February 22, 200718 yr I would agree that the Dems are more represented on here, but there are some others have different beliefs. I don't think we should exclude anyone based on that premise...we are all pro-cities and thats a fact!
February 22, 200718 yr I think that keeping ideas flowing freely needs to be at the core of the mission of UrbanOhio. I worry that by taking official positions on general or specific matters, we compromise the open nature of the forum. If we come up with a dogma of sorts, then we risk losing out on the new ideas that sometimes get expressed here because it is a relatively safe environment for sounding out new and unconventional notions of what an urban space can be. If specific members of the forum feel strongly enough about a particular issue or position to go out and advocate for it on their own, that's wonderful. But, it should be a new organization at that point.
February 23, 200718 yr If the idea of an Urban Ohio "news bureau" should take off, I'd be happy to help on the video production side with time and equipment (HDV cam, lights, sound, editing, etc.) I think it would be a worthwhile feature to add to the forum -- some short video segments on new projects, interviews, meeting highlights, etc. I may do it anyway and stick in on youtube if no one here is up for it. I just figure some collaboration among the members here could lead to some nice video pieces with a positive urban slant.
February 24, 200718 yr About the potential of 'UrbanOhio News'...I think we need something like this. I often have VERY hard times getting responses back from developers and what not about projects (i guess the student line isn't cutting it anymore). Is there anyway we could set up and UrbanOhio email network for those who wish to participate. That can enable us to sign the messages with UrbanOhio News and use the email '[email protected]' to give it some sort of legitimacy.
February 24, 200718 yr About the potential of 'UrbanOhio News'...I think we need something like this. I often have VERY hard times getting responses back from developers and what not about projects (i guess the student line isn't cutting it anymore). Is there anyway we could set up and UrbanOhio email network for those who wish to participate. That can enable us to sign the messages with UrbanOhio News and use the email '[email protected]' to give it some sort of legitimacy. That sounds like an excellent idea.
February 24, 200718 yr If the idea of an Urban Ohio "news bureau" should take off, I'd be happy to help on the video production side with time and equipment (HDV cam, lights, sound, editing, etc.) I think it would be a worthwhile feature to add to the forum -- some short video segments on new projects, interviews, meeting highlights, etc. I may do it anyway and stick in on youtube if no one here is up for it. I just figure some collaboration among the members here could lead to some nice video pieces with a positive urban slant. Thats an awesome idea
February 24, 200718 yr Draft mission statement: Urban Ohio's mission is to promote a greater understanding, appreciation and advancement of Ohio's urban areas by educating the public and decision makers on the past, present and potential assets that make them special places in which to live, work and play. Then we will need a statement of goals and a strategy. As for the goals, expanding on the mission statement is typically the way to go. Something like: Goals of Urban Ohio To promote a greater understanding, appreciation and advancement of Ohio's urban areas, Urban Ohio will: > Educate the public and decision-makers on the benefits of urban lifestyles as a healthy, exciting and energizing alternative to suburban sprawl; > Advocate for land use patterns, building design and the provision of built and natural environments that enhance the urban lifestyle; > Ensure the preservation of historic and architecturally significant structures that uplift the human spirit, provide an understanding of the urban areas' unique personalities; > Promote transportation facilities and services that support urban land use patterns and its lifestyle; > Others? As for strategies, this is where we get into specific activities, like tours, website features, and so on. But I've run out of time and have to get some where, so hopefully this will spur more ideas and discussion. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 24, 200718 yr wow that sounds great, as someone who left ohio for dead, UO is something I wish I had before leaving. As a person who has never lived in Ohio as an adult, UO i've learned more about my hometown and future development from UO than the plain dealer. the discussion is fair and unbiased unlike the plain dealer. This could be a low cost, big delivery idea that is huge plus for Ohio.
February 24, 200718 yr creating an urbanohio news place to post would be pretty easy. Just have guidelines and standards and make people post under their own names, I suppose this wouldn't apply to JohnSchieder and Michael Redmond, but everyone else.
February 24, 200718 yr If there was a source of income here, I'd write articles, blogs and features about downtown and near-downtown development projects for UO. Advertisers and underwriters unite! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 25, 200718 yr I think as long as we are vocal we can have an effect. Not many people are interested (or knowledgeable) in the issues we care about. Also agree with the "no-dogma" rule, but wouldn't a requirement to follow such a rule be dogmatic? Think about that.
March 7, 200718 yr For those of you interested, it seems like it might be easier to flesh out in person some of the details of what a pro-urban non-profit organization might do and how it might work. I realize this only works for the Clevelanders, but how about trying to get together at 7:30 pm this Thursday at the Starbucks on W 6th and seeing what happens? For those who can't make it, we'll post what comes out of it on this thread. (The Starbucks seems like a central and reasonably quiet location, although alternate suggestions welcome...) If you can let me know if you plan on attending, that would be helpful so we know to look for you.
March 7, 200718 yr I should be able to make the meeting this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Starbucks in the Warehouse District. I hope others will come too. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 8, 200718 yr Count me as a maybe for Thursday. My wife is leaving for Ireland Friday morning and might be in the middle of a freakout, which means I will have to protect the kids from her.
March 8, 200718 yr Yes, I remember. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 8, 200718 yr "The Starbucks seems like a central and reasonably quiet location, although alternate suggestions welcome..." I'm with the pope - next week might work. Personally, I've found that more people will come out to grab a beer than a coffee (though the non-partakers are more than welcome to grab a coffee). Also - posting meets/gatherings in the Events thread will get more attention than a post in this thread. :-) clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
March 8, 200718 yr But most places that serve alcohol tend to be noisier, unless someone can suggest a place in/near downtown that isn't noisy. I don't drink and don't do the bar scene anymore, so I don't know what places are out there. Either way, it doesn't matter to me. But maybe we should hold off until next Thursday to increase the participation. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 8, 200718 yr What about A.J. Rocco's on Huron? Don't they also serve brewskies there? Thursday is a good day of the week for me. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 8, 200718 yr I like the thought of the UrbanOhio News. I'd be interested in writing a blog to keep folks up to date on active/proposed Columbus downtown development projects. I also LOVE the idea of coordinated email campaigns. I've been sending a few letters lately to city leaders regarding various issues on the urban agenda, but it can get time consuming tracking down email addresses and writing meaningful letters. It would be nice to have electronic petitions or stock emails that could be cut and pasted, which reference UrbanOhio.com and provide some legitimacy to our messages. Anything to streamline the process so more people take action would be phenomenal. One final idea would be to organize events at the statehouse lawn. I'm thinking about grassroots efforts like passing out informational flyers at lunch, but I'm not sure members would have the time.
March 8, 200718 yr Ditto to what KJP said, on both counts. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
March 8, 200718 yr I also LOVE the idea of coordinated email campaigns. I've been sending a few letters lately to city leaders regarding various issues on the urban agenda, but it can get time consuming tracking down email addresses and writing meaningful letters. It would be nice to have electronic petitions or stock emails that could be cut and pasted, which reference UrbanOhio.com and provide some legitimacy to our messages. Anything to streamline the process so more people take action would be phenomenal. I completely agree, Brewmaster. I was going to suggest something like this, so I looked into so options for creating an online "action center". I wasn't really able to find much except for this that can be used to automatically send customizable letters to your Senators, Congressmen, and local newspapers. Here's an example of one. Obviously this particular system isn't something that could be used for local issues, but I would love to see some sort of action center like this for Urban Ohio.
March 8, 200718 yr Sounds like somethingof a consensus to wait until next week, location TBD, although I'm all in favor of including beer. Only consideration for next Thurs is that it's the 1st night of the NCAA tournament...which means (a) many of us would want to see the game and (b) most places w/beer and tvs will be packed. I'll poke my head in downtown tonight in case someone shows b/c they didn't get this msg in time. I'll have to make sure I check the board at work next time... oh well.
March 9, 200718 yr Will anybody be interested in holding a small meet in Cincinnati in the next few weeks? I am not free from March 10-18 or from 30-32, but I am free to drive up as long as it is on a Friday-Sunday. This would make a nice roundtable discussion.
March 9, 200718 yr Are we having a March 32nd this year? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 9, 200718 yr In Cincy, Baba Budan's in Uptown would be a great place to meet. Half coffee house, half bar. Noise level low.
March 9, 200718 yr Well, I trust your input of location. You all would know more about it than me :) Hell, I still get lost in Cincinnati although I go up there all the time (like, getting lost for 45 minutes a month ago...). And yeah, um, no March 32. April 1 I meant :P Get it? Funny!!! Oh my...
March 11, 200718 yr Yeah if theres gonna be a cincinnati chapter, holler at me. No starbucks though! yeah, give me a holla if a Steubenville chapter is established!
March 12, 200718 yr Sounds like somethingof a consensus to wait until next week, location TBD, although I'm all in favor of including beer. Only consideration for next Thurs is that it's the 1st night of the NCAA tournament...which means (a) many of us would want to see the game and (b) most places w/beer and tvs will be packed. For the Clevelanders, how about we plan for Thursday, March 29 at 7:30? This should give those folks who're interested some time to plan. Would Great Lakes be too noisy on a Thursday?
March 12, 200718 yr I can't do it on March 29. It's going to be a very busy day for me. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 13, 200718 yr How about 6:30 p.m. this Thursday? At A.J. Rocco's? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 13, 200718 yr How about 6:30 p.m. this Thursday? At A.J. Rocco's? 630 is much better. where again is AJ Rocco's?
March 13, 200718 yr It's on Huron. next to the Clevelander, across the street from Winking Lizard. That's a good day to do it too. There is nothing going on at the Q, so parking should not be a hassle.
March 13, 200718 yr For those of us who have kids and errands and stuff that do not always fit in with mass transit schedules... or if our bike was stolen.
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