From my observations, downtowns across America live and die by their arts institutions. I know this is the case in Greensboro. We are currently debating the need for a new performing arts center downtown, thanks to the need to update our current civic center auditorium and the opportunity to pay down debts. Yet, if we… Continue reading Strengthening and Creating the Urban Arts District
Year: 2012
Please Excuse My Absence…I’ve Been On a Journey
I had no intention of leaving the blog idle for this long. Yet, occasionally, living the actual life of an urbanist gets in the way of being able to write about it. Yet while away from my urbanist pen, I was able to experience two key events that I think have major significance in the… Continue reading Please Excuse My Absence…I’ve Been On a Journey
The Real Failure of the Creative Class Is the Fear of Failure
Seeing Richard Florida speak at CNU 20 last month, all I could think about was one thing and one thing only: He rated Greensboro, which in addition to being my current city is my hometown, 41 of 49 in his original list of large creative class cities. No, it’s not the bottom of the barrel,… Continue reading The Real Failure of the Creative Class Is the Fear of Failure
Does PseudoSuburbanist Equal Hipster?
As we all browsed Emily Badger’s Atlantic Cities post on her own civic inferiority complex last week, the question above was in quite a few heads, namely my own. Now, I attempt to sort through all the good and bad things that this idea provokes. First, a primer to this discussion. Take a look at… Continue reading Does PseudoSuburbanist Equal Hipster?
Five Ways Government Workers and Officials Are Master Placemakers
On Memorial Day, we celebrate the sacrifice of the many men and women of our Armed Forces that have passed on either in battle or having lived a full civilian life. My PaPa was a World War II veteran and his presence was missed as we gathered around the table and the grill at my… Continue reading Five Ways Government Workers and Officials Are Master Placemakers
The Thursday List: News and Views for the Week of May 21, 2012
I’ve wanted to do this for a while, but came up with all kinds of excuses. No more. Even if this is just a public way for me to clear my thoughts on a few articles that have come past my inbox, news feed and stream, then here it is. However, before I launch in… Continue reading The Thursday List: News and Views for the Week of May 21, 2012
Twelve Legit Reasons To Leave Your City (#urbanism #cities #cplan #tacticalurbanism)
Last week, I presented the case on Killing the Civic Inferiority Complex at CNU 20. I also released a companion e-book. It is part picture book of my hometown of Greensboro, NC and part self-help book for those who are having serious issues with the municipality they reside in. All of it is my case… Continue reading Twelve Legit Reasons To Leave Your City (#urbanism #cities #cplan #tacticalurbanism)
Design Can’t Save Us, but We Can Save Through Design. A #CNU20 Reflection
It’s been roughly 48 hours since the last session at CNU 20 and I’ve been home about 24 of those hours with a sore throat and bruised heels from all the great debates, ideas, dances, food and fellowship that I encountered at the Congress. There were so many diverse viewpoints this year that it has… Continue reading Design Can’t Save Us, but We Can Save Through Design. A #CNU20 Reflection
Updates and Annoucements from #CNU20-Open Source, Panels, Articles, Etc.
Hey everyone. Hope you are having a great time at #CNU20 First of all, check out my travel story at Next American City. Then, be sure to follow me @blackurbanist on Twitter and Instagram for live tweets and shots. Tomorrow (Saturday), I’m presenting twice on the Civic Inferiority Complex. First at approximately 11:44 AM on… Continue reading Updates and Annoucements from #CNU20-Open Source, Panels, Articles, Etc.
CNU, Seeing the Future
Three major things are going on with me right now. The first is that I completed my masters of public affairs! For the last two years, I’ve been studying urban policy from the inside out with a wonderful group of classmates and challenging teachers. It was in an urban policy class that I decided that… Continue reading CNU, Seeing the Future