The Chicago Green Alley Handbook
I recently found "The Chicago Green Alley Handbook" , and if you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a look. It's a nice, short and to-the-point document listing the techniques and approaches Chicago is and will use to improve alleys in their city, and also lists a variety of techniques that residents can use on their properties, listing applications, cost ranges, and benefits.
The main focus does seem to be stormwater, but the handbook discusses additional techniques and benefits as well, such as urban heat island effects, energy efficiency, recycling and re-use, and light pollution.
Chicago's recently received some good press about their green alley program, including CNN and others:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/biztech/06/27/green.concrete/
http://www.consciouschoice.com/2008/03/commish0803.html
http://www.stormh2o.com/october-2008/chicago-green-alleys.aspx