Apply for Maryland Sustainable Growth Award to Highlight Excellence in Development

If you, your organization or project advances smart, sustainable growth in Maryland – or if you know of a worthy individual, organization or project that fits this bill – consider throwing your hat in the ring for a 2014 Sustainable Growth Award. The Sustainable Growth Commission, established in 2010 by the Maryland General Assembly, makes recommendations on growth and development issues and celebrates smart growth achievements with its annual award.

Just what is smart growth? Development occurring in strategic placesthat is sensitive to natural resources and takes advantage of infrastructure and assets, such as transit. Smart growth is innovative, adapting historic resources to modern-day uses, using environmentally sound strategies or generating energy on site. It also exudes quality – creative architecture and a positive relationship to the surrounding area and neighborhood. Smart growth begets more smart growth, creating positive effects in the neighborhood, providing desirable amenities like wide sidewalks and shade trees, or spurring nearby redevelopment.

The Sustainable Growth Commission held its first awards program this year, recognizing applicants from across the state who demonstrated smart growth in innovative ways.  To get you thinking about what you might submit for the next round – applications are being accepted for the 2014 award through the end of August – consider the last list of winners.

The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy was awarded for its Center for Towns program, which supports community redevelopment by providing tools and assistance throughout the Eastern Shore. The Center for Towns program promotes empowerment and engagement, following the philosophy that the best plans come from within the community. In this video clip, the ESLC director explains how the Center for Towns program works.

Karen Lewand was honored by the Commission for her efforts to promote a well-designed and functioning built environment in Baltimore over three decades. As executive director of the Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Lewand encouraged excellence in architecture and became a public advocate for a well-designed built environment in the city. Lewand, who died in 2012, was recognized by former colleagues in this clip.

To recognize the link between historic preservation and sustainable design, the Commission bestowed an award on Tom Liebel, an architect who has become a national leader in integrating sustainable design into the adaptive use of historic structures, focusing not only on economics and the environment but also the creation of vibrant, engaged communities. Hear from Tom Liebel on why architecture can make a difference.

Awards went to projects throughout Maryland that exemplify smart growth, including local government planning efforts such as the Downtown Columbia plan, which will transform Columbia’s suburban oriented town center into a mixed residential and commercial development featuring urban design and cultural activities. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman explains the evolution in this clip.

The White Flint Sector Plan set the stage for transforming a car-centric suburban shopping district known for its sea of parking lots and choking traffic into a dynamic mixed-use center featuring housing, shopping, public use space, and a favorable environment for walking and cycling. Learn more from the developer working to redevelop the White Flint Mall.

Two Baltimore projects snared 2013 awards. Preston Place redeveloped an East Baltimore neighborhood with an eye toward providing housing for low and moderate income families, with a full spectrum of rental and ownership possibilities. Preston Place resulted from an extensive community organizing and planning process run by the faith-based Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) combined with The Reinvestment Fund (TRF), an innovator in the financing of neighborhood and economic revitalization.  The pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, a main force behind the project, describes what took place in this clip.

Union Mill, located in Baltimore’s Hampden Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its connection to the industrial history of Jones Falls. The 86,000-square-foot mixed-use redevelopment features housing for teachers, office space designed for nonprofit organizations and  amenities like a half-acre central courtyard. The project has received state and federal historic preservation tax credits and is designed to Baltimore City Green Standards. The owner and developer of the Union Mill development provides details in this clip.

The Sustainable Growth Awards were given for the first time earlier this year. Applications are open for the 2014 awards program in leadership and service, smart growth communities and preservation/conservation categories through August. Learn more about the award and apply. And remember, you don’t have to be involved in the project or organization to apply – if you know of a person, project or place that deserves recognition, nominate them.