WalkerEvans

Thanks! ;)

FROM HERE: http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=551 <A href="http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=551">Streetcar Weekend News Blast Roundup</a> If you haven't heard anything about the Streetcar recently, then crawl out from under that rock and listen up! Ever since the Streetcar Public Meeting to reveal the financing plans on Thursday (<a href="http://xingcolumbus.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/mayor-coleman-unveils-streetcar-financing-plan/">Press Release here</a>) every news media outlet has grabbed on and unleashed a wave of information. Some of it spun positively. Some of it spun negatively. I've even heard from several sources that some local tv news teams have been asking questions during their citizen interviews based on false information. Hopefully once the dust settles a little bit, things will be presented a little more rationally and bias-free, but for now, let's bring on the three-ring circus: Business First gives us probably one of the most bias-free reports of the funding development and a great headline to boot: "<a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/03/24/daily29.html">Plan keeps funding in small group for Columbus streetcar proposal</a>". The Dispatch delivers a hat trick with <a href="http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/streetcar.html?sid=101">Mayor proposes ticket surcharge to pay for streetcars</a> on Thursday, <a href="http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/28/howpay.ART_ART_03-28-08_A1_1H9P1CD.html?sid=101">Surcharges may power streetcars</a> on Friday, and <a href="http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/29/STREETCAR.ART_ART_03-29-08_B1_KD9PDC0.html?sid=101">Not all aboard on streetcar notion</a> on Saturday. Again, it seems like the people who aren't on board with the Streetcar proposal generally want to either see a longer line or a more regional rail network in place first. Best quote: "<em>What's the point, other than for show?</em>" said Joe Sanders, 37, an unemployed Gahanna resident. (Hopefully the new jobs generated by the economic development along the line will make Joe a convert). The Other Paper does what they do best and <a href="http://www.theotherpaper.com/top3-27/substory1.htm">plays up the drama</a> before delivering their opinion on the news. Best quote: "<em>The plan was met by its share of skeptics: folks outside of Downtown’s 4,500 residents and 90,000 workers who would make limited use of the system.</em>" 10TV.com reveals on Thursday that the <a href="http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/03/27/story_streetcars.html?sid=102">Streetcar Plan Could Generate Millions For City</a> but then on Friday those millions take a backseat when they find out that the <a href="http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/03/28/story_streetcar_fees.html">Streetcar Line Could Mean Fee Increases</a>. Best quote: Pretty much everything that can be found in their <a href="http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/discussions/discuss_streetcars.html">comment section</a> on this topic. MORPC pushed out a Press Release on Friday: <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13138&start=84">Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Committed to Streetcars</a>. Best quote: “<em>The streetcar is an investment that is a part of a broader vision for an integrated transportation system in central Ohio</em>,” said MORPC Executive Director Chester R. Jourdan. Paul Bonneville at ColumbusRetroMetro gives his two cents with the article <a href="http://columbusretrometro.typepad.com/columbus_retrometro/2008/03/columbus-stre-1.html">Columbus Streetcar System gets Thumbs Up</a>. Best quote: "<em>Long story short, the streetcars have passed the funding hurdle in as much as to whether or not is looks like we'll be able to fund a system without additional taxes. The streetcar system has an official "go ahead" as of last night.</em>" Despite being loaded down with inane commentary, <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/hotissue_streetcar.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101">The Dispatch poll</a> from Thursday is showing that 51% of pollsters would ride the downtown Streetcar. Given the history of these types of polls, that's a pretty high vote in favor of ridership. In addition, many of the comments of the folks who voted "no" still support the idea, or would prefer to see other forms of rail transit first. 1000 Friends of Central Ohio announced <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13138&start=93">their support of the plan</a>. Best quote: “<em>Any way you look at it, from an economic standpoint, an air pollution standpoint, human health, responsible use of the land, livable community, or economic development standpoint – any way you look at it</em>,” says Baker, “<em>public transportation options are a tremendous benefit to a community. And, a fixed guide way – where rail lines are built into the pavement – lower investment risks because of the permanency, so citizens can expect a tremendous return that will add enormous benefit to their way of living.</em>” NBC4i.com starts on Thursday with the question, <a href="http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-03-27-0036.html">Downtown Streetcars: Who Funds The Project?</a> and follows on Friday with another question, <a href="http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-03-28-0024.html">Are Taxpayers Really Clear From Funding Downtown Streetcars?</a> Best quote: "<em>But if you don't use the system, is your wallet really in the clear?</em>" (Stay tuned for more at 11!) BOMA Columbus (The Building Owners and Managers Association, not the Bar of Modern Art) also showed their support with a Press Release: <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13138&start=90">BOMA joins Mayor Coleman’s Office in support of Downtown Streetcars</a>. Best quote: "<em>streetcars make good economic sense, because they attract millions of dollars in development</em>". OSU President E. Gordon Gee also released a short statement on the Downtown Streetcar Plan: “Ohio State enthusiastically supports Mayor Coleman’s streetcar initiative. It will benefit our students, faculty and staff, as well as the people who live and work in the University District. And it will provide easy transportation to campus so that visitors can enjoy the South Campus Gateway, Wexner Center for the Arts and the many other arts, entertainment and sporting events on and around our campus. A streetcar line along the High Street corridor is a symbol of the close ties that exist between our world-class university and our world-class city.” Columbus-ite.com gives us a photo tour of what <a href="http://columbus-ite.com/2008/03/27/before-high-street-downtown/">High Street Downtown looks like before the Streetcars</a>. He points out the empty retail spaces, undeveloped parking lots, and other spaces that could use some improvement. Stay tuned for part 2 in 2012 when the Streetcar opens and part 3 in 2016 when some development has sprung up. Tim Doulin from The Dispatch has a new blog post discussing <a href="http://blog.dispatch.com/commuter/2008/03/streetcars_for_columbus.shtml">Streetcars for Columbus</a>. Best quote: "<em>I’m not sure how many times I will need to use the streetcar. But for those who live in the Short North or OSU and those working Downtown or visitors spending a few nights in Downtown hotels, it could be a relatively cheap and easy way to get to destinations along the line. It also represents a chance to get a foothold on building a more elaborate rail system.</em>" John Kazalia (About.com Guide to Columbus) thinks the Streetcar Proposal is <a href="http://columbusoh.about.com/b/2008/03/29/streetcar-proposal-off-the-tracks.htm">Off the Tracks</a>. Best quote: "<em>If we really need streetcars, get COTA to build and operate it with a federal grant. And if we're not eligible, how important is it then?</em>" And finally, this story from This Week News is about a week old, but worth mentioning because some suburban <a href="http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/thisweeknews/0031308/NewAlbany/News/031308-News-509608.html&tab=tab1">Civic officials question streetcar plan.</a> Best quote: "<em>What's the point here?</em>" - John Best, president of the Far Northwest Civic Coalition (FNWCC)

Loads of construction photos here: <a href="http://capcitysavvy.com/2008/03/30/riversouth-is-under-construction/">RiverSouth is Under Construction</a>

<b>Mayor proposes ticket surcharge to pay for streetcars</b> Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:58 PM BY ROBERT VITALE THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH It will take about $12.7 million per year, including $1.3 million for contingencies, over 25 years to build and operate a streetcar line along High Street. Here's how Mayor Michael B. Coleman proposes to pay for it. Fees paid by institutions and visitors in the area served by the streetcar would cover $10.5 million, or 80 percent, of the cost. - Ohio State contribution: $500,000 - 4 percent surcharge on off-street parking: $1.1 million - 4 percent surcharge on paid admissions: $3.8 million - Fares (average $1 per ride): $700,000 - Rate increase on parking meters: $800,000 - Existing parking meter revenue: $3.6 million - Another 20 percent, or $2.2 million, would come from sources outside the streetcar zone. - Federal grants through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission: $2 million - Advertising and naming rights: $100,000 - Other federal funds: $100,000 Hockey fans, concertgoers and people who drive Downtown would pay the biggest share if Columbus goes ahead with a $103 million streetcar line on High Street. Taken off the hook with a financing plan endorsed today by Mayor Michael B. Coleman: hotel guests, diners and bar patrons, movie buffs and people in the cheap seats at the new Columbus Clippers baseball stadium. Full story at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/streetcar.html?sid=101 <img src="http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/03/27/streetcar_map.jpg">

This photo was emailed to me this morning from the Mayor's Office with a note: "Here is a photo of the streetcar style envisioned by Mayor Coleman." <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/0313StreetcarClose.jpg">

Was good meeting you tonight CMH_Downtown. ;) Great turnout at the meeting. Glad to see the Streetcar moving forward with such a carefully laid plan. There's a bit of running commentary from the meeting here for anyone interested: http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13129&start=40 and http://www.columbusunderground.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=13112&start=20

<b>Franklinton revitalization project sits idle</b> <i>Troubled L.A. developer assures city it's still a go</i> Sunday, March 23, 2008 3:52 AM BY ROBERT VITALE, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Something's growing on W. Town Street -- a tree, through the floor of a crumbling factory building that Columbus officials touted last year as the showcase of a Franklinton revival. Nearly a year after Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced a $23 million privately funded project to turn land around the former B&T Metals plant into loft condos and apartments, town houses, gallery space and a small theater, little has changed in the three-block area west of Downtown. Read more at http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/23/robbins.ART_ART_03-23-08_B1_V69NM89.html?sid=101

See what? I see a rumor.

Lesse... Terre Haute, Indiana Alexander City, Alabama Nashville Freemont, California Marysville, Ohio Columbus, Ohio I've been in Central Ohio for 23 years and Columbus proper for 10. If you want to break Columbus down by neighborhoods: - OSU Campus - Near Hilliard - OSU Campus - Brewery District - Merion Village - German Village - King Lincoln District (current) Hooray!

I grew being a PC kid and have built my own system for the past 15 years. Went to school and used both MAC & PC and grew fonder and fonder of OSX. Used a lot of Macs in my last several jobs, and decided I'd make the switch at home. I know have a MacBook Pro laptop (bought a year ago), a Mac Mini (bought two years ago) running as an HTPC and network storage, and my wife is using a new MacBook laptop (bought a month ago). I just upgraded my two older systems to OSX 10.5, which I love. TimeMachine is a great backup solution, and works seemlessly over my network to my 1.5TB of external storage hooked up to the MacMini. I do still have a few old PC's lying around, but haven't used them in a long time. Also have an Xbox360, which is technically a PC, right? ;)

<b>What exactly is an “Up-&-Coming Tech City”?</b> Because according to Forbes.com Columbus is the number 1 Up-&-Coming Tech City in the US. The <a href="http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurstechnology/2008/03/10/columbus-milwaukee-houston-ent-tech-cx_wp_0310smallbizoutlooktechcity.html">article</a> mostly just talks about Battelle, and how much they've grown in the past few years. Which is great and everything, but for some reason I have a hard time wrapping them around the "Up-&-Coming" title. I sort of consider what I do with <a href="http://www.columbusunderground.com">ColumbusUnderground.com</a> to be in the "tech" field. And while we were <a href="http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=344">nominated for a 2007 TopCat award</a> for "Outstanding Startup Business", there's not really been a whole lot of recognition or help along the way. I've gotten no grant money, no government funding, no donations from city or regional organizations. I did speak with someone at the <a href="http://www.cscc.edu/cpe/SBDC/SBDChome.asp">SBDC</a> a few years ago who despite not having much experience with an online business was able to point me in the right direction for getting the basics started. It didn't really make things much easier though. There really hasn't been a lot of hand holding for me. And I've looked. Can anyone help fill me in? What sort of small/micro business incubators are out there for "tech" companies? If we've got the next google brewing in some kid's garage, what can he do to seek assistance or funding? Let's keep this Tech City thing rolling. http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=544

The Columbus Technology Economy Friday, Mar. 21, 2008 By Bill Lafayette Columbus Chamber of Commerce Forbes Magazine has named Columbus the top up-and-coming tech city in the U.S. They pointed to the strength of Battelle and its $4 billion research budget. Battelle has a global footprint and has spun off a number of start-up companies to commercialize its technologies. But there is a whole lot going on here besides Battelle. You may be aware - or maybe not - that there are two other technology organizations here that have a global reach. Chemical Abstracts houses the world's chemical research databases. And OCLC does the same thing for the world's libraries. It serves more than 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories around the world. FULL ARTICLE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?sec=home&story=sites/twn/content/pool/exclusives/2008/march/032108-WEB-Bus-lafayette.html&tab=tab1

Yeah, anonymous as far as I know. I'm not even sure if it's a single person or a group of people.

Not my favorite development (could be a little taller) but not bad either. Looking forward to having more affordable units downtown.

All in all a great address this year. Lots of projects in the works and in the pipeline. Hooray Columbus! :D

<i>Borrowing a method devised by Anthony Breitzman, a researcher at 1790 Analytics, an intellectual-property valuation firm, Auerswald then looked for important relationships among patents within each general technical area. The most important patents are generally referenced by other inventors in the field when they file for their own patents; lesser patents garner fewer citations. The greater the increase in the number of important patents in a given city, the higher it ranked on Auerswald's list.</i>

<b>Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities</b> William Pentland 03.10.08, 6:00 PM ET http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurstechnology/2008/03/10/columbus-milwaukee-houston-ent-tech-cx_wp_0310smallbizoutlooktechcity.html <img src="http://images.forbes.com/media/2008/03/10/techcity_1.jpg"> <b>No. 1 Columbus, Ohio</b> In 1997, the Battelle Memorial Institute, Ohio's largest research center, based in Columbus, managed a single lab for the U.S. Department of Energy with an annual budget of $1 billion. A decade later, Battelle oversees seven major laboratories for different federal agencies; budget: $4 billion in research funds annually. The institute has become a force in almost every area of emerging technology, especially life sciences and energy research. One of its children, Velocys, is working on a way to cut the cost of capturing the 3 trillion cubic feet of the world's stranded natural gas by converting it into easily transportable liquid. http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/10/columbus-milwaukee-houston-ent-tech-cx_wp_0310smallbizoutlooktechcity_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=20000

I've got several friends here in Columbus who live car-free with no problem. Their bikes and the bus system gets them around to where they want to go.

Well who am I to question your eyesight! ;) I drove around yesterday and today with no problem. Streets were very clean for a record-setting snowfall.

The City does a good job for the resources they have alloted for snow removal. We don't get a heavy snow like this in Columbus every year. It would be a waste of money to pay for more trucks and plows to sit on the sidelines the rest of the time. Columbus Average Yearly Snowfall = 27.6 inches We had a record breaking 20 inches fall on us on Friday and Saturday.

These were taken all right outside my house (I didn't venture far today) in the King-Lincoln District in Columbus: The pile in the front yard: Plow heading down the street: The aftermath of the plow (poor neighbors): Putting my back into it despite not driving anywhere today:

Charity is awesome for opening her business over here. Everyone in/around Columbus needs to try this place out! :D

How many menu items were you planning on ordering in one sitting? What they do, they do well.