MARC > Creating Sustainable Places

What makes a sustainable region?

Sustainable places are enduring, resilient and adaptable. They are places that stand the test of time, providing every resident with a high quality of life today without harming our ability to do the same for future generations.

Sustainable places are VIBRANT, with activity centers that offer a rich mix of amenities and housing choices, with easy access to jobs, services and recreation. They are CONNECTED by transportation corridors that accommodate different modes of travel — walking, biking, transit and auto. They are GREEN, respecting and preserving the natural environment while promoting healthy lifestyles and healthy residents.

Places are most successful when they simultaneously enhance economic productivity, social equity and environmental quality. These three dimensions — known as the triple bottom line — do not have to be traded off one for the other. With careful planning, we can enhance all three and create more sustainable places.

 

41 Penn, Westport, Kansas City, Mo. River Market, Downtown, Kansas City, Mo. Quality Hill, Downtown, Kansas City, Mo. Northgate Village, North Kansas City, Mo. New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo. Park Place, Leawood, Kan. New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo. Park Place, Leawood, Kan. New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo.
  • 41 Penn, Westport, Kansas City, Mo.
  • River Market, Downtown, Kansas City, Mo.
  • Quality Hill, Downtown, Kansas City, Mo.
  • Northgate Village, North Kansas City, Mo.
  • New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo.
  • Park Place, Leawood, Kan.
  • New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo.
  • Park Place, Leawood, Kan.
  • New Longview, Lee's Summit, Mo.

 

Corridors

The CSP initiative includes plans and demonstration projects in six key corridors in the Kansas City region: State Avenue, North Oak, U.S. 40, Rock Island, Central City and Shawnee Mission.

These corridors are all part of the Smart Moves regional transit plan and are a key focus of other transit investments, including the federal TIGER grant. Learn more>

 

Tools

A wide variety of tools are available to help participants visualize possibilities, communicate with each other and with community stakeholders, understand the impact of development proposals and make informed community decisions. We've created a digital toolbox with links to some of the most widely used and most effective tools. Learn more>

Measuring Progress

Indicators and measurements tell the story about what we’ve accomplished and where we are headed. As part of the CSP initiative, we're developing a set of indicators to track the region’s progress towards becoming more sustainable and help quantify whether or not our actions are truly creating a vibrant, connected and green region. Learn more>

Latest News

View the U.S. 40 Highway public meeting presentations»

U.S. 40 Highway Surveys:
U.S. 40 Highway - Blue Springs

U.S. 40 Highway - 31st & Prospect

U.S. 40 Highway - Independence


Requests for Proposals:
List of RFPs for Planning Sustainable Places projects»

 


Bring your ideas and comments to our public engagement website.

The Creating Sustainable Places initiative is funded by a Sustainable Communities Grant from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities.