The Just Communities Blog

Capitol Hill EcoDistrict Community Report

This is the 2018 annual report from Capitol Hill EcoDistrict in Seattle, WA. This is a great example of an annual progress report for other EcoDistricts and communities to use as an example.

Breathe Easy Millvale Air Quality Planning

This Air Quality Planning guide is an example of a high-quality indicator report from an EcoDistricts Project. The Breathe Easy project recommends future actions and projects to catalyze change at the individual scale, in the borough, and in the region. This initiative, supported by the Heinz Endowments, is a result of Millvale's EcoDistrict Pivot 2.0 Plan led by evolveEA.

The Empty House Next Door: Understanding and Reducing Vacancy and Hypervacancy in the United States

This report lays the groundwork for exploring the issue of vacancy by defining what is meant by a “vacant” property, what constitutes a “healthy” vacancy rate, how vacant properties are measured, and why properties become vacant and abandoned. It discusses the impact of vacant properties on the communities in which they are situated. The report gives a definition of vacant properties in the context of the overall housing market, explains the negative effects of vacant properties on the overall community wellbeing, and concludes with recommendations on how to curb the vacancy problem.

Facilitator's Guide for Continuous Improvement Conversations with a Racial Equity Lens

This guide has been designed to support facilitators and leaders to advance cross-sector conversations and efforts aimed at population-level impact. The tools in this guide can support you in having productive conversations and allow you and your diverse partners to achieve dramatically better results in your community.

Equity in Sustainability: An Equity Scan of Local Governments Sustainability Programs

This guide from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network is an important read that highlights the interdependence between socioeconomic and racial equity and sustainability. It highlights 10 “Good Practices” for community leaders to help integrate equity into sustainability efforts, and highlights cases from around the country using the “Good Practices.”

The Value of Green Infrastructure Guide

This guide from the Center for Neighborhood Technology informs decision-makers and planners about the multiple benefits green infrastructure delivers to communities and guides communities in valuing the benefits of potential green infrastructure investments.

Arup Cities Alive Workshop Cards

Arup's Cities Alive workshop cards communicate 100 issues that cities will face in the future. The cards are designed to help stakeholders at all levels prioritize and explore issues that will shape the future of their city and explore the notion of city vitality thinking.

2015 Pittsburgh 2030 District Project Report

The Pittsburgh 2030 District Progress Report summarizes the Pittsburgh 2030 District’s 2015 progress toward attaining the bold sustainable building performance goals pursued by its participants.

Millvale Ecodistrict PIVOT 2.0 Plan

The Borough of Millvale, Pennsylvania's PIVOT 2.0 Plan harnesses an ecodistrict planning model that builds community resiliency by mobilizing and connecting food, water and energy networks to achieve neighborhood goals.