Posts by Mara D'Angelo

Mara D'Angelo joined the staff as a Policy Analyst in 2008. She was previously a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she did policy and programmatic work on housing counseling and foreclosure prevention, and completed job rotations with a nonprofit affordable housing developer, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Vacant Properties Campaign. She now contributes to SGA's work on housing and urban policy, including the Restoring Prosperity Initiative and the National Vacant Properties Campaign. Mara earned her B.A. in Psychology and Environmental Studies from Tufts University and her Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland. Mara can be contacted via email at mdangelo [at] smartgrowthamerica [dot] org. For more information about staff and contact information, visit our staff page.

Revitalization Advocates Applaud President Obama’s FY2011 Budget

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
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Atlantic Station in Atlanta in 1971, today a superb example of a successful brownfield restoration.

The economic downturn changed the landscape of communities across the country — creating growing numbers of abandoned homes, shuttered auto manufacturing plants, and vacant land parcels. Distressed and economically disadvantaged areas have been hit worst of all, and more communities than [...]

Solving wastewater issues through green innovation in Syracuse

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
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Across the country, older cities are struggling with outdated water-sewer systems that collect sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff in a single pipe system. When a big storm occurs, the system gets overloaded: sewage combines with stormwater and runs into lakes and streams, causing serious water pollution and health issues. Cities are beginning to turn instead to “green” infrastructure as a viable alternative to addressing combined sewer overflow. Green infrastructure uses plants and porous pavement among other tools as natural ways to filter water, increase infiltration, and reduce stormwater runoff into pipes.

Ohio land bank strikes pioneering deal with Fannie Mae to stabilize troubled neighborhoods

Thursday, January 7th, 2010
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The Cleveland housing market is experiencing a disaster of nearly biblical proportions. Last year, more than 13,000 foreclosure cases were filed in Cuyahoga County, which includes the greater Cleveland area. In response, the County Commissioners assembled the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, a non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and restoring vacant properties into productive parts of the community. Last month the land bank took a leap forward by forging a unique agreement with mortgage giant Fannie Mae that could be a game-changer for the distressed Cleveland region — and a model for other communities hit hard by the foreclosure crisis nationwide.

Can smarter land use help stop violence in the community?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
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The public health field often looks at changing individual behavior to get better outcomes – we offer driver’s education to prevent accidents, or conduct public service announcements about the importance of exercise to lower obesity levels. New research on violent crime helps illustrate the fact that the choices people make are influenced by the places they live, and that what we choose to do with the physical space in our communities can play a critical role in our efforts to help keep people safer and healthier.