Open houses
in the wrong places?

In the short run, some members of the real estate industry profit from suburban sprawl. But the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors (CABOR) has begun to appreciate how, in the long run, sprawl undermines the economic strength of the region. In October 1991, CABOR issued a forward-thinking "Policy of Regional Planning for Growth and Redevelopment," excerpts from which are reprinted below.

...CABOR calls upon local government officials to work with planning professionals, members of the real estate and business communities and other community leaders to coordinate planning among the municipalities of the seven-county Cleveland Metropolitan area, which constitutes one economic market.

CABOR believes that economic development can still be achieved, even though significant regional population growth is unlikely, according to current demographic projections. CABOR also recognizes that many factors, including tax-supported infrastructure growth and other government incentives, have contributed to the outmigration of population and employment from Cleveland and its inner-ring suburbs.

• CABOR, in the interests of long-term economic development and the health of the local real estate market, supports community and regional planning efforts which:
• Emphasize urban redevelopment and new urban residential and commercial construction.
• Avoid expensive exurban (beyond suburban) duplication of the infrastructure.
• Strengthen rather than deplete the tax base.
• Preserve certain green space, farm land and natural habitat.
• Enhance community and neighborhood identity and character.
• Support the property values of the region.
• Maximize regional assets and the quality of life throughout the area.

CABOR strongly recommends that all government spending and incentives which encourage outmigration be approached with great caution. The long-term, regional effects of infrastructure proposals for highways, water and sewer, mass transit and other services on the placement of new housing development, employment and commerce should, likewise, be carefully analyzed before implementation...

CABOR urges county and local government officials to actively pursue a process for mutually agreed upon new housing targets with particular emphasis on new housing in all price ranges within the urban centers of the seven-county Cleveland area.

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EcoCity Cleveland
3500 Lorain Avenue, Suite 301, Cleveland OH 44113
Cuyahoga Bioregion
(216) 961-5020
www.ecocitycleveland.org
Copyright 2002-2003

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