Buses.
If that doesn't sound like a harbinger of urbanity, what does? Too, buses don't carry a very hopeful image and suffer from some negative perceptions, but like putting ivy in the garden, you know it works and you need it--and really what else can connect these areas?
But does it have to be that way? Most I talked to thought it necessary, some were even excited, about the new bus system. Others were more interested in bike lanes and alternative methods of getting around. What would you push for: should the buses be green, running on alternative fuels or electricity? What if "electric" meant power lines in more of a cable-car set-up like they have in Dallas, Texas? And not least...where do the buses need to go, and how often?
Here are a few links to interesting bus concepts:
Orem County, Utah
Coventry, UK
contemporary bus depot
futuristic buses
or what about historic buses???
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Topic #5: Green spaces
Along the lines of the river restoration and waterfront development, many residents discussed the need for more coordinated green spaces in and around Salina. Green space has a surprising effect on our psyche: a recent lecture I heard on the relationship between green spaces and crime noted a substantial inverse correlation. Crime goes down in areas that are more "natural" to the extent that even painting rooftops green has made differences in urban communities.
Many have had defined ideas about green space development: community gardens, north-end nature preserve, a coordinated end-to-end bike and nature trail, ridgetop hiking and biking in the southeast quadrant. What's your take? How should Salina manage its parks and green spaces in coming years--what should be first?
Many have had defined ideas about green space development: community gardens, north-end nature preserve, a coordinated end-to-end bike and nature trail, ridgetop hiking and biking in the southeast quadrant. What's your take? How should Salina manage its parks and green spaces in coming years--what should be first?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Topic #4: Water, water everywhere...or nowhere
This is another topic that probably will be revisited in another form later on. As I learned about Salina this past fall there were two contrasting water issues that came up frequently: the effort by Friends of the River to restore the Smoky Hill River's flow through Salina proper, and the underground contamination on the west side at Schilling AFB.
Even with the river restoration project, there are concerns about how the state intends to manage the dwindling water supply at Kanopolis Lake...and of course there are pressing regional concerns regarding the similarly dwindling Ogalallah Aquifer, the source of water for virtually all of Nebraska and western Kansas.
These issues notwithstanding, the Friends of the River project is a true grassroots effort and it needs the participation and input of as much of the community as possible. There's a lot to consider here: aesthetic beautification and access; defining a waterfront; the aforementioned state-wide water rights issue; flooding and property values. What do you envision for the river and its relationship to the community...and what should the community and F.O.R. be considering first and foremost?
Even with the river restoration project, there are concerns about how the state intends to manage the dwindling water supply at Kanopolis Lake...and of course there are pressing regional concerns regarding the similarly dwindling Ogalallah Aquifer, the source of water for virtually all of Nebraska and western Kansas.
These issues notwithstanding, the Friends of the River project is a true grassroots effort and it needs the participation and input of as much of the community as possible. There's a lot to consider here: aesthetic beautification and access; defining a waterfront; the aforementioned state-wide water rights issue; flooding and property values. What do you envision for the river and its relationship to the community...and what should the community and F.O.R. be considering first and foremost?
Friday, March 20, 2009
A Little How-To
Blogging has become a pretty large part of our culture, in part because of its democratic nature: easy to make, easy to use!
Here's a little how-to in case you're unfamiliar:
To comment on a topic, find "comments" underneath the text for the topic. It will say "0 comments," "8 comments," or however many have been posted to that point.
So, click on "comments." A new, small window will open up that has all comments to that point (it may take a few seconds, so be patient). At the end of the comments, if there are any, a box appears that invites new comments. Type your statement in it!
Finally, the program asks you to put an ID with your comments. You can get a Google/Blogger ID, or you can use "Anonymous" to post, or you can use "Name/url" (no "url" necessary) to attach your name to what you post.
You're done! Find a new topic to post on--and check back--you can access the blog from anywhere.
Here's a little how-to in case you're unfamiliar:
To comment on a topic, find "comments" underneath the text for the topic. It will say "0 comments," "8 comments," or however many have been posted to that point.
So, click on "comments." A new, small window will open up that has all comments to that point (it may take a few seconds, so be patient). At the end of the comments, if there are any, a box appears that invites new comments. Type your statement in it!
Finally, the program asks you to put an ID with your comments. You can get a Google/Blogger ID, or you can use "Anonymous" to post, or you can use "Name/url" (no "url" necessary) to attach your name to what you post.
You're done! Find a new topic to post on--and check back--you can access the blog from anywhere.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Topic #3: Downtown
I recently had a conversation with a friend who contended that wanting downtowns to be viable is quaint and unrealistic. He feels that downtowns are more trouble than they are worth because of their high density, lack of parking, and overpriced retail that can be bought more conveniently and cheaply in chain stores.
Admittedly, this is a pretty limited viewpoint, but is it the reality of what most people think? Not everyone I spoke with agreed that downtown needed more density to thrive...it's apparent most Americans value their physical space, which I think is intrinsically tied to the anti-downtown value system. What does a downtown need to do or be to be viable, to compete with the sprawl? Can a low-density downtown work? Or, even more directly, other than sentiment or nostalgia, why is it even important to a community that downtown be viable at all--why do we need downtown cores?
I explained to my friend that Salina has a great start on a great downtown. It has a great art center, an independent cinema, a theater, a few distinctive non-chain restaurants, and a distinctive non-chain coffee shop. These are unique services and entertainment that cannot or will not be duplicated in the mall. But is this enough shopping and entertainment? What else needs to happen other than shopping and entertainment?
If you had one thing you could do to or in Salina's downtown, what would it be?
Admittedly, this is a pretty limited viewpoint, but is it the reality of what most people think? Not everyone I spoke with agreed that downtown needed more density to thrive...it's apparent most Americans value their physical space, which I think is intrinsically tied to the anti-downtown value system. What does a downtown need to do or be to be viable, to compete with the sprawl? Can a low-density downtown work? Or, even more directly, other than sentiment or nostalgia, why is it even important to a community that downtown be viable at all--why do we need downtown cores?
I explained to my friend that Salina has a great start on a great downtown. It has a great art center, an independent cinema, a theater, a few distinctive non-chain restaurants, and a distinctive non-chain coffee shop. These are unique services and entertainment that cannot or will not be duplicated in the mall. But is this enough shopping and entertainment? What else needs to happen other than shopping and entertainment?
If you had one thing you could do to or in Salina's downtown, what would it be?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Topic #2: Quality of Life
Each seminar I conducted with citizen groups in the fall contained at least a few comments about entertainment and recreation options; topics varied from downtown fun to the waterfront to mall stores to waterparks to green spaces to restaurants to sports teams.
Each of those are topics in themselves, so I'm going to save them for later in order to think more globally about quality of life today. Let's start with what you have seen in other places that you think could work in Salina; what smaller cities have you heard of or seen that offer things that Salina could use more (or less) of? How's the traffic? How often must you leave town to buy something you need, or for fairly general entertainment such as a movie or sporting event?
In 2006 Bizjournals conducted a study of 577 "micropolitan" communities for best quality of life. The top 10 included Bozeman, Mt.; Pierre, S.D.; Durango, Co.; and Easton, Md., among others (read here to find out the rest). In the midwest, Pierre, S.D., Rolla, Mo., and Hays, Ks. scored the highest.
Salina came in at 185th, below Hays (14), Manhattan (23), McPherson (66), Great Bend (122), Atchison (143), and Parsons (176), just ahead of Emporia (189), but well ahead of Hutchinson (273) and Dodge City (350).
Here are the criteria:
Goal: The study’s objective is to identify America’s most attractive micropolitan areas. It gives the highest marks to small, well-rounded communities where the economy is strong, traffic is light, the cost of living is moderate, adults are well-educated, and access to big-city attractions is reasonably good.
1. Population growth -- Strongest growth in population from 2000 to 2005.
2. Income growth -- Strongest growth in per capita income from 1999 to 2004.
3. Per capita income -- Highest per capita income.
4. Small business growth -- Strongest growth in number of small businesses (99 or fewer employees) from 1998 to 2003.
5. Small business concentration -- Highest number of small businesses per 1,000 residents.
6. Management or professional jobs -- Percentage of all jobs in the workforce classified as managerial or professional.
7. Ease of commuting -- Percentage of workers who commute less than 15 minutes to work, minus the percentage who commute more than 45 minutes.
8. Affordable housing -- Lowest ratio of house value per $1,000 of median household income.
9. Low taxation -- Lowest ratio of real-estate taxes per $1,000 of median household income.
10. College degrees -- Highest percentage of adults 25 or older with bachelor's degrees.
11. Advanced degrees -- Highest percentage of adults 25 or older with graduate degrees.
12. Proximity to major metropolitan area -- Lowest air mileage to center of closest metro area with more than 2.5 million people.
While 185 isn't bad out of 577, I have to admit that I expected Salina to rank higher on this list. Of the factors that Bizjournals used to create the list, what does Salina need to improve on? Or, are they valuing the wrong things--what does Salina get right that they're missing out on?
Each of those are topics in themselves, so I'm going to save them for later in order to think more globally about quality of life today. Let's start with what you have seen in other places that you think could work in Salina; what smaller cities have you heard of or seen that offer things that Salina could use more (or less) of? How's the traffic? How often must you leave town to buy something you need, or for fairly general entertainment such as a movie or sporting event?
In 2006 Bizjournals conducted a study of 577 "micropolitan" communities for best quality of life. The top 10 included Bozeman, Mt.; Pierre, S.D.; Durango, Co.; and Easton, Md., among others (read here to find out the rest). In the midwest, Pierre, S.D., Rolla, Mo., and Hays, Ks. scored the highest.
Salina came in at 185th, below Hays (14), Manhattan (23), McPherson (66), Great Bend (122), Atchison (143), and Parsons (176), just ahead of Emporia (189), but well ahead of Hutchinson (273) and Dodge City (350).
Here are the criteria:
Goal: The study’s objective is to identify America’s most attractive micropolitan areas. It gives the highest marks to small, well-rounded communities where the economy is strong, traffic is light, the cost of living is moderate, adults are well-educated, and access to big-city attractions is reasonably good.
1. Population growth -- Strongest growth in population from 2000 to 2005.
2. Income growth -- Strongest growth in per capita income from 1999 to 2004.
3. Per capita income -- Highest per capita income.
4. Small business growth -- Strongest growth in number of small businesses (99 or fewer employees) from 1998 to 2003.
5. Small business concentration -- Highest number of small businesses per 1,000 residents.
6. Management or professional jobs -- Percentage of all jobs in the workforce classified as managerial or professional.
7. Ease of commuting -- Percentage of workers who commute less than 15 minutes to work, minus the percentage who commute more than 45 minutes.
8. Affordable housing -- Lowest ratio of house value per $1,000 of median household income.
9. Low taxation -- Lowest ratio of real-estate taxes per $1,000 of median household income.
10. College degrees -- Highest percentage of adults 25 or older with bachelor's degrees.
11. Advanced degrees -- Highest percentage of adults 25 or older with graduate degrees.
12. Proximity to major metropolitan area -- Lowest air mileage to center of closest metro area with more than 2.5 million people.
While 185 isn't bad out of 577, I have to admit that I expected Salina to rank higher on this list. Of the factors that Bizjournals used to create the list, what does Salina need to improve on? Or, are they valuing the wrong things--what does Salina get right that they're missing out on?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Topic 1: Uneven Development
Uneven development in any community is almost unavoidable. Can you think of a city, or even a town, that doesn't have visible economic diversity? Would such homogeneity even be desirable, if the result of "even" development was that every part of town looked and felt the same? Is it even appropriate to want some economic variability?
This is a vastly complex problem with greatly contested solutions, theorized and debated at the academic, private, and governmental levels for some time. Yet, there is some agreement that communities manage their resources so that basic services can be provided: fire stations, hospitals, police precincts, schools, and green spaces are scattered geographically based on even distribution and access.
The majority of citizens I spoke with are very aware of Salina's uneven development and, specifically, the lack of services and businesses on the north side. Some have stated that the problem is that much (if not all) of that area is in the flood plain of the Smoky Hills River; even more have suggested turning much of that area into some kind of wetland or preserve. Still more have suggested that there's a substantial economic opportunity missed by not having any development near I-70. The results of the "cinder block" vote from seminars I conducted in the fall--in the gallery presently--are that 38% of seminar participants believe development should occur in the north.
And there are many voices who feel that continuing the south and eastward advancement is just fine, and quite a few that want emphasis on the downtown core. Where do you stand on this? What kind of economic incentives could be offered to lure retail and other businesses to the north? What kind of character should that area have if not its present form (which few seem satisfied with)? What steps are necessary to bring citizens closer together on a vision for this? How has present government and planning responded/not responded to the issues, and what should they do differently?
This is a vastly complex problem with greatly contested solutions, theorized and debated at the academic, private, and governmental levels for some time. Yet, there is some agreement that communities manage their resources so that basic services can be provided: fire stations, hospitals, police precincts, schools, and green spaces are scattered geographically based on even distribution and access.
The majority of citizens I spoke with are very aware of Salina's uneven development and, specifically, the lack of services and businesses on the north side. Some have stated that the problem is that much (if not all) of that area is in the flood plain of the Smoky Hills River; even more have suggested turning much of that area into some kind of wetland or preserve. Still more have suggested that there's a substantial economic opportunity missed by not having any development near I-70. The results of the "cinder block" vote from seminars I conducted in the fall--in the gallery presently--are that 38% of seminar participants believe development should occur in the north.
And there are many voices who feel that continuing the south and eastward advancement is just fine, and quite a few that want emphasis on the downtown core. Where do you stand on this? What kind of economic incentives could be offered to lure retail and other businesses to the north? What kind of character should that area have if not its present form (which few seem satisfied with)? What steps are necessary to bring citizens closer together on a vision for this? How has present government and planning responded/not responded to the issues, and what should they do differently?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)