The Kentlands Initiative was incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c)3. Joe Alfandre, founder and builder of Kentlands, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, established this non-profit in response to many requests from municipalities throughout America, all of whom were asking the same question: How do you do Kentlands? They were not asking to have plans done or to find a development partner. They were asking Joe, in his unique position standing astride planners and developers for the inside story on the creation of the first new urban development in America’s suburbs. Joe was immediately interested in the multitude of requests, and made the strategic decision that a non-profit would be the most pragmatic legal entity to respond with.
Since 2001, The Kentlands Initiative has carefully chosen municipal partners by geographic location and has provided development “seeding” expertise. In Highland, Utah, The Kentlands Initiative staged a development charrette for their town center. During the week long session, a new discussion among public, civic, and development stakeholders was established to create sustainable cooperation for collaborative implementation of the project.
In LaGrange, Georgia, The Kentlands Initiative worked with the City to locate an appropriate piece of surplus land and initiated development of a new, smart growth neighborhood to welcome a new and burgeoning work force.
In Marshall, Virginia, The Kentlands Initiative worked with landowners, municipal officials, and citizens of the town on a comprehensive plan to preserve the town’s historicity through creative growth.
We’ve grown and evolved over the years but one thing has remained constant; our commitment and ability to create sustainable, diverse, unique neighborhoods that become the lifeblood and cornerstones of our subdivisions and cities and increase quality of life. The mission of The Kentlands Initiative is to assist citizens and communities to create and rehabilitate compact, connected, complex (old/rich, young/poor), complete (daily needs in walking distance). And just like with the Kentlands development, we can’t do it alone, we need your help. We all need to work together to create truly sustainable, human-centered neighborhoods that will rise from the ashes of our beleaguered subdivisions and cities.
Find out more at www.kentlandsinitaitive.org or, click here.
