News

Attendance

• Adam Garcia – Greenbelt Alliance (CA)
• Renee Kuhlman – National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Scott Wolf – Grow Smart Rhode Island
• Nicole Steele – Alliance to Save Energy (National)
• Rachel DiResto – Center for Planning Excellence (LA)
• Stewart Schwartz – Coalition for Smarter Growth (DC)
• Roger Millar, Elisa Ortiz, Emily Porcari – SGA

1. Update on federal policy by Elisa Ortiz:

• THUD will be marked up Thursday 6/7, but hasn’t yet been noticed.
• SGA has been reaching out to people in states with Republican appropriators (asking for $100 million, as in President’s budget; $50 million approved by Senate subcommittee).

2. Briefing by Roger Millar:

• Working on grant from Rockefeller Foundation to initiate transportation reform at the state level.
• Reaching out to rural America through TIGER (helping to improve communities’ grant applications).
• Creating a state DOT reform handbook that will be released soon.
• Working to bring about changes in federal policy to make smart growth easier for states.
• Making progress at the state level in Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont.

3. Briefing on Historic Preservation Tax Credits by Renee Coleman and Scott Wolf:

• National overview
• Attempting to foster more of a coalition between Smart Growth and preservationists.
• Federal government will provide 27% income tax credit for renovated historic buildings.
• 29 states created similar incentives, following the federal model.
• On the whole, tax credits can benefit smart growth by providing more affordable housing opportunities. However, energy retrofits and energy efficiency haven’t been incorporated into policy – many involved have a narrow view of the possible benefits of credits.
• Rhode Island’s program
• Grow Smart Rhode Island is a good state for the tax credit as it is the 2nd most urbanized state in the country and has the most historic buildings per capita.
• A tax credit was in place in the early 2000s, but was repealed in 2008.
• Trying to get the tax credit reinstated through an advocacy campaign right now, but have so far experienced issues like labor concerns vs. fiscal concerns.

4.  Wrap Up

• If you have any questions about the presentations, please contact Roger Millar, Renee Kuhlman or Scott Wolf.
• The next coalition call is scheduled for Thursday, June 28, 4pm ET.