CNU has initiated a multi-year study of

CNU has initiated a multi-year study of dead and dying malls. The first phase of this study is being undertaken by a studio course at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Kennedy School of Government. The class is studying malls in Los Angeles, Denver, Somerville, Massachusetts, and Syracuse, New York. Exploring both the design and economic issues around dead malls, students will run cost-benefit analyses on various reuse scenarios, including big-box, regional mall, and mixed-use. The CNU office is busy developing a major upgrade of the Web site at www.cnu.org. Future abilities should include: A searchable image library; a detailed database of NU communities with contact information; an expertise database; and various interactive forms to make it easier to submit materials to CNU. This effort will require members to help out. We will soon be sending out e-mails requesting that members go to a Web form and let us know what their areas of expertise are and whether they want to be contacted by the public or the press. A recent article in the Journal of Philanthropy noted that major foundations are getting interested in Smart Growth and the New Urbanism. CNU’s recent success in the grant world would seem to bear out their findings. Many thanks go to the Hewlett Foundation, which recently provided us with $200,000 for general support and to develop a regional partnership in Boise (see above). Thanks also to the Packard Foundation, which has donated $300,000 to support our regional partnerships and to help us influence state policy.