Land and Communities

Efficient and equitable allocation of limited land resources supports thriving communities

The Lincoln Institute is a thought leader and proponent of practices that focus on the ways that land policy – including the management of land and its uses – shape and are shaped by a community’s human, economic, and natural resources.

Our work supports policies and planning practices for equitable and sustainable development, poverty reduction, equitable urban greening, and community-led climate mitigation and adaptation measures. This work sees civic infrastructure, planning institutions, and community-led decisions as key for developing effective policies and securing optimal societal and environmental outcomes.

Urban Sustainability

Communities around the world are contending with accelerating climate change and finding ways to adapt. Through networks and communities of practice, courses and workshops, research, and publications, the Lincoln Institute identifies and shares promising practices for land-based greenhouse gas mitigation, and adaptation and resilience. With partners, we bring together elected officials, community members, and key planning and policy staff to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, strategies, and promising practices to scale up effective climate solutions.

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The Legacy Cities Initiative

Once drivers of industry and prosperity, legacy cities have been central to some of America’s most historic achievements, and they possess a strong civic spirit and culture of innovation at a time when these qualities are most needed. The Legacy Cities Initiative supports an expanding network of civic leaders, policymakers, and others who are working together to help revitalize these places equitably.

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Legacy Cities: Comparative Cities Map

Explore our interactive, searchable map of nearly 100 legacy cities, and filter cities by population, demographics, geography, economic and housing characteristics, or by the types of initiatives cities have pursued.

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Remaking Local Economies

For the last half-century, local governments have played a key role in economic development. With the goal of creating conditions for their residents to not just survive but thrive in place, these practices have promised residents stable jobs, educational opportunities, and improved quality of life.

Remaking Local Economies—a new research initiative spearheaded by the Lincoln Institute—is building a unique template for smaller US cities that transcends traditional growth-centric efforts, setting the stage for meaningful, truly equitable change.

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