Kelso, WA Sm,art Growth Implementation

Kelso

The South Kelso neighborhood wants to redevelop and revitalize infill areas in ways that offer economic opportunity to the city’s ethnically diverse population. The neighborhood has experienced widespread poverty and disinvestment, and residents face challenging conditions that affect their educational attainment, economic security, housing stability, and health. These challenges include a high concentration of rundown, vacant, and boarded-up homes; high volumes of rail and truck traffic; industrial pollution; and high crime rates.

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments requested assistance to develop a policy toolkit addressing land use, transportation, health, and economic and workforce development policies that will help steer infill development and redevelopment to existing communities, creating a diversified economic base. The toolkit will offer strategies that could translate these policies into initiatives that could be implemented in a cohesive fashion. Other communities across the country facing similar challenges could also find this toolkit helpful.

Site visit: September 9-11, 2014

• Report: Using Smart Growth Strategies to Foster Economic Development: A Kelso, Washington, Case Study