Who We Are

About Build a Better Burb

Build a Better Burb is an online publication dedicated to improving suburban design and planning. Through articles and insights, BBB helps suburban residents, developers, and officials explore solutions from across the country that can be applied to their communities.

Build a Better Burb showcases innovative ideas and practical tips for outstanding projects, seeking to inspire conversation about the importance of design and planning within suburban communities. The articles on the site highlight bold ideas for improving housing, promoting regional planning, addressing parking and creating transit-oriented development. Above all, BBB aims to focuses on what it takes to create a sense of place within suburban downtowns and neighborhoods.

We provide information and ideas on suburban planning and design to…

citizens who want to learn more about what’s possible for their communities,
developers who want keep up with news and trends, and
municipal officials who want to implement solutions in their jurisdictions.

Build a Better Burb is powered by the Congress for the New Urbanism and was created by the Long Island Index, a program of the Rauch Foundation. Content on Build a Better Burb is curated by Lisa Schamess, CNU Communications Manager. Got a story idea? Email us!

About the Congress for the New Urbanism

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is an international nonprofit organization working to build vibrant communities where people have diverse choices for how they live, work, and get around. We believe that well-designed cities and neighborhoods are crucial for our health, economy, and environment. We build places people love.

About the Rauch Foundation

The Rauch Foundation acts as the financial underwriter of the Long Island Index. The Foundation is a Long Island-based family foundation that invests in ideas and organizations that spark systemic change in communities. Louis Rauch and Philip Rauch, Jr. established the Foundation in 1961. Funding for the Foundation was made possible by the success of the Ideal Corporation, an auto parts manufacturer founded in 1913 by their father, Philip Rauch, Sr.