Sidewalk Spectator

Remember When a Family Could Make It on One Income?

2017-09-26T16:13:00.001-04:00

Remember when dads could work at the local hardware store and make enough money to raise a family decently? Remember when mom was a nurse or teacher and could keep a roof over her kids' heads, even if she was a widow? I'm old enough to remember when a one income household did just fine, and a two income home was comparatively affluent. What happened?

I was recently having a Twitter back-and-forth with someone who insisted that income inequality was not a problem and that deregulation of the financial world was a desirable thing. He was wrong, and here's why:

http://www.businessinsider.com/inequality-impact-economic-growth-2017-9

And many people still don't understand how income inequality has surged in the past few decades. See here:

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-inequality-is-worse-than-you-think-2017-6

I'm not pretending to have all the answers, but I do know that what we're doing is not working, and slashing the regulations that protect lower earners is not the answer. Trickle down does NOT work.

What does work is a large, stable middle class. A large, comfortable middle class is the engine that drives a strong economy. Without that, you have a small pool of ridiculously wealthy people at one end of the spectrum and an ever-larger mass of poor people at the other. The small, wealthy group wield an inordinate and disproportionate amount of influence over government and media. Not only can they influence politics, but they can influence how people vote, which ultimately influences what laws get passed (and repealed).

We as a society need to really think about what matters. I am FAR from being a communist or a socialist; I think capitalism is just fine, thank you. But I also believe in enlightened self-interest. When more of us prosper, then... more of us prosper. I think that's a pretty good deal.

Fun Trainings Ahead! No, really!

2014-05-02T17:44:00.001-04:00

Interested in learning a little about social media, downtown design, visual merchandising, or neighborhood safety as they relate to community revitalization? If you're around Carlisle, PA on Monday and Tuesday, May 5th and 6th, we'll be conducting training for the Elm Street and Main Street programs, as well as anyone else who wants to join. We start at 8 AM on Monday morning at 53 W. South Street. Here's the lineup:

MONDAY, May 5th:

8:00 - Websites and Social Media
10:00 - Visual Merchandising and Curb Appeal
3:00 - Elements of Design
4:00 - Anti-Crime Programs for Community Revitalization

TUESDAY, May 6th:

8:00 - Anti-Crime Programs for Community Revitalization
10:00 - Elements of Design
3:00 - Visual Merchandising and Curb Appeal
4:00 - Websites and Social Media

Leave a comment here if you have any questions.

Solar Roadways!

2014-04-29T21:05:00.000-04:00

You must click this link right now to go to Indiegogo and help these folks create a whole new pavement. The Solar Roadways people say their new paving system can melt snow, light up, treat stormwater runoff, AND create energy.

Imagine the possibilities if this became a widespread technology? All the dead pavement lying inert throughout the world could be converted to an energy-producing network. I do wonder though, about the efficacy of a pavement that is shaded by cars all day long, such as in a parking lot, or even an urban commuter street.

Still, that doesn't mean it isn't worth pursuing this big dream. I've made a personal donation to this campaign and I hope other folks will, too. It could be a world-changer, and you can't often say that about new inventions.

Good luck, folks!

A Couple of Book Reviews

2014-04-24T18:38:00.001-04:00

If you're like me and you really REALLY care about the health of the planet, as well as the health of its citizens, then I recommend a couple of books that I recently read.

One is Happy City by Charles Montgomery. It's subtitled: "Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design," and the premise is that if we create the right places, people will naturally flock to them. Methods of transformation include changing pedestrian activity, but also the places -- apartments and homes -- where we live. Montgomery uses examples from all over the world to drive his point home; and that is, people are too isolated and sedentary. It's killing us and it's killing the planet. He is especially hard on Americans (rightfully so) for our gas-guzzling habits.

The second is Walkable City; How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, by Jeff Speck. Interestingly, both books use a lot of the same examples and have pretty much the same thesis, though they approach the subject from slightly different perspectives.

I found Montgomery's book to be inspirational, with its vivid examples of how people's lives are transformed by the form their communities take. In one chapter, he tells the melancholy story of suburban homeowners who believe they are buying the American Dream when they snag the big house in the suburbs, only to find that they have such long commutes that they barely get to enjoy their new acquisitions. Their social lives have been reduced to the fringes of their days. Montgomery makes a strong case for how valuable those accidental interactions are that take place on the urban street. Suburban commuters miss out on all that.

On the other hand, Speck writes from the experience of an urban planner. His book seems more research- and experience-driven. He's worked with communities first-hand and understands where they go wrong. Speck gives precise details about street width and sidewalk depth. He discusses how traffic engineers view trees as a dangerous impediment while studies show that trees slow traffic down, resulting in fewer accidents. It's the kind of information you can take to a council meeting in hopes of amending city ordinances.

Both books are richly researched and full of good information, it's just that Montgomery's takes a more human approach, and Speck seems slightly more analytic. I liked them both, and though neither of them told me anything earth-shattering, they've inspired me to start making the case more emphatically to the communities with whom I work to take substantive steps toward creating more connected and walkable environments. This is not just about economic development, though that is a strong incentive. It's also about making us all healthier. It's about cutting our fossil fuel consumption, and working toward a healthier planet.

Now go read something.

Globetrotting

2014-03-23T11:45:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile but I have a good reason for that. A mediocre reason, really -- been busy. But I have new pictures to share, so here we go!

Photo credit: Dan Fennick

So how's this for a spectacle on the sidewalk? The Arc de Triomphe in Paris. I'm not photogenic at all -- what can I say? But it was a blast being there.

It's a very conservative city, and IMHO, the rumored rudeness of the French is simple reserve. The customer service was no more rude than it is here in America; we just didn't speak the same language. In fact, as soon as we started to converse in schoolkid French, they'd jump in in English to help us out. "No problem," everyone says.

Photo credit: Dan Fennick

My advice, if you're going to Paris -- especially in colder seasons -- is to wear black and be friendly. You get back what you put into the world, is my mantra.

We met some wonderful people, too. Our first dinner out we were seated next to a gentleman whose mother had been French, but his father was a Scot, I think. He spoke fluent French and the proprietor was generous to all of us once he felt comfortable conversing in broken English with French to fall back on. The other gentleman was a South African now living in Texas. They helped us navigate the menu and translate with the proprietor. The food was fabulous, the wine was superb (of course), and the company made it a night to remember.

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

2013-09-16T15:42:00.005-04:00

Who is this cowboy and what is he doing in Pennsylvania?

Old train depot, Stoystown, PA.

Bad Reputation

2013-09-09T10:14:00.001-04:00

A bad reputation is more than a rock ballad by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. A bad reputation can damage your credibility, your relationships, and your career. For a community, it can severely impair revitalization efforts because no one wants to invest in a town with a reputation for crime, filth, aging infrastructure, crumbling buildings, or political dysfunction.

How do you overcome a bad reputation? First of all, it’s important to accept the old saying, “perception is reality.”

There is no truth. There is only perception.
Gustave Flaubert

It doesn’t really matter that your crime statistics are low and that the locals feel safe leaving their doors unlocked. If visitors don’t like the look of your community, or if they’ve heard negative reports of sensational crimes, they won’t come.

But what if you could turn that bad reputation into something positive? What if you could change how people perceive you? There are a couple of ways to do this.

The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
Socrates

You can work very hard to clean up and beautify, bring in great shops and entertainment to attract visitors, and then market the heck out of it to attract new people to your town.

It takes a long, long time – decades – and lots of money to create this kind of change in a community. It’s gradual, but it can happen. To do this, you have to BECOME what you want people to THINK you are. You can’t lie and say you are a Disney wonderland if half of your storefronts are vacant, vagrants are on the street, and litter covers the sidewalks. Before you can market yourself as a great place to visit, you have to BE a great place to visit. If customers pay you a visit expecting quilts and candles and you have only empty storefronts, they won’t come back.

Can you wait until all the pieces are in place for people to accept your community as that mythical “great place to live, work, shop, and play”? Most of our communities need help NOW. Waiting until you can make your dreams a reality is not possible for most of us.

In marketing and in writing there is a concept called “target audience.” When I ask communities who their target audience is, I often get the response, “everybody.”

“Everybody” is not a target. That’s like saying I’m going hunting and it doesn’t matter where I aim because whatever I hit – duck, deer, rock, tree – will be fine. This is the way many communities use advertising. Whoever that ad reaches is fine. And then they wonder why no one attends to them.

Before you market your town, you have to know who you are right now and who might be interested in what you have to offer right now. Then you have to market in the places that those people look. By using the power of people’s perceptions, you can encourage them to accept your town just as it is. Take what you have and figure out who would appreciate it. That brings us to the second option.

Celebrate Your Bad Self!

Think of those performers, like Joan Jett, who have made ‘badness’ attractive. And Bruce Springsteen, whose whole persona is based on gritty, working class values. (This has nothing to do with his reality; he’s a multi-millionaire.) He cultivates the perception that he is still close to his blue collar roots. And that is obviously attractive to a huge population.

The first step in marketing under this “bad is good” scenario is to clean up and improve the things you can fix fairly easily. If you have vagrants, work with law enforcement and social service agencies to find alternatives for them. If you have litter, work with your municipality to clean it up.

The next step is to figure out what kind of people won’t be afraid of your town, or who might find its gritty reputation or blue collar appearance appealing. It helps if you have some association with that group already established, but you may be able to invent a connection through an event or by taking advantage of a local feature.

If you have a large population of high school or college students who identify themselves as “Goth,” you might appeal to them. After all, if YOU shouldn’t be judged by appearance, then neither should they. Have you considered hosting a Zombie Walk in your downtown?

You might appeal to bikers. It’s a fast-growing sector that is now better characterized by the “chrome cavalry” than by Hell’s Angels. Bikers often have money and they’re not afraid of a less-than-perfect town. Host a toy run or a charity motorcycle event to get them interested in a visit.

Music is another way to attract a specialty audience. Blues and jazz will attract both the highbrow aficionado and the down-home fan and you don’t have to be a quaint and perfect downtown to appeal to them; they’ll go where the music is good. Blues and jazz typically don’t attract a rowdy crowd so a blues or jazz music festival is a good start.

Athletes often pride themselves on being unafraid. What about hosting a taekwon do exhibition?

There are tons of other special interest groups that might be attracted to your town. Think creatively about those types of people and what they might find interesting or compelling enough to visit.

Once you’ve narrowed your audience, you then have to figure out how to get them there. It sometimes helps to picture in your mind just one or two people who are typical examples of the people you’re trying to reach. What do they look like? What do they enjoy? What do they read? Where do they hang out? What are they involved in? How do they communicate with each other?

By consistently targeting a specific group of people, before long, you will have developed a core group who love your downtown just the way it is. Then you can start to build toward those higher goals: full storefronts, beautiful streetscapes, fancy signage.

Getting an audience is hard. Sustaining an audience is hard. It demands a consistency of thought, of purpose, and of action over a long period of time.
Bruce Springsteen

But never forget to “dance with the one whut brung ya.” You can’t ignore those people who helped build your town up when it was rock bottom, most importantly because businesses that come to your town may be geared specifically for them. For example, if you develop a reputation as a great blues venue, you may attract a half dozen blues clubs, a guitar shop, and a place that caters to those who love old vinyl records. You can’t later abandon that for something else without a lot of new effort.

Not everyone can be the quilts and candles capital of the country. But you can find or make something unique in your town. When you have developed a reputation for something special, then you can use that as a foundation for further growth. Remember, if you can’t be what you wish to be, you have to find an audience to appreciate who you are.

Paint by Numbers

2012-06-13T23:30:00.000-04:00

Alley in Easton, PA

I used to be of the opinion that downtowns should have a unified palette of paint colors to give them an historic, dignified appearance. Like many others, I bought the idea that this would somehow compensate for the hodgepodge, organic way that many downtowns developed. So many of them are a mishmash of styles and eras, with sometimes questionable "upgrades" layered over authentic historic facades. A theme palette is supposed to help alleviate some of the disorder that these issues create.

Bath boutique in Kutztown, PA

But you know what? The more I see color - especially bold, brilliant color - used in historic downtowns, the more I think it's a smart choice. Don't get me wrong; I'm a preservationist and I do not advocate painting brick or stone or doing anything irreversible. I'm just thinking that businesses that make the most of their architectural details by cranking up the color wheel help develop that 'vibrancy' that everyone says they want in their towns.

Kutztown, PA florist and crepes shops

Color is fun and it speaks to a more youthful, forward-thinking clientele. So many downtowns are absolutely dreary, what with all the sage green, taupe, gray, tan, maroon and navy wending down the main streets. Come on, color is a natural draw for a historic downtown, and I'm pretty sure that oldtimers would have used any bright colors they could have gotten hold of to intensify their appeal to pedestrians. Nowadays, a small sign is not always enough to catch the eye of the commuter. You have to use the whole building as a sign.

Is it any coincidence that many of these businesses are located in university towns? Does the presence of a large contingent of youthful shoppers make retailers more adventuresome in their facade choices? I think we have something to learn from this. Everyone says they want a 'vibrant' downtown, whatever the heck that is. Well, why not create it, then?

Kutztown, PA

Selinsgrove, PA

Shop in Philadelphia, PA

Carlisle, PA

Pennsylvania: This Is How We Roll

2012-06-11T22:59:00.001-04:00

I love visiting these quirky little downtowns. This is Stoystown, a place near and dear to my heart. My grandmother lived here and I spent a lot of time here as a kid. Later, I lived in a log house down the road; it was my son Jesse's first home. It didn't look like a log house. It was two stories and covered with wooden clapboard siding painted yellow, but when you opened the attic door the logs were visible. The house is gone now - moved, I've heard to another location. I wonder if this is it, or one just like it. This is located on Forbes Road in Stoystown, which may or may not be a part of the original Forbes Trail.

Pennsylvanians are funny. I wanted to get a photo of someone driving a horse and buggy, but taking pictures of the Old Order is rude, so I didn't. But they're right there, every day. I even saw a guy plowing his fields with his draft horses a couple of weeks ago. When the zombie apocalypse comes, the Amish will be ready. Woe to the rest of us! By the way, the Amish are different from the Pennsylvania Dutch, and don't get the two confused.

I've never seen so many quirky oddities as there are around here. Like the sign for this convalescent home. I swear, I am not making this up. Can you read it? Sorry for the poor quality photo, but I felt like a boob standing along the highway, hurriedly snapping the shot. It says, "Nipple Convalescent Home." Perhaps the aging Madonna, who just flashed hers at a lot of horrified fans, should keep this happy little house in mind for the future.

The Streets of Philadelphia

2012-05-29T20:38:00.000-04:00

Nowadays, if you want to see the Liberty Bell, you have to visit the shiny new visitor's center just to the right in this photo. It's okay... probably a lot more room than there was in the old place, but it's always a balance between convenience and authenticity.

I love these quirky little neighborhood shops with their creative color choices. So many neighborhoods I work with want to create 'color palettes' to control what colors people choose to paint their facades. I mean, as long as they're not painting brick, who cares? Paint can be changed, unlike some other alterations that people do to historic buildings. And a dash of color can add drama and interest to an otherwise staid and sober downtown.

1896 doesn't make this the oldest building in Philly by any stretch of the imagination, but it's still pretty doggone old. Philadelphia has some great neighborhoods just to wander in and enjoy.

Even on a dreary day, the streets are alive and jumping with people. If you're in Philly to visit the Rocky Museum, take a stroll through an historic neighborhood.

Ready for Reading?

2012-05-24T21:37:00.001-04:00

OMG, I know, the puns have got to stop.

Dr. Bodo Otto lived in what is now Reading, Pennsylvania way back in the late 1700s. When you're there, you can tell it was a gorgeous valley way back then. Nowadays, downtown Reading is bustling, youthful, multicultural and kinda cool. THEY don't think so -- the people who live there -- but since when are the natives ever a fair judge of the attributes of their cities?

Can I give a shout out to the Peanut Bar?

I love when the original windows are intact. Sometimes it's just because no one cares about replacing them, but sometimes they are maintained. Nothing looks as good in a historic building as the original windows.

There's something kinda cool about this sleek, modern store in the heart of this Victorian and Deco downtown. Not sure whether the facade is vitrolite or something else, but I like it.

There's a lot to like about this downtown pharmacy. For one thing, they kept the original deco facade. Kudos, for that. The signage could be a bit less garish and more in keeping with the feel of the architecture, but you can't have everything. The sidewalks here are really large; they're wide enough for sidewalk pushcart vendors. Love it. But the pharmacy spoils its downtown image by pasting enormous posters over the windows. A downtown needs windows for pedestrians to gaze into. That is so basic.
I like to play, "If I won the lottery." It's a pointless game because I never PLAY. But if I did, one thing I would love to do is buy up old buildings like this and DO something with them. This one just screams "boutique hotel." Great coffee shop on the ground floor... maybe a boutique, too. My apartment would be in the penthouse where those great balconies are...

This, my friend, is a crime against architecture. No telling what is under that wood-shingled horror. Possibly, it's a gorgeous brick storefront, just waiting to be exposed. Given the wealth of Victorian and Art Deco in this downtown, it could be special. Then again, there may have been a good reason to deface it in this way. But it's obvious what it is NOT: Attractive. What era ever thought a wood-shingled awning was an improvement?

It's hard to get a good shot of this bank building because it kind of wraps around. Under that enormous portico are two giant stone lions. Relief carving decorates the upper wall, but it's hard to see. It says on the side that the bank was established in 1814, though this is a much more recent building. Maybe 1920s? Who knew that just a few short years later, the bottom would fall out of the economy.

When have you heard that before?

So Sunbury

2012-05-12T20:27:00.003-04:00

I've had the pleasure of visiting the lovely town of Sunbury, PA a couple of times this spring. It's rich in architectural detail and the downtown is just screaming for revitalization. It's right on the bank of the Susquehanna River with loads of opportunities for recreation. The town is also associated with Thomas Edison. I'm not sure why, but they supposedly have one of his original generators hidden away. Somebody ought to create a museum there to house that stuff.

Look at the detail on this porch. Sorry I didn't get a better shot...

Little pink houses? How about BIG pink houses?

Love these old gothic-style jails. Not sure what it is nowadays.

I wish I could remember what this building was. The thing that caught my eye -- besides the fact that it's old and obviously was an important early building -- was the differing colors and textures of stone used on its facade. At least 3 or 4 different kinds of stone were used. This is kind of surprising, considering the prominence, size and importance of the structure. Why would they skimp on the stone? I suppose it was built in sections. Or perhaps it was rebuilt after a fire or flood. If anyone knows, I would love to hear the story.

Look at this beautiful stonework. I think it's late 18th or early 19th C.

It's noteworthy that several kinds of stone were used on the facade of this building. I'm not sure why. There's got to be a story behind this.

One of the originals.

Blessings and Oddities on the Road in Pennsylvania

2012-03-20T22:27:00.002-04:00

I've been visiting a lot of small towns in Pennsylvania recently, and I've run across some strange and amusing sights. Come along for the ride...

The Chop Shop in Butler served the best burritos I've had outside of Texas. That wouldn't be saying much, but these weren't just good - they were delicious. Here's the owner after a rough lunch shift. The place was hopping - with good reason. Great food, great atmosphere, great staff. If you're in Butler, PA- go.

I have no idea whether this little gargoyle is supposed to be picking his nose or just thinking hard. He was only one of a dozen or so that circled a building in downtown Butler, and each one is different. Seemed like no one else even noticed those quirky creatures perched just over their heads. The whole building reminded me of that line in Ghostbusters when Aykroyd's character says, "No one EVER built them like that."

Roadside oddity. It just caught my attention so I turned around in the rain and went back to take a picture.

Another face on the side of a building - this one in Ephrata. I'm not sure what the significance is of these faces on buildings. You sure don't see this kind of whimsy on modern buildings.

Here's a sculpture entitled, Amish Boy on His Tractor. It's stuck off on a side street on a lot strewn with huge, hewn stones, and no one seems to know what the purpose of the installation was. Are the stones a foundation that has fallen into disrepair? Or are they leftover building materials that were dumped there?

These daffodils and crocuses made me happy. This was last week, so it's safe to say that spring sprung early this year. Blessing, indeed.

Another quirky face, this one in an iron foundation grating. The people who built these buildings would, I imagine, have been deeply religious, so I'm not sure what the purpose of these pagan-looking faces could have been. Whatever it was, I love it.

This is the leftover trunk of some kind of vine which was trained (I assume) to grow over many years entwined in this iron fence. It's at least 6 inches thick in some places, and thoroughly embedded into the fence. Amazing that the fencing held up this long with minimal distortion. This is also in Ephrata. I wonder if it will sprout again as the weather warms?

Looks like a loo to me, on the grounds of the Ephrata museum.

Who could resist getting their car worked on at a place with such a great sign?

This cemetery is in Mifflinburg. Don't those mausoleums on the hillside look like Hobbit homes?

This is a blessing. Can you say, "bucolic"? I knew you could.

After a rainy day, I saw this lovely rainbow along Route 104. It may not be visible in this photo, but all the colors were sharply delineated. A true, full rainbow. May you find your blessings - pot of gold or otherwise - on your journeys.

There's Oil City in Them Thar Hills!

2012-03-11T00:02:00.000-05:00

Former depot for the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad.

Sidewalk grate in Oil City, PA.

In 1859, Colonel Drake struck oil near present-day Titusville, Pennsylvania, sparking a worldwide rush for black gold. The discovery created a frenzy of building and exploitation. Smack in the middle of western Pennsylvania forest land, you'll find incongruous examples of Gilded Age architecture set against a backdrop of rugged mountainsides and rural rivers.

Back in the day, towns like Oil City sprouted out of the rural valleys to keep pace with the riches being pumped from the ground. John D. Rockefeller and others like him built spectacular buildings to house their empires. At one time, Pennzoil, Wolf's Head and Quaker State all headquartered here in Oil City.

John D. Rockefeller built the Transit Building to house Oil City's headquarters for Standard Oil. He rarely visited, but he made his presence felt.

They're all gone now. Oil City is left with a wealth of beautiful buildings and no industry to inhabit them. They are making good headway however, in turning their building assets into an artist colony.While oil shale is making news again in parts of the state, Oil City is attracting residential artists by offering attractive live/work options for working artists. The Oil Valley Center for the Arts offers classes and demonstrations in the historic Transit Building, where the gorgeous oak woodwork and marble floors create a dramatic backdrop for galleries.

A New Ore to Mine

2012-03-05T23:42:00.001-05:00

Ashland, Pennsylvania is in Schuylkill (school-kill) County in the heart of coal country. They even have a museum, Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Museum dedicated to the borough's first major industry.

This storefront window display was captured just before Valentine's Day, 2012.

Sadly, there isn't much industry left in coal country these days. What remains is the legacy of fanciful buildings created by a proud and creative people. Storybook turrets and fanciful colors war with yawning, vacant storefronts. But there is life here, and a rich, proud heritage. No one here is looking for a handout. One can't help but sense though, that for a community that gave so much in sweat, blood and spirit to build the foundations of our country, they are being pushed into the backwater of history.

I'd like to imagine that these old storefronts will one day be filled by enterprising entrepreneurs who see, not decay, but opportunity. Surely I am not the only one who sees these graceful places and feels the excitement of a possibility ready to be realized.

There's gold in these buildings, if we only have the courage to mine for it.

Crowdfunding for Fun and Profit

2012-03-04T01:11:00.001-05:00

Amy Cortese started a small tidal wave with her book Locavesting. Subtitled, The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit from It, Cortese's book poses the question, why are we dumping our money into retirement accounts over which we have little or no control, and yet we cannot invest in the small businesses right in our own towns? These businesses cannot access the capital they need to survive. If people invested closer to home, the theory goes, they would have a stake in patronizing those businesses and keeping them alive.

Crowdfunding has been going on for some time. This method of raising capital relies on the generosity of others. For the most part, the money that people contribute toward a business idea on websites such as www.peerbackers.com and www.kickstarter.com leverage the reach of the worldwide web to help entrepreneurs raise the money they need to get their projects off the ground. But it's not enough, and it's important for small businesses to comply with SEC regulations when raising funds to avoid legal hassles that could destroy their businesses. The Senate is now considering legislation that would make it legal for small businesses to raise capital. House Bill 2930 blasted through the House with wide bipartisan support. Go figure. Democrats and Republicans both feel the bill benefits small business without any taxpayer burden. The Senate however, wants to analyze the legislation to make sure that people who are not savvy investors don't get taken for a ride by smooth-talking Joes with a slick business plan -- but no intention of ever doing anything beyond collecting the cash. I also fear that Wall Street is whispering in a few Senate ears to water down the bill that threatens to take investment dollars away from Wall Street and give them to Main Street. Surely there's enough to go around, isn't there?

A Little Bit of Bedford

2012-03-02T22:35:00.001-05:00

Bedford is an old town just off the Old Lincoln Highway in western Pennsylvania. These photos were taken during a dreary winter day, but because the buildings are so well decorated and inviting, they avoid looking drab.

I've heard it said that we are living with the town planning decisions that were made hundreds of years ago. It is therefore up to us to make wise choices about how we take care of what has been passed on to us.

The Union Hotel. Bedford didn't -- as far as I know -- see any action during the Civil War, but they left no doubt about which side of the Mason-Dixon line they were on.

Hand spun, dyed and knit wool clothing anyone?

What Goes Up...

2012-03-01T20:24:00.000-05:00

I love walking through an older town and tracing the rise and fall of its fortunes by the styles of its architecture. As you look at a graceful Victorian mercantile, and then note the subtle lines of an Art Deco bank building, it's clear that a town underwent several changes in status over the years. Where has your town been? And where is it going to be in ten years?

As bad as the current economy is, it's important to remember that this isn't the first time Americans have faced hardship. It won't be the last. What seems to get us out of our worst times is a surge in creativity. Not only in art, but in architecture, literature, music and theater. When Depression-era leaders chose to send people back to work by supporting them in the arts, it was a giant boon to this country. Optimism lifts me every time I see one of these old WPA murals. Public art was important back then.

Why isn't art important now? It seems as though the impetus is on technology to lift us out of our current malaise, and it's true that technology is crucial to our recovery. But we must also have the kind of art that spurs creativity. Creativity is the heart of any recovery.

The divine spark is what makes us human.

These photos are from a WPA mural in an old post office in Iron Mountain, Michigan. I heard they want to get rid of it.

Marine City, Michigan 2011

2012-02-29T21:57:00.007-05:00

Isn't this a lovely old home? I love the way they've picked out the details with subtle paint choices. With the strong light, they might be able to take it up a notch with brighter shades, but this is very tasteful.

This building is a former city hall (I think) in Marine City, Michigan. It was undergoing renovation when I was there last fall.

Grand Haven, Michigan 2011

2012-02-28T22:00:00.006-05:00

In honor of Michigan's big election night, thought I'd share a few photos I took in Grand Haven last summer. It's trite to say this, but Grand Haven is a quaint downtown with lots of cool little shops and lovely historic buildings. If you're in the mood for a dip in the gorgeous waters of Lake Michigan, you might stop by Grand Haven some time.

Miss Piggy, I presume?

That's my reflection in the window there - you can always spot a great photographer...

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

2012-02-27T00:52:00.002-05:00

As kids, we always had answers to that question, sometimes more than one. I wanted to be an architect, a scientist, an artist, a teacher. Never once did I think: I want to be a downtown revitalization professional.

Planners have existed for a long time. Architects and engineers have been around for centuries. But until the past few decades, no one has really put together the disparate jobs of economic developer/event planner/designer/organizer/grantwriter/fundraiser/lobbyist/mediator/cheerleader/real estate expert and social media guru all into one career. Face it folks: We’re making this up as we go along.

It takes a special kind of person to manage a revitalization program. It takes someone who can think long-term and big picture, while still attending to a crazy quilt of details. Someone with the patience of Job, the perkiness of Kelly Ripa and the laser focus of Lance Armstrong. It takes a thick skin to suffer the slings and arrows of small town politics, while still retaining the sensitivity to deal with confidential negotiations and tender egos. Above all, it takes a good sense of humor.

It’s not a glamorous job, though it has its perks. Sometimes we labor for years only to have our work undone by a new administration or a new set of circumstances. It can feel like Sisyphus pushing that boulder up the hill, only to watch it roll back down again, over and over. It doesn’t pay nearly as well as it should, and we rarely get credit for all we do. That’s as it should be. But invariably, when you ask a Main Street or Elm Street manager how they feel about their job, they’ll say they love it.

Something about this job gets under your skin. It isn’t a job you go out and find. It’s a job that finds you, usually when you’re looking for something else. People will say, “It’s not brain surgery.” No, it’s not. It may take decades before the work we do shows any progress. But lives are on the line just the same.

In truth, we may never fully realize the results of our labor. But we are changing lives for the better when we help to make a town a better place to live.

So what do you want to be when you grow up?