Today is the day that consultants unveil the "new & improved" plans for converting one-way streets to two-way. The new plans are to be seen on the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission website by 10am today, but the DDN has the scoop in this morning’s paper…
[Read more…] about Dayton Street Grid – Are we changing to Two-Ways? (UPDATE)
As a follow-up to our previous entry about the plans to convert Downtown’s one-way streets to two-way, here is the latest news…
[Read more…] about Dayton Street Grid – Are we changing to Two-Ways?
I ran across this article on Cool Town Studios today, and it is a very interesting and progressive idea: A nonprofit commercial real estate service in Pittsburgh is seeking out "cool spaces" for businesses that are looking for, well – cool spaces to put their business in.
There is a buzz in the air of this town these days that is growing. But it isn’t the buzz
we are used to hearing – it is the kind of buzz that is much more likely to make an impact on the future success of Dayton than the typical buzz you are used to hearing.
[Read more…] about Generation Dayton + The Circus = Dayton’s Future
Last night, Richard Florida (American economist and urban studies theorist) spoke at Wright
State University. His book Rise of the Creative Class was one of the things that inspired me to get more involved with urban advocacy. Yes, I am included in that creative class group – I’m in my 30’s, I am an entrepreneur, I work with technology, I live downtown, I enjoy coffee shops, I go to the theater. But that isn’t what Florida’s "Creative Class" is all about, despite what many people believe. No matter what your profession, if you frequently express yourself either through art, music, writing (even bloggers), acting, etc., then you are in fact creative and thus in this group. If you work at a job where you use your mind to create – whether that is at a software company or a manufacturing plant where your input leads to process improvement – you are in the creative group. The point is, many people think of this "creative class" idea and think that it only applies to high tech people or artists. Those "yuppie types" as I’ve heard some people say. But as Florida spoke last night, he emphasized the fact that this class of people is not very exclusive; most of us are indeed creative and thus are part of this group.
Anybody that has been to a major city has noticed the significant number of art galleries, live theaters and live music venues that exist in these cities’ urban cores. These creative types typically live in areas where their surroundings are condusive to their creativity. Edgy urban neighborhoods filled with eclectic people, historic or funky architecture, and other things that are not bland attract artists, who in turn make these neighborhoods even more diverse and eclectic. Eventually, hip professionals both young and old start to move in as they are attracted by the same things that the artists are. But when they start to move in, something happens – demand (and thus prices) begin to go up.
The RTA has announced that the major route changes they have planned are going into effect this Sunday.
[Read more…] about RTA’s major route redesign will go into effect Sunday
The City of Dayton is soliciting feedback on the design of the Edwin C. Moses bridge. The bridge type, lighting, railing, and color options for the new Edwin C. Moses Bridge over Wolf Creek are presented here.
Please indicate which design options you prefer. The City would like feedback by mid-February; it should be sent to Keith Steeber. Also, we’d like to hear your thoughts here as well – please comment below…
(Photos below – click to enlarge)
[Read more…] about New Edwin C. Moses Bridge – which do you prefer?
There has been much talk about Dayton’s electric trolleys as of late. And though the local media has reported that the RTA is considering the possibility of getting rid of the trolleys because of their maintenance expense, RTA officials insist that this is not necessarily true, and that they are simply analyzing all aspects of their operations to determine how best to manage their budget.
This is happening at a time that cities elsewhere in the country are rediscovering the allure of the streetcar, which were popular a century ago. Unlike buses (which are unfortunately viewed as transportation for lower-income folks in many cities like Dayton), the streetcar is considered to have a sense of nostalgia, and are being brought back in cities in order to connect recently revitalized urban neighborhoods and districts. Dayton and its sea of revitalization islands might want to consider a similiar project. Heck, we already have the electric cables in place. And it would be yet one more thing that can’t be found in the suburbs. What do you think?
Link: Cities rediscover allure of streetcars – USATODAY.com.
By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY
The streetcars that rumbled and clanged through many American cities from the late 1800s until World War II helped shape neighborhoods. More than a half-century later, streetcars are coming back and reviving the same neighborhoods they helped create.
Several cities have resurrected the streetcar tradition and about three dozen others plan to
Well this was just a matter of time. Let’s hope that the city of Dayton is in the running for the location of the new company, and then let’s hope that the city does everything it can do to keep the company here.
Link: NCR to spin off Teradata – Dayton Business Journal:.
NCR Corp. is spinning off its data warehousing business as a separate publicly-traded company.
The new company, to be called Teradata, had $1.5 billion in revenue in 2005 and operating income of $309 million before pension expense.
