dream.

CNU invites your submissions for its premier annual awards—whether the work is architecture, landscape, and urban design, or the publications, policies, plans, and codes that shape urbanism. Awards are selected by a jury of distinguished urbanists, led this year by Victor Dover, and judged on the extent to which they fulfill and advance the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism. This year, submitters also have the opportunity to describe how projects advance the operating principles in the Canons of Sustainable Architecture and Urbanism, found at www.cnu.org/canons.

Please help spread the word, especially to those whose urbanism and Smart Growth you admire.

Find information and entry forms at www.cnu.org/awards.

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2. Greening the Holidays: Comment on LEED-ND!

As thoughts turn to the comforts of home and hope for a prosperous new year, CNU would like to remind you that the comment period for LEED-ND is open for just a little while longer.

LEED-ND (LEED for Neighborhood Development) provides a much-needed framework for rewarding the efforts of forward-thinking developers, planners, and designers. These guidelines, produced in partnership with U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), address a wide variety of issues, from natural resource protection and green building practices to street layout, density, and connectivity to existing community facilities.

So take a little time this holiday season to draw on your experience in sustainable community design and review the latest draft of LEED-ND. Our goal of creating high quality, usable standards is within reach. Your comments will reinforce CNU's position as a voice for a better built environment, but remember, it's not all talk—action now will be a lasting contribution to our allied professions and the residents of tomorrow's neighborhoods.

The public comment period will close Jan. 5, 2009, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. For more details about recent changes to the rating system, check CNU's LEED-ND initiative page. USGBC is hosting the online comment form on their website at the LEED Rating System Drafts page. After a simple sign-in, comments may be submitted on specific prerequisites and credits. The Core Committee will be reviewing all comments submitted—the more targeted and concise the recommendation, the better.

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3. Chapter Membership Restructuring

CNU's local chapters bring the Charter of the New Urbanism home and provide more opportunities in your region for education and engagement in the new urbanist movement. As part of its increased commitment to ensuring the success of the chapters, CNU is changing its chapter membership structure. Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, all CNU members will automatically be members of their local chapter as a benefit of their membership in CNU. You will no longer need to add on your local chapter membership separately, though additional donations to chapters are greatly appreciated. To learn more about chapters and to see the chapter territory map, visit www.cnu.org/chapters.

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4. Last Chance to Submit Papers for CNU 17

As 2008 comes to a close, we would like to remind you that time is running out on submitting academic papers for CNU 17 – to be held June 10-13, 2009, in Denver. Please take note that the deadline to submit academic papers is January 2, 2009. Submissions are welcome on a range of issues and disciplines related to New Urbanism. Selection is based on the paper's contribution to critical discussion and practice of New Urbanism and for synergies within sessions. Papers that incorporate the theme of the Congress, "Experiencing the New Urbanism: The Convenient Remedy," are especially welcomed. All papers are read and commented upon by at least two reviewers prior to presentation.

Deadline: January 2, 2009

More details: CNU Call for Academic Papers

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5. Norquist Receives Ed Bacon Award for Professional Excellence

Bacon valued the complexity of urban fabric when others sought to destroy it

CNU President & CEO John Norquist was presented with the Ed Bacon Award for Professional Excellence on December 2nd in Philadelphia. The award's namesake, Ed Bacon, was the Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from 1949-1970.

In a press release announcing the award, the Ed Bacon Foundation commented that "Norquist, who previously gained national acclaim for his focus on urban design and development as Mayor of Milwaukee from 1988-2004, was selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors to receive this annual honor, bestowed on an outstanding national figure who has advocated for excellence in urban development, planning, and design."

Norquist joins an impressive list of past winners including Paul Goldberger (2007), Pulitzer-Prize winning architecture critic at The New Yorker; and Robert A.M. Stern (2006), celebrated architect and dean of Yale’s school of architecture.

Read full story...

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6. CNU Updating Membership Dues

CNU has exciting things planned for 2009, and as part of our budget for the coming year, we will be updating membership dues to ensure that we can continue providing quality resources and benefits for our members and restoring urbanism to the built environment through our initiatives and programs. Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the following membership dues will apply:

$195 - Individual
$110 - Non-Profit, Elected Official, Recent Grad, International
$50 - Student
$175 - Group Rate
$160 - Government Group Rate

Renew your membership early to take advantage of the current membership rates—download the membership form or renew online at www.cnu.org/join.

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7. CNU Is Moving! Please Update Your Address Book

CNU will be moving its office on Jan. 16, 2009. We will remain in the Marquette Building, but will move to Suite 404. Our phone and fax numbers will stay the same.

Congress for the New Urbanism
140 S. Dearborn St., Ste. 404
Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: 312.551.7300
Fax: 312.346.3323

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8. A New Urbanist Version of Change.gov

In calling for members to use CNU.org to share crisis strategies and enhance our national agenda, Board Chair Ray Gindroz also advances a major idea for “Rebuild America Bonds”

Dear Fellow CNU Members:

I cannot recall a year in which there were more crises: first, our increasing awareness of the long-term effects of climate change; then, the fuel shortages and spike in oil costs that made Jim Kunstler look like a moderate and seemed to lead us in the same direction as the climate change crisis; then the collapse of the credit market, the onset of a "recession" or "depression," and the drop of oil prices which makes it more difficult to stay focused on energy conservation. And in the midst of all this, there’s been a re-emergence of terrorist activity around the world.

Then there was the election. How inspiring it has been to see the revival of our democracy in a new way! And to have a leader with a calm, steady hand carefully moving forward by engaging many diverse points of view to find the best course. The problems are no less great, but there is now hope.

Read the full post from Board Chair Ray Gindroz...

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9. Florida Chapter Conference February 5-6, 2009

Join the CNU Florida Chapter for its 5th Annual Statewide Meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 5-6, 2009.

The agenda will include fundamental topics for New Urbanists practitioners, focusing on redevelopment and implementation, particularly in this down economy. The event will provide an update on CNU Florida and CNU National’s sustainability agenda and discuss the latest regional growth management issues.

CNU Florida also recommend you participate in a half-day workshop on Feb. 4 with attorneys Doris Goldstein and Dan Slone, authors of the book A Legal Guide and Sustainable Development for Planners, Developers, and Architects.

New this year! CNU Florida is partnering with the Form-Based Code Institute offering a workshop on form-based codes Feb. 3 & 4.

Also, in addition to the annual Nolen Medal to contributions to urbanism in Florida, CNU Florida will be recognizing a project that exceptionally depicts New Urbanist principles.

More info. on CNU Florida's website: Registration and Program Details

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10. New England Chapter Conference April 2-3, 2009

2030 Sustainable Urbanism Summit: Addressing Climate Change in New England
April 2-3, 2009
Portsmouth, N.H.

Building on CNU National’s Climate @ CNU Initiative, local and national experts, together with all summit attendees, will generate ideas for helping New England communities create tools for creating low-carbon infill development and compact neighborhoods, sharing tools such as form-based codes and smart street design alternatives to help break down the barriers that encourage auto-dependent sprawl. More info. will be available in the next month at www.cnunewengland.org.

The Sustainable Urbanism Summit will address climate change in New England and seek to develop new strategies for reducing our region's effect on this crisis. The Summit will provide speakers and attendees will the platform to craft innovative and proactive strategies to move New England into a new era of civic, economic, and environmental opportunity. Working sessions will explore strategies for more walkable development patterns, increased public transportation opportunities, new innovations in sustainable energy production, incentives for local agriculture, and other issues raised by the Summit's many innovative speakers.

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11. What's New @ CNU.org

Here's a sample of what's happening at CNU.org:

CNU Salons: Comments needed on projects for Obama infrastructure plan
@ http://www.cnu.org/node/2556
The incoming Obama administration is gearing up for massive near-term investment in the nation’s highways. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and others vocally support this large-scale building program based on one criterion: readiness to build.

CNU Salons: New hope where Katrina hit hardest: Trio of city buildings coming to Waveland
@ http://www.cnu.org/node/2549
Much of Waveland, Mississippi still looks as it did after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005 and the initial debris was cleared. While the parts of the city that are on higher ground further from shore now go about their business (with a Wal-Mart supplying needed sales to the tax base), the old downtown near the shore is primarily grassy stubble and the concrete and asphalt outlines of streets (see photo below). But that's about to change very soon.

CNU Salons: Newsweek: Is the Mall Dead?
@ http://www.cnu.org/node/2544
This recent article in Newsweek questions how appropriate the construction of a new megamall, named Xanadu, outside of New York City really is.

CNU Salons: Retrofitting Suburbia
@ http://www.cnu.org/node/2548
Retrofitting Suburbia (Wiley & Sons, 2008) has just been released with case studies of redeveloped dead malls, office parks, garden apartment complexes, etc. The book presents the drivers, techniques, and potential pitfalls involved in retrofitting our least sustainable landscapes into more urban and more sustainable places. Just as the big development project for the last fifty years has been the construction of sprawl, the big project of the next fifty years is in retrofitting it.

CNU Salons: Follow CNU News and Views on Twitter (as well as Facebook)
@ http://www.cnu.org/node/2533
Follow the movement through Twitter and Facebook.

If you haven't experienced CNU.org yet, it's time for you to see what you're missing. Please take a moment to log into our site and learn about the features it has to offer. Please read our Login Instructions to get started.

Visit http://www.cnu.org/features to learn more about the website.

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12. Call for Smart Growth Streets Case Studies

The U.S. EPA Office of Development, Community and Environment (widely known as the “Smart Growth” office) is sponsoring a study on “Implementing Smart Growth Streets” that is being conducted by ICF International and Ellen Greenberg. CNU members are encouraged to participate in this work by bringing candidate case studies to the attention of the project team.

The project, which is in its initial phases, is using the following summary definition of smart growth streets:

Smart Growth Streets are roadways designed and operated to support compact communities while promoting least-polluting transportation performance and preserving environmental resources within and beyond the right of way.

We are seeking exemplary cases that demonstrate innovation, quality and replicable results with respect to one or more of the principles. Because the practice of creating smart growth streets is an evolving one, we do not expect that each case study will illustrate all of the principles discussed below. This study is focusing on documenting such examples, as well as on the implementation activities and institutional arrangements that are leading to positive outcomes.

If you would like further information about the project, or to suggest projects or programs that might be valuable case studies, please contact Ellen Greenberg at Ellen@EllenGreenberg.com or 510-450-0949. Thank you.

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13. New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Visits the Great American Southwest in January 2009

This national, multi-disciplinary, smart growth conference is coming to Albuquerque, New Mexico and will be held January 22-24, 2009. The program has over 100 diverse, cutting-edge sessions spanning three full days. While many sessions will explore new trends and technical details, there are also sessions for those who are new to smart growth. The program includes 11 optional tours of model projects, another great way to experience the Southwest.

Our country is facing enormous challenges. At the top of the list are climate change, the economy, jobs, housing, public health and water shortages. Never before has there been such an urgent need for community leadership and innovation. Participants at the Albuquerque New Partners conference will have a chance to learn from and be inspired by cutting-edge, local-level responses to these pressing issues, selected from impressive initiatives drawn from throughout the country.

The LGC expects most of the conference sessions to be approved for AICP accreditation. Information as to which sessions are accredited will be posted online at http://www.newpartners.org/program.html.

Register online now, and before the January 9 deadline. Visit http://www.NewPartners.org to register and get more details!

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14. Seaside Institute: Upcoming Events

Current CNU members receive a 10% discount on workshop registrations with their membership card. Visit the Seaside Institute website for more information.

2009 Seaside Prize Ceremony Weekend, Jan. 30 - 31, 2009, Seaside, Fla.
Town Architect's Forum, Jan. 28 - 30, 2009, Seaside, Fla.

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15. Form-Based Codes Institute: 2009 Driehaus Form-Based Codes Awards and Upcoming Trainings

Want to preserve or increase the quality of our communities? Because Form-Based Codes can require rather than recommend the vision elements that make for good urbanism, FBCs are being adopted at an ever increasing rate throughout the U.S. The mission of the Form-Based Codes Institute (FBCI) is "to advance the knowledge and use of, and develop standards for, Form-Based Codes as a method to achieve a community vision based on time-tested forms of urbanism." Perhaps the most important way FBCI advances knowledge and standards for FBCs is through its 3-course series, taught by nationally recognized practitioners.

2009 Driehaus Form-Based Codes Awards -- FBCI will be giving the 2009 Driehaus Form-Based Codes Awards during CNU 17 in Denver. Submission forms for the awards are available on the FBCI website. Deadline for submittals is Friday, March 6, 2009.

Save the date for the following Form-Based Code trainings. Visit the Form-Based Codes Institute website for more information and a full list of events.

FBC 201: Preparing the Code-Design Considerations, Phoenix, Az., Jan. 8-9, 2009. Faculty include Victor Dover, Steve Price, Karen Parolek and David Sargent
FBC 101: Introduction to Form-Based Coding, St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 3-4, 2009. Faculty include Victor Dover, Bill Spikowski +1 more
FBC 301: Completing, Adopting and Implementing the Code, Ventura, Calif., March 16-18, 2009. Faculty include Bob Sitkowski, Bill Spikowski, Dan Parolek, +2 more

Registration for these courses is available at www.formbasedcodes.org. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust Scholarships of $500 each are available for representatives from not-for-profit historic preservation organizations or public organizations with oversight authority for historic preservation as well as students and faculty from schools of architecture.

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16. National Charrette Institute: Upcoming Trainings

Visit the National Charrette Institute (NCI) website for details on upcoming trainings. Current CNU members receive a 10% discount on NCI registration fees for public trainings held in Portland. Please note that all NCI trainings in the United States will qualify for AICP credit hours.

NCI Charrette System™ Certificate
January 14-16, Miami, FL
March 9-11, Portland, OR
May 6-8, Washington DC

NCI Charrette Management and Facilitation™ Certificate
March 12-13, Portland, OR

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Congress for the New Urbanism
140 S. Dearborn St., Ste. 310
Chicago, IL 60603, USA
TEL 312.551.7300
FAX 312.346.3323
www.cnu.org