Groves Award Previous Winners

Mathew McElroy
2012 Groves Award Winner

Mathew McElroy, Deputy Director of Planning and Economic Development in the City of El Paso, has been chosen to receive the 2012 Groves Award recognizing outstanding leadership and vision in the promotion of Transect-based planning. The jury unanimously selected Mathew based on his leadership in adopting New Urban and Transect-based plans, including a new city-wide comprehensive plan, leadership in multiple SmartCode rezonings throughout the City of El Paso, his commitment to CNU accreditation, and his reform of the city’s conventional subdivision regulations.

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, who 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. McElroy received the award May 11, 2012, at the 20th Congress for the New Urbanism in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Ana Gelabert-Sanchez and Manny Diaz
2011 Groves Award Winners

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 Based on the model SmartCode, Miami 21 replaced the city’s outdated zoning with a code that formally incorporates walkability, sustainability, predictability, respect of neighborhood context, and a high-quality public realm.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.”

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