As we learned in part 1, sustainability is not a destination but an ongoing process—one that evolves in light of new scientific understandings about how ecological and human systems interact. Its conceptually fluid nature means that defining and planning for sustainability must be an ongoing process. It demands that we look beyond government to collaborative cross-sector governance because effective sustainability efforts require all community change actors to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes and action in pursuit of sustainable community development.
Based on part 1, we know why we need to pursue sustainable community development. The challenge is knowing what destinations we need to target and how to actually make progress toward sustainability. Part 2 covers in greater specificity how sustainable community development is pursued at the local level.
Each chapter covers key stocks in one form of community capital and how investments can increase their sustainability. An online compendium adds myriad examples to illustrate these methods. The chapters are organized into three sections. Section 1 covers the forms of capital that contribute to environmental sustainability: natural and built. Section 2 covers the forms of capital that contribute to economic sustainability: organizational, political, and financial. Section 3 covers the forms of capital that contribute to social sustainability: cultural, human, and relational. Ending on relational capital sets up the discussion of mobilizing locally for sustainability through comprehensive initiatives in Part 3.
Communities as Living Ecosystems
Urban Ecological Processes and Ecosystem Services
Blue/Green infrastructure
Land Stewardship
Parks and Open Space
Conservation Land Trusts
Forest Management
Agricultural Production
Brownfield Remediation
Abandoned Mine Lands Restoration
Water Stewardship
Water Quantity
Promoting Water Conservation
Water Quality
Watershed Management
Urban Water Treatment, Distribution, and Reclamation
Air Stewardship
Solid Waste Management
Dispose
Recover
Land Development Laws
Traditional Zoning
Zoning and Designing for Sustainable Community Development
Mixed-Use Zoning
Performance Zoning
The Land Development Process
Building Codes and Construction
Green Building
Retrofitting Existing Buildings
Redevelopment
Landscape Design
Transportation Systems
Managing Vehicular Traffic
Encourage More Efficient Use of Cars
Infrastructure for Alternative Fuels
Managing Traffic Patterns
Traffic Calming
Alternative Modes of Transportation
Public Transit
Pedestrian Travelways
Bicycle Lanes, Amenities, and Sharing Services
Micromobility
Sustainable Built Environments
Chapter 8. Organizational Capital
The Enterprise of Sustainable Community Development
Government Agencies
Anchor Institutions
Charitable Nonprofits
Community-Based Organizations
Community Development Organizations
Community Development Intermediaries
Businesses
Necessary Goods and Services
Land Development
Residents and Their Civic Groups
Sustainability Organizations and Initiatives
Building Organizational Capacity for Community Development
Governing Authority
Local Control
Local Government Structures
Power Dynamics
Policy Advocacy
Empowerment and Influence
Community Organizing
Public Engagement
Who Participates
When to Engage
How to Engage
Advocating for Sustainable Community Development
Sustainable Economies
How Local Economies Function
Economic Development
Community Economic Development
Local Self-Reliance
Greening the Local Economy
Social Economy
Strategic Investment in Districts
Research Parks or Innovation Districts
Industrial and Eco-industrial Parks
Downtown Districts
Community Development Finance
Philanthropy
Public Finance
Land Taxation
Tax Investments in Community Development
Investments in Small Business
Investments in Individuals and Families
Private Finance
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Individual and Family Wealth Building
Conclusions
Self-Efficacy
Intangible Cultural Capital
Valuing Intangible Cultural Heritage
Valuing Cultural Diversity
Empowerment Work
Tangible Cultural Capital
Historic Preservation
Arts and Culture Programming
Creative Placemaking
Agency
Education
Workforce Development
Youth Development
Arts-Related Programs
Leadership Development
Health
Housing
Housing Characteristics that Support Human Capital
Anti-Affordable Housing Sentiments
Active Lifestyles
Parks, Open Spaces, and Trails
Community Food Systems
Food Security
Self-Provisioning
Food Sovereignty
Well-Being
Chapter 13. Relational Capital
Solidarity
Sense of Community
Neighborhood Associations
Non-Hierarchical Associations
Neighborhood Enhancements
Community Safety and Security
Restorative Justice
Effective Collaboration
Generating Sustainable Relational Capital