It’s often said that the future starts today. As the six-county region plans for the challenges it will face over the next half-century, there are models of smart growth already in place. Here is a sampling of projects SACOG considers “Shining Examples” of good growth.

	Normandy Park, a high-density senior apartment complex built on five and a half acres of previously blighted land adjacent to San Juan Park, is a shining example of how infill development can be used to provide affordable housing. Now beautifully landscaped into a garden-like setting with a lush grouping of oak trees, Normandy Park offers attractive apartment homes for seniors over age 55. The rent is fixed and based on income (the maximum income is $32,100 for a single resident and $36,650 for families), and is near public transit and shopping.
	The Fremont Building is a classic design from Sacramento’s gold rush history that is a modern mix of commercial and retail space. It offers the convenience of a nearby light rail station, a park across the street, and modern conveniences for lobbyists, trade associations and other professionals looking for an affordable alternative to high-rise buildings.
	Placerville’s Historic Downtown is vibrant and thriving. Placerville has fought to maintain its city center and ambiance, and its historic buildings now house a variety of commercial and retail space. Specialty shops and great restaurants make downtown a destination for visitors and are available to the growing number of service businesses that have chosen to locate in the city’s commercial center.
	Beerman’s Beerworks and Meat Market now occupies a newly refurbished Victorian building in downtown Lincoln. Beerman’s is a shining example of how space can be reclaimed, even in a rapidly expanding city, and put to use in a manner that improves an area’s economic vitality and sense of community.
	Davis Commons grassy “gateway” to Davis adds a sense of place to a once vacant site and joins with Aggie Village as a shining example of mixed-use development. Tenants such as Borders Books, Papyrus, Jamba Juice, Ben & Jerry’s and Fuzio Restaurant are easily accessible to area pedestrians and bicyclists. Aggie Village contains 54 units on four acres, 37 of which are single-family homes and the rest “grad flat.” The range of housing accommodates families as well as seniors and singles.
	Sierra Crossings is a compact neighborhood of affordable three- and four-bedroom homes built on land within a previously developed area in Roseville. This very livable development includes 53 middle-income and six low-income units that seamlessly blend with the neighborhood. Sierra Crossings is another example that shows how existing assets can enhance a community while providing a diversity of affordable and attractive housing.

There are other “shining examples” throughout the region, including downtown Marysville’s enhancements that make it pedestrian friendly; transformation of Colfax’s historic railroad depot into a multi-modal transit facility; the renovated Auburn Promenade; the revitalization of Yuba City’s town center, and many more. These projects demonstrate that smart growth provides numerous opportunities to build strong, livable communities by reclaiming existing assets and employing mixed-use development to meet changing needs.