My Summer Internship with the EPA Smart Growth Program

by Joe Stampone on June 3, 2010

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This week marked the beginning of my internship with the EPA Smart Growth Division housed within the Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation (OPEI). This is an exciting opportunity to work with a cutting edge group and learn about impediments to smart growth and how we can break those barriers. Most of my time will be spent working on a research project trying to determine national trends and cutting edge issues related to smart growth. I’ll be using the data collected by the EPA through applications from the National Smart Growth Achievement Awards and the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program.  I’ll break down this data into various categories such as policy, tool, and geographic location to decipher trends. Also, I’m going to follow-up with the applicants that were not selected to determine alternate routes they took to complete their project (if the project was completed). Hopefully this will lead to an interesting research project that will yield useful results.

Follow EPA Smart Growth on Twitter.

D.C. is an incredible city, with such a different feel from New York. After my first day I took a long walk around the area. In the immediate vicinity there were a number of historically and architecturally significant buildings:

The Washington Monument (It’s a myth that buildings cannot be larger than the monument, but it’s actually a pretty good marker)

The U.S. Post Office

The Reagan Building

The Willard Hotel

prescription drugs without a prescription size-medium wp-image-2884″ title=”Whitehouse ” src=”http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/photo16-225×300.jpg” alt=”" width=”225″ height=”300″ />The White House

Dwight D. Eisenhower Building

I’m extremely excited to really delve into this project and explore a new city. On Friday I’ll be touring a number of smart growth projects in the area including Arlington, VA, Rockville, MD, and Columbia Heights.

What’s your favorite part about DC?


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  • http://creativedirt.wordpress.com Connor MacLennan

    Joe- Congrats on the internship! The development we are working on in Wilsonville, OR, has used EPA grants to create a sustainable community. With the help of the EPA we were able to implement pervious pavers, bioswales, rainwater planter boxes, plant more deciduous trees and have strong stormwater systems in our development. We wouldn't have been able to build what we have without the help of the EPA, and it has created a culture of green living which has permeated to the communities homeowners. As a future real estate entrepreneur understanding all the different ways to finance your development (like using EPA grants) will help you a ton. I envy the experience you'll be having!! Good luck.

  • http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/ Joe Stampone

    Connor, thanks for your comment. In the short time I've been here I've learned about a number of the great programs run through the EPA. The staff here is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to smart growth and bring with them a variety of unique skills and expertise.

    It;s great to see that towns such as Wilsonville are taking advantage of EPA Grants. Quickly perusing the town website I can see the dedication to sustainability.

    Hopefully I'll be able to use my time here to do some interesting research and further the EPA's goals toward smart growth.

    Thanks again for your comment and kind words. Be sure to check back as I'll be continually talking about what I'm working on here at the EPA.

  • Derek M

    Visit the planned Suburban DC cities/villages of: Annapolis, Greenbelt, Columbia, Reston VA, St. Charles (Waldorf), Kentlands and Maple Lawn.

  • http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/ Joe Stampone

    Hey Derek, thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure what my itinerary is like tomorrow, but I'll try and check out as many as possible.

  • http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/ Joe Stampone

    Hey Derek, I went to Alexandria, Kentlands, Lakelands, Kingsford, and Rockville. Some really amazing projects. I'm going to write up a post for next week, be sure to check it out.

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  • Ryan Kurth

    My favorite part about DC?

    The old neighborhoods of DC are full of history, stories and culture. They have also gone through major transitions over the last 10-15 years, and from what I hear people that lived here 20 years ago wouldn't recognize much of it. My favorite (and I'm biased as a resident) are those neighborhoods directly north of downtown, think green/yellow line Shaw/Howard station up to Columbia Heights.

  • http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/ Joe Stampone

    Hey Ryan, thanks for your input. I recently took a tour through Columbia Heights and it's amazing the transition that neighborhood is going through. Meanwhile, they're doing a great job of maintaining the rich cultural traditions of their past.

    I'll have to take an afternoon to wonder around the surrounding areas.

  • Ryan Kurth

    My favorite part about DC?

    The old neighborhoods of DC are full of history, stories and culture. They have also gone through major transitions over the last 10-15 years, and from what I hear people that lived here 20 years ago wouldn't recognize much of it. My favorite (and I'm biased as a resident) are those neighborhoods directly north of downtown, think green/yellow line Shaw/Howard station up to Columbia Heights.

  • http://www.astudentoftherealestategame.com/ Joe Stampone

    Hey Ryan, thanks for your input. I recently took a tour through Columbia Heights and it's amazing the transition that neighborhood is going through. Meanwhile, they're doing a great job of maintaining the rich cultural traditions of their past.

    I'll have to take an afternoon to wonder around the surrounding areas.

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