"The real problem, the real frontier for the architectural profession, and the city planning profession and for our whole society is the question of how we are going to live...we lack great visions of what we could he aiming for." - Paul Spreiregen¹

"My survey of departments at Harvard suggests that you would have to stay in school until you are 70 to know what you need to be a good city planner." - Joseph Hudnut, former dean of the Harvard graduate School of Design

There are many visions of what we should be aiming for in our cities and regions and many ideas about what is needed to get there. Some are great, many are excellent and many more make a useful contribution. Sources of many of these are referenced here.

Four categories of information are included; as follows:

Bibliography - A major list of readings and references in the Bibliography. This can be read, downloaded and printed as desired. Other selected bibliographies and lists of readings will be included as they are developed.

Brief Descriptions of Selected Organizations - Scores of organizations are involved in promoting, planning or guiding development of cores. Web site information is shown where available. Also shown is a brief note about the organization’s relevance to this list where it may not be obvious. Many of these sites are extremely valuable and some are referred to elsewhere in this site.

Other Resources

Professional and trade organizations involved in city and regional development - Many operating at a national level and a few especially important local organizations are shown below.

APA: American Planning Association: http://www.planning.org

APTA: American Public Transit Association: http://www.apta.com

APWA: American Public Works Association: http://www.apwa.net

ASCE: American Society of Civil Engineers: http://www.asce.org

ASLA: American Society of Landscape Architects: http://www.asla.org

BOMA: Building Owners and Managers Association: http://www.boma.org

Brookings Institution: http://www.brook.edu Conducts policy studies that often focus on land use patterns, especially its Metropolitan Studies Division

Campaign for Sensible Growth: http://www.growingsensibly.org

CDC: Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov Conducts research on health impacts of urban patterns.

Chicago Metropolis, http://www.chicagometropolis2020.org Supports polices favoring revitalization of downtowns

Citistates group,: http://www.citistates.com Members of group study cities and regions and recommend actions and policies

Congress of the New Urbanism: http://www.cnu.org Group strongly urges development of better downtowns and centers

Downtown Research and Development Center: http://www.downtowndevelopment.com

The Funder’s Network: http://www.fundersnetwork.org Funds research in areas related to urban and land development

ICMA: International City and County Manager’s Association: http://www.icma.org

ICSC: International Council of Shopping Centers: http://www.icsc.org

IDEA: International Downtown Association: http://www.ida-downtown.org

ITE: Institute of Traffic Engineers: http://www.ite.org

Lambda Alpha International: http://www.lai.org An international land economics organization

National Main Street Center: http://www.mainstreet.org

Reason Magazine: http://www.reason.com Publishes articles critical of policies supporting downtowns and centers.

RPA: New York Regional Planning Association: http://www.rpa.org

Smart Growth America: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org

TRB: Transportation Research Board: http://www.trb.org

ULI: Urban Land Institute: http://www.uli.org

US-DA U. S. Department of Agriculture: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov Assists rural economic development, including smaller downtowns

US-EPA U. S. Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov

US-DOT U. S. Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.gov

US-HUD U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: http://www.hud.gov

US-SBA U. S. Small Business Administration: http://www.sba.gov

Voorhees Transportation Center: http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/

Walkable Communities, Inc.: http://www.walkable.org

¹Paul Spreiregen is a practicing architect, planner, author and lecturer. He has authored, co-authored, edited, and contributed to some twelve books on architecture and town planning. He was the first Director of Urban Design Programs at the American Institute of Architects, and the first Director of Architectural and Planning Programs at the National Endowment for the Arts.

Rodney E. Engelen

r.engelen@mixedusecores.com