Field Notes
Downtown – Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville was named for Samuel Ashe (1725-1813), the first speaker of the North Carolina SEnate and governor from 1795 to 1798. The village was incorporated by the General Assembly in 1797, and included part of a 200-acre land grant the state awarded to a prominent settler named John Burton in 1794. He laid out half-acre … Read more
Downtown – Clayton, Georgia
Clayton is defined by mostly one and two story buildings with some larger three-story buildings interspersed throughout. Streets and sidewalks received an update prior to our visit in 2014. The topography makes it difficult to have continuous rows of buildings spanning multiple blocks. Walkways like this connect different areas of the downtown. A stage and … Read more
Makers Market – Middlesboro, Kentucky
The Makers Market was a pop-up shop started in a vacant storefront with a Flex-E-Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and administered by the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College. Over a series of several weeks artists were invited to present their work. The market started April 2014 and ran through the end of November … Read more
Dare to Be Great
The lessons I’ve learned as a downtown manager over the past 15 years could easily fill a book, or probably several. But if I had to distill everything down to a simple message, it would be this: Take risks, and make mistakes. Be open to unexpected surprises along the way. Dare to be great every … Read more
Walking the Boone Trace (2014)
The Transylvania Company organized by Richard Henderson in North Carolina, purchased the land south of the Kentucky River from the Cherokee Indians for resale to settlers. Daniel Boone was hired to lead the Transylvania Company expedition into Kentucky to claim it and build a fort. Many years later in an effort to underscore Boone’s significant … Read more
Downtown – Over the Rhine – Cincinnati, Ohio
Over the Rhine has been undergoing an impressive revitalization process for many years now. The concentration of multi-story buildings to support housing, and ground floor commercial spaces support a growing mix of businesses. This outdoor market pavilion supports local farmers and community activities. The transparent roof peak is particularly ingenious allowing light to fill the … Read more
Bryant Park – New York City, New York (2014)
Visit in 2017 The lawn of Bryant Park maintained its centrality to the plan of the park and as an outdoor living space for the many tall buildings surrounding it. Looking a little closer, Bryant Park has so much more to offer than just a lawn. Bryant Park is a city park renovated, funded, and … Read more
Bean & Bite – Washington, DC
Consistent use of materials in cash wrap and islands for service creatively activate the space. Drop pendants provided accent lighting for an already well lit space. Grab and go fridge and self serve coffee stands required less direct handling by staff. In store signage featured sizes and prices on an underutilized wall space. Wall surfaces … Read more