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AIA headlines this week include:

• SDAT to Focus on ‘The Rise of the Falls’

• AIA Baltimore Launches CivicLAB to Develop Tomorrow’s Citizen Architects

• House Small Business Champion to Connect to AIA Members

• AIA Members Bring Priority Issues Straight to State Legislators

• Contentious Transportation Debates Await Congress

• AIA Offers Opportunities to Prepare for Capitol Hill Day at the Grassroots Conference

“In the News” – links to other news sources:

• SDAT Steering Committee Urges Community Input in Springfield, IL

• AIA, Allies Ask Congress to Support Energy Star

• Branson, MO Leaders Discuss Old High School’s Future

• Vermont Town Works to Implement Recent SDAT Report Recommendations

• Springfield SDAT Raises Issue of City ‘Walkability’

• AIA Issues Statement on Transportation Bills in Congress

Last week, the Center for Communities by Design launched its Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) project in South Hadley, MA. The team is led by Todd Scott, AIA. Scott, a preservation architect from King County, WA, is a veteran of design assistance projects across the country, including projects in Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Louisiana and Maine. During the two-day initial visit to South Hadley, the team met with members of the Town Selectboard, the Acting Town Administrator, Planning Board, Regional Planning Commission, AIA Western Massachusetts, and other stakeholders.

The SDAT project will focus on South Hadley Falls, a waterfront area that is rooted in the town’s industrial past. As the application states, “Over the course of the last six decades, the Falls has experienced a gradual decline in its economic and physical vitality. Major employers have downsized or left town altogether, leaving buildings and lots vacant and underutilized. Its riverfront and waterfall are almost invisible to passersby.”

The waterfront faces many challenges, including a proliferation of vacant industrial buildings, obstructed views of the river, the lack of pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity, and a visual sense of neglect. The area also faces some organizational challenges, as it lacks a neighborhood organization or collaborative civic structure.

Locals described a number of challenges regarding collaboration and community building in the town as well. The team heard about “Two South Hadleys,” that have developed as a result of longstanding conflicts, suspicions, and ongoing mistrust between residents in the Falls and those in other parts of town. As one stakeholder surmised, “We are prisoners of our history.”

However, South Hadley Falls is also seeing the first signs of new life. The town recently underwent a planning process that will bring a new, multi-million dollar public library to the Falls. If positioned well, this facility could become a catalytic investment in the revitalization of South Hadley. During the initial visit, the team found that the South Hadley waterfront is a fantastic asset the community can leverage for economic development and placemaking. The spring SDAT will focus on a series of strategies to leverage South Hadley Falls’ natural advantages. It will also concentrate on building potential community collaborations among the town and neighboring jurisdictions to realize mutual benefits.

For more information about the SDAT project, consult South Hadley’s application to AIA, or follow the project on Facebook.

Architects bring a unique perspective and skillset for tackling challenges across a wide spectrum of urban development issues. With a long track record of success in advocating for public policy, AIA Baltimore has now launched the innovative CivicLAB program to better impart its leadership’s experience and insights onto the leaders of tomorrow.

“Our Urban Design Committee has been intricately involved in all the design and construction processes here in Baltimore for at least the past twenty years,” says Karen Lewand, Hon. AIA, Executive Director of AIA Baltimore. “Many of our members have become renowned policy experts in the field and are supporting key legislative and regulatory efforts across all levels of government.” Until now, AIA Baltimore has been developing future civic leaders by involving emerging professionals in all of its 16 committees. “The CivicLAB will focus on developing specific skills in a short period of time, as well as create the synergies that will accelerate the more typical learning process,” explains Lewand.

AIA National provided a supporting grant through the Component Leadership Grant program (now in its second year) for this exciting program. CivicLAB increases the leadership potential of promising young architects nominated by local business leaders. In a four-part series of two-hour monthly educational and participatory sessions, CivicLAB introduces participants to opportunities for civic engagement at various career stages. Its focused panels cover effective citizen lobbying avenues and strategies, articulating economic benefits, and becoming a leader in sustainability and historic preservation. The sessions also discuss excellence in urban design and smart growth policy development from the perspective of all stakeholders.

Seminars are led by members of the program’s founding committee, and the panels’ specific guidance and participation-oriented modules ensure that the program is poised for success. “I looked back at my needs 30 years ago to create the rigorous formal training I had wished was available at the time,” says Chris Parts, AIA, a Principal at Hord|Coplan|Macht. Parts’ panel “Citizen Lobbying” was the first program in the series, which launched in January 2012. Maryland Delegate Steve Lafferty (D-42), from Parts’ district, presented a first-hand perspective on the legislative process. Zachary Hart from AIA National and Joe Miedusiewski, AIA Maryland’s lobbyist and a former state Senator, rounded out the program.

AIA Baltimore expected to limit CivicLAB to 20 participants in its first year, but high demand necessitated a founding class of 22. “I was excited to see how engaged the presenters were during the planning of each session, and even more pleased that we had so many applicants to the program who have a diversity of interests,” says Lauren Bostic, Assoc. AIA, Planning Associate at Charlestown Retirement Community. Bostic is a founder and participant in the program. With just the first panel completed, participants are excited to apply their newly acquired insights. “It is critical to demystify the political process so that individuals feel empowered to address the issues important to them,” explains Bostic. “Since the first session, I realized that legislators are more accessible than they appear to be. It is necessary for architects to educate legislators as well as their constituents on issues that affect us collectively.”

“[This program] will enable our young architects to become leaders within and outside of the AIA to advance the profession, good design, and historic preservation of the built environment,” says Lewand. In this spirit, AIA Baltimore is working hard to offer participants the ability to interact with policymakers at every level of government. Among other opportunities, it has been encouraging CivicLAB participants to take advantage of the AIA Maryland Legislative Reception with Maryland General Assembly legislators. CivicLAB participants will also participate in Capitol Hill Day during the AIA Grassroots Leadership & Legislative Conference and take advantage of the AIA National Convention occurring in Washington, DC, in May to visit Maryland’s legislators on Capitol Hill.

This week, AIA members will have the opportunity to speak with Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), Chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce, as part of the AIA’s Connect with Congress series.    

Mulvaney will join the AIA on the February Virtual Advocacy Meeting, occurring on Thursday, February 16 at 4:00 pm ET.  Congressman Mulvaney represents South Carolina’s fifth district, which borders the North Carolina border near Charlotte. He is a real estate developer, lawyer, and small business owner who became a member of Congress in 2010 after serving one term each in South Carolina’s House and Senate chambers.

As chairman of a key Congressional subcommittee focused on small business, Mulvaney will speak to AIA members about his subcommittee’s efforts to help small business owners secure financing and obtain federal contracts. With the economic crisis tightening credit, Mulvaney has worked with the AIA and other associations on ensuring small businesses have access to capital, from microloans to Small Business Administration financing. Mulvaney is also introducing legislation this month to streamline the procurement process for small businesses. In addition to the small business discussion, Mulvaney will give AIA members insight into the current climate in Congress, information that will prove invaluable insight as members prepare for their Capitol Hill visits during the 2012 Grassroots Legislative and Leadership Conference.

Mulvaney will be taking questions from AIA members on the call. Please send questions to govaffs@aia.org prior to the start of the call.  Due to a potentially large number of participants, click here to reserve a spot.

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During the second half of the Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meeting, AIA staff will also introduce the issues to be presented during the Capitol Hill meetings occurring at the March Grassroots Conference. Conference attendees are encouraged to participate to learn more about the Grassroots schedule and the AIA’s 2012 legislative agenda.

With 42 state legislatures currently in session, AIA grassroots advocacy is in full swing. AIA Nebraska and AIA Illinois both recently hosted successful lobby days, in which AIA members were able to discuss priority issues directly with their state legislators.

AIA Nebraska, along with partners Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Nebraska Building Chapter and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Nebraska, hosted their Annual Legislative Forum on January 26. Of the 49 senators in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature, 30 attended the Legislative Forum. Governor Dave Heineman (R) and Appropriations Committee Chair Senator Lavon Heidemann both spoke at the event, addressing the issues of capital construction at the University of Nebraska and a tax credit bill supported by the Governor. AIA Nebraska Executive Director Sara Kay credited the high turnout to holding the event early in the session, allowing AIA Nebraska to secure commitments from senators before they received invitations from other groups.

On February 8, AIA Illinois held its annual Prairie Grassroots Day. Eighty-five AIA Illinois members traveled to Springfield to meet with their state representatives. The members met with 41 senators and 55 representatives, more than half of the Illinois General Assembly, to discuss AIA Illinois’ top legislative issues for the 2012 session. Before AIA members left for Prairie Grassroots Day, AIA Illinois provided them with issue briefs and talking points on the component’s legislative priorities as well as the contact information for offices of their state representative and senator, so that they could inform them ahead of time of their visit.

AIA Georgia, AIA North Dakota, AIA Alabama, and AIA Kentucky all have lobby days scheduled this month.

House and the Senate leaders are preparing to take very different transportation reauthorization bills before their chambers this week. One thing both bills have in common: they are indicative of the major obstacles that could prevent a final bill from reaching President Obama’s desk.

A Contentious House Debate

In the House, GOP leaders are working to shore up support for their bill. Earlier this month, Rep. John Mica (R-FL) led the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in a marathon, eighteen hour markup, to pass the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012 (HR 7). On February 3, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) led the Committee on Ways and Means through their own 22-17 passage of the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Financing Act of 2012 (HR 3864).

Taken together, these bills form the backbone of a five-year, $260 billion plan that would maintain funding levels while making several significant program changes that break from previous transportation authorizations. Once merged, the House bills would contain the following provisions:

• Remove the Mass Transit Account from the Highway Trust fund and devote all gas-tax revenues exclusively to highway projects. Since 1983, about 15 percent of all gas-tax revenues have been used to support mass transit projects that alleviate congestion on nearby roads.

• Subject the Mass Transit Account to the annual appropriations process. Relying on the general fund for transit dollars would dramatically reduce certainty that future funds will be available and significantly reduce transit agencies’ ability to plan.

• TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) funding will be increased from $122 million to $1 billion. The program provides credit assistance and leverages other sources of investment to help finance road and transit projects of regional significance. Transportation for America has reported that modifications to the program would likely make it easier for transit agencies with dedicated funding streams to apply for loans.

• All federal requirements related to alternative transportation projects such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to Schools, and Community and System Preservation would be eliminated. Currently, 10 percent of federal funds – or roughly two to three percent of all national transportation funding – are set aside for these purposes.

• Abolish TIGER grants, which established clear criteria to evaluate projects on a competitive basis and deliver greater value to the taxpayer. It has been extremely popular for financing medium sized projects, regularly receiving applications that exceed available funds by a factor of more than 15.

• Attempt to raise new revenues by expanding oil and gas drilling activities in land and underwater reserves that are currently restricted.

House Republicans say their bill emphasizes "core functions” of highway and bridge maintenance. Nonetheless, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called it “the worst transportation bill I’ve ever seen during 35 years of public service.” When compared to the current transportation authorization, the bill reduces the number of programs, streamlines funding, and purports to have found revenues to maintain current levels of funding. In doing so, the bill eliminates nearly every program that currently supports public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian mobility.

This comes as a large and growing number of reports, including the AIA Home Trends survey, are documenting a “definitive shift away from large residential subdivisions towards smaller scale infill development projects with greater emphasis on affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities, job centers” and more bikeable, walkable communities.

For these reasons, the AIA joined more than 600 groups in opposition to the provisions of HR 3864 which eliminate transit from the Highway Trust Fund. The AIA will continue to weigh in on other aspects of the bill that affect the built environment.

Bipartisanship in the Senate?

The drama surrounding the House overshadowed bipartisan agreements that were made in the Senate. On February 2, the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs unanimously approved the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012. Then on February 7, the Senate Committee on Finance approved The Highway Investment, Job Creation and Economic Growth Act of 2012 by a margin of 17-6.

These two pieces will join two additional bills that were previously passed in the Committee on Environment and Public Works as well as in the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

The bills have been passed through each of these four committees either unanimously or with the support of large, bi-partisan majorities. In contrast to the House, the Senate plans fit together to form a two-year bill totaling approximately $110 billion.

• As in the House, TIFIA funding will be increased from $122 million to $1 billion.

• The Mass Transit Account would remain as a portion of the Highway Trust Fund under rules that are largely unchanged.

• Programs that support alternative modes of transportation, such as Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to Schools, and others, would be modified. Where they currently enjoy dedicated funding streams and mandatory minimum budget allocations, the Senate bill would merge these programs together under a larger umbrella and give states greater flexibility to use the money on highway projects

• Establish a new provision to allow public transportation agencies to temporarily use federal funds as operating, rather than capital, expenditures during times of exceptionally high unemployment.

• Creates a new pilot grant program to advance better planning efforts in transit-oriented development and economic growth.

Although the Senate bill is a more bipartisan approach, its two-year lifespan means that Congress would be back in 2014, debating the same provisions. The AIA remains committed to advocating for a long-term bill that provides greater planning certainty for states and metropolitan areas. Additionally, bike and pedestrian safety is an important factor in creating strong, healthy communities and there is widespread concern that the elimination of dedicated funding for these programs will cause many states to abandon projects that serve these modes.

Even if both chambers manage to pass their bills, the next step – merging two very different bills into a single bill that the President would sign – will be far more difficult, particularly as the election season nears. That is why many observers believe Congress will need to pass another short-term extension when the current one expires at the end of March to keep programs running.

AIA Offers Webinars to Help Prepare for Capitol Hill Day

With the AIA Grassroots Leadership and Legislative Conference now less than a month away, the AIA Government Relations and Outreach team is hosting a series of webinars to help prepare AIA members coming to Washington:

> Grassroots Advocacy 101: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 3:00 – 4:30pm EST (registration required, click here for details)

The Advocacy 101 program will cover the basics about going to Capitol Hill for AIA members attending Grassroots for the first time – or for seasoned veterans who would like a refresher. This program will discuss what to expect on your trip to the Hill, the format and choreography of a Hill meeting, and the “do’s and don’ts” when meeting with a congressional office. The program will also provide a review of the issues that the AIA is taking to Congress this year.

> Grassroots Advocacy Day 201: Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm EST (registration required, click here for details)

The Advocacy 201 webinar will provide a deeper look into the AIA’s 2012 federal agenda. AIA staff will discuss the four key “asks,” the messages the AIA is taking to Capitol Hill, and potential questions Congressional offices may pose to AIA members. This program is for any Grassroots attendee who is planning to go to Capitol Hill in March during the Grassroots Conference.

Finally, for those who are not able to participate in either of the above briefings, you are invited to join the AIA Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meeting:

> Connect with Congress/Monthly Virtual Advocacy Meeting: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 4:00 – 5:00pm EST (registration required, click here for details)

In addition to welcoming Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC-5) as the second speaker in our Connect with Congress series (click here for more information), AIA staff will use a portion of the call to briefly discuss the issues for the 2012 Capitol Hill Day, as well as answer any questions on the AIA federal agenda as well as conference logistics.

If you would like additional information about these webinars, please e-mail Adam Melis, Director of Political Affairs & Engagement.