Bottom Line: Through the Great Communities Collaborative, nonprofits and foundations team up to fund Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) that promote diversity in residents, incomes, and businesses.
The Great Communities Collaborative is a unique cooperative relationship between four Bay Area nonprofit organizations - Greenbelt Alliance, the Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, TransForm, and Urban Habitat - and the national nonprofit Reconnecting America. The East Bay Community Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, and The Silicon Valley Community Foundation are also part of the collaborative.
The Collaborative's goal is for half of the Bay Area's new homes, between now and 2030, to be located in pedestrian friendly neighborhoods near transit. An important part of their goal is that the new opportunities be available to people of all income levels. Historically, property values have increased as new developments are built near transit; the low income demographic is priced out of the area. This population then must invest in vehicles, all of which depreciate in value quickly. Alternative investments in education and condos/homes tend to build personal wealth over time. To encourage transit oriented development that supports all income levels, the collaborative creates modeling tools community leaders can use to make better decisions and secure funding for projects.
Currently, Bay Area counties are making considerable investments in mass transit. Since 2000, Bay Area voters have approved $12 billion in funds and the 2009 American Reinvestment Act targets several transit projects. The number of transit stations in the Bay Area should grow from 300 to 400 in the near future.
The collaborative devotes its resources to the projects it believes have the best chance of attracting a diverse population. View the criteria the collaborative uses to select projects.
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