New Urbanism - Organizations

Organizations

The primary organization promoting the New Urbanism in the United States is the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU). The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities and healthier living conditions. CNU members promote the principles of CNU's Charter and the hallmarks of New Urbanism, including:

• Livable streets arranged in compact, walkable blocks.
• A range of housing choices to serve people of diverse ages and income levels.
• Schools, stores and other nearby destinations reachable by walking, bicycling or transit service.
• An affirming, human-scaled public realm where appropriately designed buildings define and enliven streets and other public spaces.

The CNU has met annually since 1993 when they held their first general meeting in Alexandria, Virginia, with approximately 100 attendees. By 2008 the Congress was drawing 2,000 to 3,000 attendees to the annual meetings. Venues have included:

• CNU I (1993) Alexandria, Virginia
• CNU II (1994) Los Angeles, California
• CNU III (1995) San Francisco, California
• CNU IV (1996) Charleston, South Carolina
• CNU V (1997) Toronto, Ontario
• CNU VI (1998) and CNU 17 (2009) Denver, Colorado
• CNU VII (1999) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• CNU VIII (2000) Portland, Oregon
• CNU IX (2001) New York, New York
• CNU X (2002) Miami Beach, Florida
• CNU XI (2003) Washington, D.C.
• CNU XII (2004) Chicago, Illinois
• CNU XIII (2005) Pasadena, California
• CNU XIV (2006) Providence, Rhode Island
• CNU XV (2007) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• CNU XVI (2008) Austin, Texas
• CNU 18 (2010) Atlanta, Georgia
• CNU 19 (2011) Madison, Wisconsin
• CNU 20 (2012) West Palm Beach, Florida
• CNU 21 (2013) Salt Lake City, Utah
• CNU 22 (2014) Buffalo, New York
• CNU 23 (2015) Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas

The CNU began forming local and regional chapters circa 2004 with the founding of the New England and Florida Chapters. By 2011 there were 16 official chapters and interest groups for 7 more. As of 2012, Canada hosts one full CNU chapter (Cascadia) and one Chapter in formation (Ontario).

While the CNU has international participation in Canada, sister organizations have been formed in other areas of the world including the Council for European Urbanism (CEU), the Movement for Israeli Urbanism (MIU) and the Australian Council for the New Urbanism.

By 2002 chapters of Students for the New Urbanism began appearing at universities including the Savannah College of Art and Design, University of Georgia, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Miami. In 2003, a group of younger professionals and students met at the 11th Congress in Washington, D.C. and began developing a "Manifesto of the Next Generation of New Urbanists". The Next Generation of New Urbanists held their first major session the following year at the 12th meeting of the CNU in Chicago in 2004. The group has continued meeting annually as of 2009 with a focus on young professionals, students, new member issues, and ensuring the flow of fresh ideas and diverse viewpoints within the New Urbanism and the CNU. Spinoff projects of the Next Generation of the New Urbanists include the Living Urbanism publication first published in 2008.

The CNU has spawned publications and research groups. Publications include the New Urban News and the New Town Paper. Research groups have formed independent nonprofits to research individual topics such as the Form-Based Codes Institute, The National Charrette Institute and the Center for Applied Transect Studies.

In the United Kingdom New Urbanist and European urbanism principles are practised and taught by the The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment. Other organisations promote New Urbanism as part of their remit, such as INTBAU, A Vision of Europe, and others.

The CNU and other national organizations have also formed partnerships with like-minded groups. Organizations under the banner of Smart Growth also often work with the Congress for the New Urbanism. In addition the CNU has formed partnerships on specific projects such as working with the and the Natural Resources Defense Council to develop the LEED for Neighborhood Development standards, and with the Institute of Transportation Engineers to develop a Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) Design manual.