Category: River Roots Redevelopment Column
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Ecological Buffers
Ecological or riparian buffers or greenways are the areas along the edge of a development project that are put in place to protect sensitive surrounding areas like wetlands or nesting sites. Their purpose is to lessen the impacts of the project on these critical areas. They are also used to mitigate negative impacts on watershed… Read more
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The Power of a Destination Brand
– Jarred Heuer, Executive Director, Clarion County Economic Development Corporation “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” If you were to mention this phrase to any stranger on the street, it is likely that they would recognize it, whether they have ever visited Las Vegas or not. Although it may seem that this phrase has… Read more
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The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Redevelopment
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are collaborative endeavors between government or public entities and private-sector entities. Over the past few decades, PPPs have gained considerable traction as a preferred mechanism for redevelopment initiatives. While traditional models of development can often face bureaucratic red tape, limited financial resources, and inefficient coordination, PPPs have emerged with public and private… Read more
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Community Engagement in Redevelopment
In redevelopment, community engagement plays a pivotal role in ensuring a successful result, and it benefits both the community and the developers. One of the primary reasons for involving residents in the decision-making process is to safeguard the interests of the community. By including the community in the redevelopment plans, development organizations make sure that… Read more
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Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve
Let’s start the new year with an example of how one community has worked to reduce the negative impacts humans have had on the environment. Just north of Philadelphia, in Ambler, Pennsylvania, you can find the Wissahickon Waterfowl Preserve, but right next door, you’ll see a large odd mound. Both are located within a 32-acre… Read more
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Year-end wrap up
As the year draws to a close, I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop in at Divani in Foxburg for a coffee chat or to let me know that this column is being read. Over the past year, as I have stepped into this new role as a writer, I’ve… Read more
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Knowledge Economy Pt. 2
Continuing our investigation of knowledge economies from last week, let’s look at the six pillars of knowledge economics proposed in a paper by Carsten Brockman and Narcyz Roztocki. These pillars are Innovation Capability, Leadership, Human Capital, Information Technology Resources, Financial Resources, and Innovation Climate. This week we will explore what each of these pillars might… Read more
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Knowledge Economy – Pt. 1
Recently, I was looking into The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), and in a blog post titled “The Equity of Economic Opportunity in Rural America” was a phrase I was unfamiliar with: Knowledge Economy. Digging deeper I found that the Oxford Dictionary defines “Knowledge Economy” as “an economy in which growth is dependent on the… Read more
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GUEST – Jarred Heuer – EDOs and the Challenge of People-Attraction
The Clarion County Economic Development Corporation is the lead economic development organization (EDO) for Clarion County. But what exactly does that mean? What is an economic development organization? How does an EDO compare to a Chamber of Commerce or a Redevelopment Authority? Throughout my time with the CCEDC, I have often been asked a variety… Read more
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The 15-minute City
The 15-minute city has been an intriguing concept for me. As someone who has spent most of my life living in small towns where it takes 20-40 minutes of driving to access things like healthcare, shopping, and employment, I wondered how, or if, a 15-minute city could work in Rural America. But the concept is… Read more
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Redevelopment and Gentrification
Last week, we explored public space and what having abundant public space means for a community, including higher property values. This week, I want to look at what happens when property values and prices are increased without the infrastructure and other considerations needed to support working-class families, leading to a larger divide in socio-economic classes—gentrification.… Read more
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Redevelopment and Public Space
“Public space helps determine the relationship between people and their surroundings. It has the potential to create a sense of belonging, cultural vibrancy and in turn to promote happiness and wellbeing.” – Laura Valdés, writer for Metropolis.org Following the public planning meeting for the proposed Fox-Hunt community park in Foxburg, I thought it might be… Read more