I was reading Kaid Benfield’s Blog  this morning - Kaid is Director, Sustainable Communities, NRDC; adjunct professor, George Washington University School of Law; co-founder, LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system; co-founder, Smart Growth America coalition; author; voted one of the "top urban thinkers" in poll on Planetizen.com and named one of "the most influential people in sustainable planning and development" by the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. ( Attorney, recovering litigator, cyclist, blogger, dreamer.- I follow him on Twitter: @Kaid_at_NRDC.)

He offered this: The best of 2012 in green community  
(graphic is from Benefield blog)

For those of us who love this kind of thing- and just in case you missed it USE this link to the entire article and a summary of

“some of the outstanding issues and accomplishments for community sustainability that came to light during the year….”

          BENEFIELD LINK

Best community sustainability issue that reached critical mass this year: water.

Best regional plans for thoughtful land use and transportation investment:  the Southern California and Sacramento Sustainable Communities Strategies.

Best provocative new book:  The Space Between.

Best expansion of the green city vocabulary:  Walk Appeal.  

Best well-deserved recognition for a sustainability leader:  Dr. Richard Jackson’s Heinz award

Best new idea in community revitalization:  use of LEED-ND as a planning framework for recovering neighborhoods.        

Best municipal blueprint for changing an unsustainable community into a sustainable one:  Plan El Paso.
 for environmental aspiration.

Columbus, Ohio (courtesy of Eric Lowry/PedBike Images)Best continually improving and evolving sustainability tool: Walk Score.

Best accumulated body of recent work by a federal agency:  HUD.  

 Best little-known work by a community-based non-profit that deserves a pat on the back:  The Boston Project.  

Best body of educational work by a national non-profit:  American Society of Landscape Architects. 

Best sustained excellence in writing about people and community:  PlaceShakers. 

Best architecture/planning firm of the year:  Mithun. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR- MANY BLESSINGS AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS