Groves Award

2012 Call for Nominations

The Groves Award for outstanding leadership and vision by a public official in the promotion of Transect-based planning is given jointly by the Transect Codes Council and the Congress for the New Urbanism. The award was created in honor of Ken Groves, the late Planning Director of the City of Montgomery, Alabama. His leadership in using land development and planning to create better communities is a gift that he left for all. Through his vision and persistence, Alabama's capital city began its journey back to prominence and sustainability.

This year's award will be presented at CNU20 in May, 2012.

Download the Rules and Nomination Form here.

Ana Gelabert-Sanchez and Manny Diaz
Receive 2011 Groves Award

Ana Gelabert-Sanchez and Manny Diaz are the inaugural recipients of the Groves Award to recognize outstanding leadership and vision in the promotion of transect-based planning. Gelabert-Sanchez, as the former planning director of the City of Miami, and Diaz, as the former mayor, are credited with shepherding the landmark Miami 21 zoning code from conception to implementation.

Miami was the first major U.S. city to adopt transect-based zoning citywide. The Transect functions as a framework to ensure that development occurs in context with the character of each place. Transect-based planning reverses the damaging, auto-centric development patterns that have characterized growth over the last 60 years. Based on the model SmartCode, Miami 21 replaced the city’s outdated zoning with a code that formally incorporates walkability, sustainability, predictability, respect of neighborhood context, and a high-quality public realm.

From its launch in April 2005, Diaz provided the broad, positive vision of the city Miami could become in the 21st Century. He continued to make the case throughout his tenure, and even after leaving office. Diaz led the political charge with a hands-on approach and spearheaded the effort to incorporate environmental stewardship into the code. Gelabert-Sanchez oversaw the massive, five-year effort to write, edit, test, and implement the code. The project included a major marketing and outreach campaign, more than 500 meetings with community stakeholders, and the work of a large consultant team.

The Center for Applied Transect Studies created the Groves Award to recognize such leaders. The award is named in honor of Ken Groves, the late planning director of the City of Montgomery, Alabama, where he led the adoption and use of transect-based land development to create better communities. As a result of his leadership, Alabama’s capital city began its journey back to prominence and sustainability.

The Groves Award is given jointly by the Transect Codes Council and the Congress for the New Urbanism. It was presented to Ana Gelabert-Sanchez and Manny Diaz on Saturday, June 4, 2011, at CNU 19 in Madison, Wisconsin.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of Ana and Mayor Diaz, Miami 21 represents a model for coding reform for large, complex urban environments,” said Victor Dover, chair of both the Groves Award jury and the CNU Board. “It’s a landmark achievement. Their combined leadership, determination, persistence, and political know how were key elements for its approval.”

top of page