I recently published an article that explored some of the ways regulations make it difficult for small businesses to get off the ground and function. Among the examples I used from around the country was Bank Suey in Hamtramck, Michigan. My story was subsequently reposted on various other sites which the owner, Alissa Shelton, read … Continue reading Hamtramck: Scale and Institutional Frameworks
A friend recently expressed an interest in how some cities are reforming their land use regulations. “I mean, there are places like LA that say they’ve thrown out the code books and are rewriting their zoning.” My short response was… No. The reality is that the city plays an expensive and byzantine game of cat … Continue reading Cat and Mouse in Frogtown
Shopping mall developers are exceptionally good at what they do. They’ve spent the last few generations refining all the little design elements that make a place profitable for retail trade. Their buildings go up fast, return a profit for investors, generate tax revenue for local government, and create jobs. That’s why the same big box … Continue reading The Barlow
Google “Social engineering.” I hear this term a lot. It’s used by people to describe any policy they don’t like. Most recently it came up in a radio interview about water conservation here in California. It’s been a hot topic since the governor declared a statewide water emergency with a mandatory 25% reduction in usage. … Continue reading Drought and “Social Engineering”
I’m a huge fan of the city of Cincinnati. I love the magnificent architecture, the cool people, and the gorgeous natural beauty that surrounds the city. And I’m incredibly excited that many of the best historic neighborhoods are beginning to come back to life after a fifty year slumber brought on by middle class exodus … Continue reading Revitilization in Walnut Hills, Cincinnati
I tend to explore what happens to suburbs as they age and begin to decline. But this time I’m going to explore what happens to suburbs that thrive and continue to grow and work their way up the value chain. It isn’t exactly what many people expect. “Be careful what you wish for.” A … Continue reading Growth and the Suburban Chassis
I have an on-going correspondence with a particular city planner who recently asked, “What pushes a neighborhood down vs. what lifts it up?” In the end I suspect this is going to be like the old joke. Ask three rabbis a question and you’ll get five answers. Perhaps I should provide a few examples of popular … Continue reading The Urban Planner’s Dilemma
I’m a longtime advocate of walkable, mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-served neighborhoods. But lately I’ve been having impure thoughts about suburbia. Let me explain. What often passes for a neighborhood in America is a low grade assemblage of chain convenience stores, big box outlets, franchise muffler shops, multi-lane highways, and isolated cul-de-sacs. Even when it’s physically … Continue reading Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Sprawl (Sort of)
Phase Change is a common principle in science. A simple example is water at various temperatures. Water is water at 50°F. Water is water at 100°F. Water is water at 200°F. But at exactly 212°F water stops being water and it becomes steam. In the same way water stops being water at precisely 32°F when … Continue reading Phase Change: Portland’s Alberta Arts District
No, my millionaire heroes aren’t computer whiz kids or international hedge fund managers. These are my friends Cali and Lou. They’re my heroes and I model much of my life after them. Aside from being endlessly charming, patient, kind, and generous they’re also smart and industrious. Here’s a little back-story that helps explain why … Continue reading My Millionaire Heroes: Not Who You Think
Granola Shotgun 