Urban Practice

CNT applies its unique strategies and tools at the community and municipal levels as well as in national and regional research. CNT’s Urban Practice work falls primarily into the areas of:

  • sustainable economic development
  • analysis of climate change impacts and remediation strategies
  • assessment of transportation cost to housing affordability
  • public participation in planning

CNT is the creator of unique tools and analyses that add value to traditional studies, particularly for projects related to transit-oriented development, cargo-oriented development, energy, natural resources and regional or local participatory planning. Our work is grounded in strong analytical work and an extensive GIS data library, but is mission-driven and shaped by two core values:

  1. People who have access to good information in a comprehensible format will make good decisions.
  2. Built communities have “Hidden Assets” which can be quantified to create reliable cost/benefit analyses.

CNT’s Urban Practice Consulting

CNT’s unique menu of tools and strategies can be applied individually or collectively to urban development and redevelopment issues. These include analytical GIS tools like the Housing + Transportation Affordability Index and the Development Opportunity Screener which are often used, along with conventional analyses, for economic development projects.

One of CNT’s most timely new tools is its inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. As owner of a LEED Platinum-rated facility, CNT offers several tools and consultation in the areas of energy efficiency, green buildings and green infrastructure. CNT’s commitment to providing “good information in a comprehensible format” to assist the general public in decision-making has resulted in development of several web-based and consensus-building tools. These include participatory decision-making tools like the Transopoly® suite of tools. It also includes the Civic Footprint and City.NEWS, among several web-based tools.

Browse CNT’s Toolbox for a complete list of CNT’s tools.

For more information, contact:

CNT’s Urban Practice Consulting Project Manager:
Jan Metzger
jan@cnt.org
(773) 269-4019





Who is CNT?

CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that combines rigorous research with effective solutions. CNT works across disciplines and issues, including transportation and community development, energy, natural resources, and climate change.


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CNT Updates

As 2008 comes to a close, we hope we can count on your support to build sustainable urban communities by making a tax-deductible contribution to CNT.

CNT celebrated 30 years of innovations in 2008. We could never have achieved this landmark…

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Events

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Publications

Creating and Capturing Value in Mass Transit

By CNT. December 12, 2008. (.pdf, 932.9kb)

CNT's 2008 Highlights

By CNT. December 10, 2008. (.pdf, 1,814.2kb)

Build for America: A Five-Point Plan to get our Economy Moving

By T4. October 15, 2008. (.pdf, 3,040.5kb)