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O, Say Can You See: A Visual Awareness Tool Kit for Communities by Meg Maguire, Carol Truppi, Richard Hawks, James Palmer, Cheryl Doble, Scott Shannon, Samuel Stokes, and Stephen Morris. |
Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities by Jim Howe, Ed McMahon, and Luther Propst : The Conservation Fund and the Sonoran Institute
Balancing Nature and Commerce in Gateway Communities provides lessons in how to preserve the character and integrity of communities and landscapes without sacrificing local economic well-being. The authors describe economic development strategies, land-use planning processes, and conservation tools that communities from all over the country have found effective. Jim Howe, formerly director of conservation programs with the Sonoran Institute,
now works with The Nature Conservancy, in Rochester, New York. Ed McMahon is
director of the American Greenways Program at the Conservation Fund in Arlington,
Virginia. Luther Propst is executive director of the Sonoran Institute in
Tucson, Arizona. Flexibility in Highway Design Federal Highway Administration, 1997. Highlights creative approaches to transportation improvements. The manual is loaded with photos and drawings depicting a variety of options in highway design. See "Publications" at www.scenic.org for ordering information. |
Focus groups and business leaders spend endless hours talking about how to attract businesses. Many of them are unaware of how carefully tended visual resources strengthen the economic base of communities. For Virginians, preserving the historical, rural, and natural beauty of Virginia is an extremely important concern, second only to education. Tourist revenues and business relocation considerations are directly related to these resources. A slide show entitled "Scenic Virginia Works" takes an unsparing look at the effect scenery has on Virginia and its localities. It illustrates how attractive surroundings give communities a sense of character and uniqueness that translate into real economic gains. Historical and cultural resources are enhanced if immediate surroundings reinforce a sense of place. Towns and communities recapture their identities if entrance corridors are attractive and appealing and reflect their individual character. Preserved open space means little to anyone if it is hidden behind strip malls and excessive signage. Though laced with humor at times, this presentation takes a hard look at sprawl and other scenic issues confronting Virginians today. It is available to civic groups, historic preservation organizations, garden clubs, planning commissions, boards of supervisors, and other interested organizations and individuals. It would be difficult to find people who say that they do not care about the beauty of Virginia's trees, mountain views or its attractive cityscapes, but many people are unaware of the policies and practices that threaten that beauty every day. Fortunately, there are municipalities in Virginia that have successfully addressed the needs of the business community while protecting their visual resources. "Scenic Virginia Works" shows how this can be done. For information about the slide presentation, contact Scenic Virginia using the information available below. |
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