Three Seattle-based entities -- the Cascade Land Conservancy, Vulcan Inc. and real estate investment adviser Kennedy Associates -- have received international recognition as winners in the first Sustainable Cities Awards program sponsored by the Financial Times of London and the Urban Land Institute. The city of Seattle was also among the finalists for the awards, which honor examples of ongoing programs that exhibit new ideas for sustainable land use.

Winners were selected from a field of 86 entries submitted from 15 countries. The Land Conservancy's Cascade Agenda was recognized for its 100-year action plan for conserving Washington's landscapes in the face of a growing population and changing economic base. Vulcan was honored for "creating a new model for sustainable, mixed-use development in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood. And Kennedy Associates was recognized for "responsible property investing" in LEED Silver-certifed development projects.