How was your day?

Thanks for the cool blog. As for your dog, watch &...

2010-06-05T11:18:01.681-07:00

Thanks for the cool blog. As for your dog, watch "It's me or the dog" on Animal Planet, She explains how the most important thing in training a dog is training the owner how to train a dog.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flCk4zuEF90

Congrats... you are walking the walk, and all that...

2010-06-02T19:07:56.756-07:00

Congrats... you are walking the walk, and all that. Really, I am impressed! Now about those disposal baby diapers (that your neighbors throw over the fence)... can I vent? Why why why have we forgotten how to make layettes for new mothers and then wash out the diapers... I did, my mother did, her mother did... really, let's remind folks how to fish. Karana

Gotta hand it to you. It's evident you believe...

2010-06-01T19:01:43.661-07:00

Gotta hand it to you. It's evident you believe in what you're doing, and it's refreshing to see this! Thank you so much for sharing with everyone!

Venita (Joy) Van Ingen

Awesome, sounds like a good plan. I look forward t...

2010-05-31T22:32:42.345-07:00

Awesome, sounds like a good plan. I look forward to the chronicles of the restoration.

It is hard to practice what you preach! However I ...

2010-05-31T21:55:25.943-07:00

It is hard to practice what you preach! However I believe if more people lived simply and had a conservationist mind we would be better off. As for your neighbor, maybe a garbage can would be a nice new neighbor gift for them. Please keep blogging Craig I enjoy your writing. :}

I think your right about the importance of holisti...

2010-05-11T13:41:10.022-07:00

I think your right about the importance of holistic planning, but your framing of the Mall application doesn't seem to fit. Though the Fulton Mall historic application may not have been executed well, the blame shouldn't be placed on the applicants because they didn't involve the property owners. The Mall is public space and is functional(can be made more functional with smart infrastructure improvements). It is also distinct in style/time period from the surrounding buildings, so it's excusable that the buildings weren't included. Also, the nice buildings aren't in danger of being torn down, like the mall is. The Security Bank building is being worked on and the Bank of Italy building was just bought by a renowned developer, so there seems no danger of losing them.

The application was attempting to protect a valuable public asset. Considering the history of redevelopment and the tendency to make bad decisions in the name of progress, this attempt shouldn't be scorned, but taken note of and engaged.

Good luck, it seems your working hard for the City and that is very commendable.

Your blogging efforts are appreciated, sir!

2010-04-28T17:44:56.098-07:00

Your blogging efforts are appreciated, sir!

Welcome back Craig, keep it up.

2010-04-21T15:15:19.515-07:00

Welcome back Craig, keep it up.

How about a man-made river ? Sorry Craig...Just k...

2010-03-15T15:21:22.708-07:00

How about a man-made river ? Sorry Craig...Just kidding ;)

The hustle and bustle associated with many folks immersed in a vibrant economy.. generating and sharing new ideas...abundances of ingenuity and elegance...all indications that this is the center of our Flow

These would be Downtown's 'universal' attractions

National Register of the Mall will really piss off...

2010-03-10T13:03:33.221-08:00

National Register of the Mall will really piss off those people that want to turn it into a two-way street. The Bank of Italy building...Oh that would be great.

Craig, I thank you greatly for answering my sugges...

2010-03-08T22:22:07.803-08:00

Craig, I thank you greatly for answering my suggestion. You continually prove that you have a wealth of knowledge on the subject and demonstrate rare transparency and responsiveness.

As for attractions, of course I look at it from the architecture angle. I think Fresno offers a patchwork of architectural styles that could attract tourism. While snapping photos of old and new building isn't everyone's cup of tea, it is for more than a few.

Student Living! I'm sure Craig you have thoug...

2010-03-07T16:44:51.999-08:00

Student Living! I'm sure Craig you have thought about this, heck you preached it in your urban classes, "more people need to live downtown". Youth is always open for change and willing to take the risk. Just a thought.

That was very poetic. Matt it was a pleasure to me...

2010-03-06T15:49:39.506-08:00

That was very poetic. Matt it was a pleasure to meet you James Collier at Kebab Express.

Keep up the good work Craig, enjoying the blog ver...

2010-03-02T23:50:11.870-08:00

Keep up the good work Craig, enjoying the blog very much. Convince John Dugan to start one! Haha!

Craig, You are doing a great job a conveying wha...

2010-02-24T12:52:10.804-08:00

Craig,

You are doing a great job a conveying what you are doing. I would like to see a little more of the why. I get a feeling that there are specific philosophies and policies that you are using, but you haven't written much on those topics. More back-story or links could also be helpful.

For instance "Bruce Rudd, Marlene Murphey from the RDA and I met to discuss an RFP for a Single Room Occupancy project in Chinatown." could be unpacked a little more.

So that's who I saw you showing around. Now kn...

2010-02-20T22:03:34.421-08:00

So that's who I saw you showing around. Now knowing it was a group of designers, I'm sorry I could join but I had the Creative Fresno board meeting.

I didn't know their was a Designers Exchange in Fresno. I;d like to be put in touch with them, if you wouldn't mind.

Re: The Lowell Revitalization Project. You should...

2010-02-15T21:33:25.168-08:00

Re: The Lowell Revitalization Project. You should get the MCJ Department involved as well: journalism, marketing, public relations, video students to document the efforts. These all seem like great resources to have for such a project.

Consider it suggested. I thought I saw you as I wa...

2010-02-14T21:28:34.780-08:00

Consider it suggested. I thought I saw you as I was riding by on my bike. I should have stopped to say hi.

One of the interesting aspect of Reza's projects so far, is that every one has used a different architect.

Congrats on the contracts! Which Civic Center Squ...

2010-01-29T22:55:02.819-08:00

Congrats on the contracts!

Which Civic Center Square building is the RAC moving into, out of curiosity?

Cheers for good planning. One aspect of the plan...

2010-01-14T13:30:22.472-08:00

Cheers for good planning.

One aspect of the planning process I would like to comment on is community involvement and openness. I know that official committee meetings will be open, but I wonder how many "uninterested" citizens, those who don't have any specific "interest" or stake in downtown, will attend. And if this is the case, then are the meetings and overall process really community lead? I don't think it is, at least not to the extent that would be desirable. So this leads me to believe that the process needs lots of coverage/hype and what's discussed needs to reach the public. I know this is done to some extent already, but it would be great to see the meetings on Youtube or broadcasted on public tv.

This blog and archop have allowed me to stay up to date on planning/development on goings, which is great, but I was already interested in these issues and actively sought out relevant info. I think the Downtown Planning Process would be a good opportunity to spark people's interest in our city and general civic engagement.

Thanks for the post Kiel. So the age old question...

2010-01-12T07:40:53.495-08:00

Thanks for the post Kiel.

So the age old question is "how much is the right amount?" That conversation can lead to great public debate. This question also seems to define almost all political discourse.

Our current state in downtown and our urban neighborhoods are exactly what our current plans call for: no design, setbacks that favor cars, shopping centers that are not walkable.

So if we want to have a different outcome, we need to devise the plan on how to get there. We don't want cheap multi-family apartments that are going to deteriorate and that don't have a connection to the sidewalk.

The creation of the plans will be lead and voted on, by 21 members committees made up of people who will live in the plan area, or own a business or property. So there will be a community-led aspect and the meetings will be open. Hopefully this will address the cultural aspect.

As for gentrification, i think that once we were designated as the national leader in concentrated poverty for large cities, that we need to make some serious efforts toward mixed-income neighborhoods. The social and fiscal implications of concentrated poverty are a far more enormous risk (actually our reality) than gentrification.

I agree we need good planning, but this is heavy o...

2010-01-12T02:31:11.422-08:00

I agree we need good planning, but this is heavy on the governmental side of things. It is light on the cultural changes that need to come about to foster these changes.

There is the very real yet unanswered question of gentrification. A problem that has wrecked havoc on the East Bay region despite a history of good planning.

This doesn't seem as prominent of a concern in the Lowell neighborhood as it has been in SW Fresno. I noticed this at the California Ave. community meetings.

I have some more thoughts, but maybe what I've written so far can spark a discussion.

You forgot to mention you met your artist/facebook...

2010-01-08T06:16:39.782-08:00

You forgot to mention you met your artist/facebook friend, Cynthia Mansuszak and saw her highly emotional, guy wrenching, raw, uninhibited, irrational art. If I spelled anything wrong, I did it on purpose!
Anyway, it was great meeting you Mr. S. Are you the founder of Craig's list? Oh, I just thought that would be cute, I know you are not, but you are an artist, right? I forgot to mention, I also have a blog, well sort of, it became a blog more then a group thing, I write on http://my.fresnoarts.net/group/thewritinggroup,you are welcome to join up!

Congrats on one year, Craig!

2010-01-07T22:31:25.937-08:00

Congrats on one year, Craig!

Good job!

2009-12-29T08:44:30.475-08:00

Good job!