Bolster, not hinder

In the middle of a recession, talk about spending money on walkable neighborhoods, creating more open spaces and improving transportation options would likely take a backseat. But these topics and more are on the roster for next week’s Smart Growth Summit in Baton Rouge, the seventh such event—hosted by Center for Planning Excellence—focusing on long-term community planning.

In her message on the event’s program, CPEX’s Elizabeth “Boo” Thomas, said, “Sound planning and development practices can bolster, not hinder economic development. From bringing commerce to communities, to helping the long-term bottom line of investors, to affecting transportation expenses, to generating tax revenue for local governments, the ways in which we build have direct and indirect impacts on everyone’s pocket books.”

The three-day event features a variety of topics from housing to mixed-use development, greenways to public art, blight and crime to public transit. Speakers include Mayor-President Kip Holden, Sen. Mary Landrieu, American Planning Association President Mitchell J. Silver and more discussing smart growth issues across the state.

Check out the Louisiana Smart Growth Summit Aug. 27-29 at the Manship Theatre. The schedule can be found here. Early registration deadline ends today.