Highway Removals: Communities Reunite, Breaking Down Barriers, and Righting Wrongs of the Past
Cities across the United States are now making strides to reconnect those communities divided by past highway investment.
Curtis Infrastructure Initiative
The ULI Curtis Infrastructure Initiative identifies and promotes forward-looking infrastructure investments that are equitable and resilient and that enhance long-term community value.
“The purpose of [the Curtis Infrastructure Initiative is] to contribute toward the building of a better future by providing resources of inspiration, discovery, and innovation. I believe that infrastructure and land use processes shape how we live, how we work, where we live, where we work, and how we move goods and services.”
James J. Curtis, III
ULI Life Trustee
Infrastructure, land use, and real estate development are intrinsically linked. By creating new global and strategic partnerships, providing technical assistance, building capacity at the local level, and acting as a feedback loop to promote the most innovative and effective best practices, the Curtis Infrastructure Initiative supports ULI’s mission to positively shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. A thoughtful approach to infrastructure planning and implementation addresses the pressing needs of today and improves diverse communities for the long term.
A building block for communities everywhere, infrastructure encompasses transportation, critical utilities, and the means of communication. But beyond these foundational physical and digital structures and facilities, infrastructure broadly includes the key spaces that build community—anchor institutions, the civic commons, and housing. Because infrastructure provides the means for connection, creative placemaking, and opportunity, smart infrastructure investment is an imperative for our cities now and in the future.
Together we can build the future of equitable and resilient communities.
A ULI Infrastructure Framework
Now is the time to prioritize effective infrastructure-led development that builds long-term real estate and community value through a holistic and integrated approach instead of disconnected investments.
Photo By Sawyer Bengtson/Unsplash
The Prioritizing Effective Infrastructure-Led Development publication focuses the ULI Curtis Infrastructure Initiative on the following five key areas that the real estate industry has the most influence, namely at the building, neighborhood, and regional levels.
- We need restorative infrastructure investment that increases equity and sustainability. The U.S. must address the legacy of past investment that has divided communities physically, socially, and digitally. Holistic and integrated infrastructure investment requires efficient allocation of resources and must help to repair systemic inequities.
- We need to invest in public transportation and mobility. Enhancing public transportation is essential for increasing access to jobs and bolstering economic opportunity. People-centric urban development must include reliable, frequent, and accessible public transportation.
- We need infrastructure that helps us combat the global threat of climate change. As the cost of inaction related to climate change increases, promoting decarbonization and other net-zero strategies is vital. Adaptation and resilience are critical components of infrastructure investment so communities can withstand and bounce back from extreme weather events.
- We need to connect everyone to affordable and high-quality internet. In today’s digitalized world, the availability of high-speed internet is critical for economic participation and mobility. Broadband should no longer be viewed as a luxury, but instead as necessary infrastructure akin to electricity and water.
- We need supportive infrastructure investment that increases housing attainability. As the U.S. continues to face a housing shortage, providing more affordable housing is imperative for ensuring communities can thrive. Infrastructure investment, along with flexible and smart land use regulations, can help catalyze new private-sector housing production.
The more forward-thinking, and flexible, regions that execute successful infrastructure strategies will better succeed and generate more favorable financial outcomes for municipalities, improve the economy more broadly, and increase social outcomes.
Get Involved
Let’s build long-term community value through equitable and resilient infrastructure investments together.
Learn More
The Curtis Infrastructure Initiative identifies and promotes infrastructure solutions that make cities more equitable and resilient while enhancing long-term community value, along with directly supporting action at the local level through engaging our global member network. Visit the Global Partnerships, Technical Assistance, and Research pages to learn more about how we are meeting the mission of the Initiative. This Initiative is overseen by a Global Advisory Board.
Reach out to ULI staff by visiting the the contact us page.