CRT Addresses Young Regional Leaders at LMT YOUth Summit

On February 11, Leadership Middle Tennessee held the first-ever YOUth Summit at Belmont University. The group, composed of 36 high school delegates representing ten Middle Tennessee counties participated in the daylong summit to discuss regional collaboration and issues of importance. YOUth delegates also presented information on their communities’ unique qualities and character and their hopes for future growth and development.

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Small Scale Solutions for Big City Problems

A recent article in the Regional Plan Association’s newsletter examined “micro-solutions” to city development problems. Rather than addressing growth and development challenges solely with large centralized strategies, some cities are using more innovative approaches that may be cheaper and faster to implement. Micro-solution examples include relying on green infrastructure instead of a new water-treatment facility, and implementing car- and bicycle-sharing in place of a highway expansion.

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Raleigh Corridor Becoming More Transit Friendly

New Observer, January 23, 2012

One of Raleigh’s major corridors is being redesigned to be more walkable and transit friendly. The Blue Ridge Road, a major link between cultural and university centers in West Raleigh, is undergoing a transformation with the help of public institutions and companies with headquarters along the corridor.

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State, region should partner on transit

Atlanta Journal Constitution, February 11, 2012

Today, more than 2 million workers support metro Atlanta’s economy, a number which is projected to more than double over the next three decades. Because these workers live and commute to their jobs all across this region, we know that our economic prosperity is linked to our ability to promote reliable, cost-effective commute options for the nearly 50 percent of metro Atlanta workers who leave their home county to get to their jobs.

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Nashville No. 12 in 10-year job growth

Nashville Business Journal, February 8, 2012

The Nashville area may have fewer jobs today than it did before the recession, but Music City still has fared better than most U.S. cities over the last decade.

According to an analysis of federal data by Business Journal affiliate On Numbers, Nashville has added a total 33,900 private-sector jobs over the last 10 years — the 12th highest growth in the country. The new jobs represent a 5.63 percent increase in Nashville’s total jobs, the 24th highest rate in the country.

Group Plants 5000 trees to help impaired waters in Middle Tennessee

Tennessee Environmental Council, February, 18 2012

On Saturday February 4, 2012 Tennessee Environmental Council (TEC) partnered with several Middle Tennessee communities to make a ‘tree’mendous impact. In total, 5611 trees were planted in Middle TN with the help of over 150 volunteers.

The group targeted waterways listed on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s 303d list of impaired waterways. The trees will help reduce stormwater running off the land into the creek, reducing the pollutant load. In all, 5,000 trees were planted in Spring Hill, Gallatin, Lebanon and Murfreesboro on Feb. 4.

Nashville’s promise for a greener transportation future

SwitchBoard: NRDC, February, 15 2012

The regional planning authority for the Nashville, Tennessee metropolitan area has embarked on a new philosophy to put the notoriously sprawling region on a less polluting and less consumptive path, anchored by walkable neighborhoods, public transportation, and maximizing the efficiency of current roadways. Meeting the laudable goal of shaping a more sustainable region will not be easy: in 2001, the Nashville metro area was cited as the nation’s most spread-out – the area with the fewest number of residents per square mile – in a review of 271 of our largest metro areas.

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Mixed Housing moves forward in Franklin

The Tennessean, February, 20 2012

Developers at Bristol Development will host a design industry reception to showcase a preview of Bell Historic Franklin, the city’s newest rental community. The $27 million Bell Historic Franklin apartment project on Liberty Pike is a 218-unit complex that is the first apartment project in Franklin’s downtown area in 30 years. Construction is under way on the project.

Council seeks ways to fill empty retail space

Wilson Post, February 8, 2012

Following a controversial proposal that sought to bring more tax revenue to the City of Lebanon through a major project dubbed the Cumberland Center, council members expressed a desire to invest in pre-existing development that is either vacant or could be put to a better use. “We had this project come up with the event center [Cumberland Center] and talking about holding taxes to build up for this center. When you drive around, we’ve got vacant [buildings] throughout the city,” Huddleston said. “When you look at this side, it is a ghost town.” Huddleston said that they should look at “filling up what we’ve got” before advancing the city. Councilmember Warmath also expressed concern about the lack of investment in existing retail centers. Warmath and Huddleston want to look into improving the occupancy of existing retail space before looking to build more retail.

Smart Growth America Spotlights Columbia’s James Campbell Blvd. Plan

Smart Growth America, February 9, 2012

The heart of Columbia, Tennessee lies along a highway and commercial corridor; the James Campbell Boulevard. It was built at the city’s peak when demand was high for retail space and office buildings, but in the past several decades the needs of the City have changed. With the third slowest growth rate in the state of Tennessee, Columbia is in decline. It has the highest unemployment rate of any city of its size in the state and 20 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Not only has Columbia failed to attract new residents, with more and more families choosing to settle in neighboring Middle Tennessee cities, but the city is losing the young millennial generation, that many recognize as key to attracting local investments and maintaining a vibrant economy.

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