New look, and approach, for Land Lines, quarterly magazine of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Land Lines, the quarterly magazine of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, has been redesigned to include new features and articles written by a broader range of contributors.

"As we elevate the dialogue about the importance of land policy in the built and natural environments, the new and improved Land Lines will blend compelling journalism and scholarly articles of the highest quality," said George W. "Mac" McCarthy, president and CEO of the Lincoln Institute.

"By linking our research to the lives of real people, we hope to elevate the general understanding of what we do, deepen and broaden demand for our expertise, and ultimately inform more equitable, effective, and resilient land policy," wrote Maureen Clarke, senior editor and director of publications, in an Editor's Note in the April 2015 Land Lines, published today. 

For 26 years, academic experts wrote Land Lines articles, commissioned as part of larger research programs by the Lincoln Institute's three departments: Valuation and Taxation, Planning and Urban Form, and International Studies, which includes programs on Latin America and China.

While the magazine will continue to reflect their work, Clarke said, the magazine has "begun commissioning journalists—carefully chosen for their experience, expertise, and locations—to write narratives that draw on the Institute's research and demonstrate how effective and creative land policies help to solve vexing social and economic challenges."

Moving forward, Clarke said, "Land Lines writers will interview our researchers as well as the citizens and leaders whose problems would be solved by smarter planning, municipal finance, and land-related taxation."

In the April issue, veteran Detroit Free Press journalist and author John Gallagher writes about Detroit's visionary strategic planning framework; and Ryan Dubé, a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Globe & Mail, examines the role of property titles in addressing informal settlement in Peru.

A new column, City Tech, will highlight advances in the use of technology in land policy, authored by Rob Walker, a contributor to The New York Times, Design Observer, and Yahoo Tech. The debut column looks at a new app called BlightStatus, developed by Code for America, that serves as a critical tool for rebuilding and redevelopment.

Adam H. Langley, senior research analyst at the Lincoln Institute, authored another major feature on property tax relief. Additional well-established features—such as the Message from the President, the Faculty Profile, and announcements of new publications, events, and fellowship opportunities—will continue to be a prominent part of every quarterly issue.

"Although Land Lines is changing, some constants will endure. It will remain free and stubbornly nonpartisan. Our research program departments will still develop the key themes we explore. And we will continue to publish quarterly, honoring the Lincoln Institute's historic identity as a school and research institute by taking the long view, plumbing the depths of contemporary global challenges, and recommending land policy approaches to address them," Clarke said.

"By linking our research to the lives of real people, we hope to elevate the general understanding of what we do, deepen and broaden demand for our expertise, and ultimately inform more equitable, effective, and resilient land policy," she said. "We seek to make Land Lines a requisite read for Lincoln Institute followers and a gateway for newcomers."

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is the leading resource for key issues concerning the use, regulation, and taxation of land. Providing high quality education and research, the Lincoln Institute strives to improve public dialogue and decisions about land policy. For more information, visit www.lincolninst.edu.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150407/196997

SOURCE Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Related Links

http://www.lincolninst.edu