Author: RiverAdmin

Published first on the Progress News, February 15, 2021 All around the globe, people have been stepping up, responding to the challenges brought about or highlighted by the events of the last year.  Small businesses, too, have been doing what they can, both to help their communities and to help themselves survive these tumultuous times. … Read more

Published first on the Progress News, February 8, 2021 Last week I shared the tale of a very successful Redevelopment project that sparked the transformation of an entire region.  As I alluded to, though, the process is neither instantaneous nor cheap.  As we get fully underway with our current EPA Brownfield project, I’d like to… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, January 18, 2021 Last week we talked about the importance of perspective for redevelopment work.  Quite simply, no one person, no matter how well they think they might understand a problem, is going to be able to see every side.  This is why redevelopment is a team sport, and… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, January 11, 2021 I work in an interesting field, where change is celebrated, challenges are embraced, and differing thoughts are not just invited but needed.  Redevelopment, after all, implies that what is currently developed is not working as well as it could, and some sort of change is required. … Read more

Published first on the Progress News, January 4, 2021 Last week, we explored how the ORA has adapted and evolved over the last decade and a half.  To start off the New Year, we’re looking forward.  Organizational redevelopment never truly ends, after all, and CEO John Phillips stressed the importance of being willing to “get… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, December 28, 2020 The ORA looked very different fifteen years ago than it does today.  I sat down recently with current CEO John Phillips to talk about the last decade and a half, and how the ORA has evolved.  “I came on board in November of 2005,” Phillips noted,… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, December 14, 2020 We’ve been talking a fair bit about the theory of redevelopment – what it’s about and what sorts of activities it can entail.  Today, though, I’d like to focus on the practical side of redevelopment: what it will actually be doing in one of our towns.… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, December 7, 2020 In this time of all-things-virtual, it can feel…challenging, to say the least…to find ways to get involved in the community.  Many of our local projects have been put on hold, and a lot of us are reaching online-meeting overload.  Redevelopment, though, is all about looking challenges… Read more

Published first on the Progress News, November 30, 2020 With the holiday season now officially underway, we are continuing the conversation on being involved in the community through ideas, action, and support.  Last week we focused on the importance of ideas, and this week we’ll look at action and support, which feels especially relevant right… Read more