the wait is slow and agonizing. Two weeks until the vote in Copenhagen by the IOC, a vote that decides the fate of one lucky city to host the world for two weeks in 2016. Speculation of who will and who won't show up to the vote, what the final presentation will look like, and any last minute alignments of votes is in the news at this point. However we don't hear the flip side, what if Chicago doesn't win? What do we talk about then? What do we look forward to? I have a few suggestions:
1. We focus on Chicago's transit system. Let's gather together and fight for one transit agency. This is a lesson from the Western cities we can learn from. A unified transit authority that governs suburban transit and city transit will make for a more cost effective, government efficient system. Think about the day your CTA card pays for your Metra ticket, and vice versa. Think about how we as city governments can work with one authority on all modes of transit from regional rail to rapid transit to local bus service. Sounds dreamy doesn't it? The CTA, Metra and Pace have a LOT of work to do to upgrade and expand their systems and fighting over money with the RTA doesn't help matters. Let's combine them and have divisions, Regional Rail, Rapid Transit and Bus Operations. Let's have them talk to one another, coordinate schedules and construction and go after a unified vision at once. We will be adding a High Speed rail network to our system in the next 20 years and someone needs to manage this, adding another authority on top will only make matters worse.
But Craig, what about jobs? Don't you just want to do this to get rid of jobs and those poor people at the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace will fear for their livelihood?
Yes, well, guess what, the amount of work that needs to be done will still be there. I would suspect consolidating services might see a SLIGHT reduction in staffing, but a reduction might be needed. Each division has different modes of transit which require their own operations staff and materials. That will never go away. BUT say getting rid of some of administration that ties up funding at the top, funding that can be used to a better good, would help the system run more effectively.
Beyond a unified RTA, i envision this new agency thinking boldly for the future. implementing a streetcar or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system into the city would be great. Even working with smaller cities like Evanston, Oak Park, Berwyn, etc for their own localized transit systems will help bolster RTA ridership and revenues. How can we leverage the regional rail system to overlay a rapid transit system on that? Providing smaller efficient rail cars and a more frequent service (London is working on a system like this right now) Could fill that gap and provide more incentive for riders if they know that a train will be there and although it wont be as quick as the commuter service, it can get them to their destinations (infill stations would be possible at this level of service as the distance requirements between stations decrease with a smaller, agile train car).
We need to build the STAR line, the circle line, the Gold Line, expand the South Shore Line, and overhaul the L system. We need to build express services to our major airports. Replacing the current steel structure with a 21st century engineering solution would be ideal. Updating the Loop so that all the stations are code compliant and ADA accessible and are no longer bird nests for the city's pigeon population would be great too.
And of course there is the High Speed Rail Network currently running through the legislative people. Updating and expanding Union Station will be needed for this as well as all of the necessary signaling and CREATE projects that are listed out there.
WHEW! that's a lot of work. Can it be done? Sure. We just need the will of the people to talk to their representatives and push for a better system. Until then, we won't get it. There is plenty of money coming down the pipeline and the Chicago Region might lose out if we don't have a unified voice for it and have a compelling argument as to why we deserve it.
Part of the big push for the Olympics is jobs. Seven years of non stop construction, prep, even hiring all of those dancers and children to wow the audience at the opening ceremonies. Plenty of jobs for everyone. But if we don't get it, rebuilding, expanding and improving our infrastructure could be a great way to create jobs, which could in turn lead to more jobs in other sectors.
Beyond transit, the City of Chicago has released and adopted the Central Area Action Plan, a multi-billion dollar vision to improve the quality of the downtown area. Everything from pushing Lake Shore drive further into Lake Michigan to ease the Curve at Oakton St Beach and creating much needed space and parkland in that area to capping the Eisenhower in the west loop to create a series of parks and link that portion to the rest of downtown are on the table. Again more jobs and more money of course but they have identified funding sources locally, statewide and federally. In the suburbs i am sure there are plenty of projects to be had, in Evanston alone I can think of a laundry list of "wouldn't that be nice."
My point is, if we don't get the Olympics, let's focus on the things that haven't gotten the attention of our leaders in the last year. Let's use that energy to improve our city and make it the best it can be so that if we ever go after the Olympics in the future there will never be a question of whether or not our transit system can handle the crush of visitors or if our parks aren't good enough or if we are forcing poorer citizens out of their homes. We need a vision to hold on to and move forward, why not the best city in the world as our vision? We all know it can be that, or else we wouldn't be living here.
With you,
CDS
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Olympic Countdown
I am going to focus the next few weeks on the Olympics. Why? October 2 in the morning in Copenhagen the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet to decide who will have the honor of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics. Maybe I have never had a close interest in the cities that were voted on before, but I have been following this process ever since Chicago was picked in 2007 to be the United States' city to bid for the olympics. I love the Olympics, the sports are what it is about but the planning and design and attention that it attracts beyond the sports is also what I find fascinating.
Once the winning city gets the nod to host the games they have seven short years to transform into the capital of sports. They will host the world for a brief time, the whole world watching, hoping their athletes win. The city must make their transportation systems run smoothly, the hotel rooms will be packed, the city-wide concerts and nightly celebrations will be precisely timed and planned. This is the time for that City to show the world how they can party and host the greatest sporting event ever. Yes we all arent into ping pong or ribbon dance gymnastics, but someone in the world is and I think that is what is great about the Olympics.
Now on to Chicago. My last post was about WHY I think Chicago should win the Olympics. Today the IOC posted their repots on each city. In April of this year, a 13 member delegation from the IOC came to each city to listen to the bid teams, tour the venues and mingle with celebrities to lobby for their city's right to host. I skimmed the report this morning and well, no city really stands out as THE city to win. I think it's a great synopsis of what each city has to offer, their style for hosting and the general analysis of each essential component to their bid (Security, Transport, Venues, etc).
What I do think is interesting is that while Chicago has their challenges and the IOC has some concerns (sponsorship, transportation plans, etc), Rio has the biggest issues especially concerning safety and transportation. Rio is going to have to do a huge transformation of their city to host the games. The IOC is naturally concerned about displacement of slums, gentrification, and the guarantee that all venues and transport systems proposed can be built on time. The lack of good quality hotel rooms and the fact that they can't guarantee the use of cruise ships docked in the harbor for hotel space is a concern as well. Chicago has the rooms, we have the security and we wont be displacing people. We have a unique chance to fix the things that are wrong with our transport system, yet we dont have to build a brand new one. 6 of the 10 major Olympic sponsors are US corporations, sponsorships will not be a problem.
Tokyo's government just changed hands for the first time since the 1950's. while the new prime minister has voiced support for the games and they have the financial backing of their government, Citizen popularity is low in support. The IOC also found fault in their venues (apparently they listed a few venues as "built" and they havent been built yet...). Their lackluster public voice will be a big factor I think in their loss.
Madrid, well, all i have to say is Yawn. Their bid has been kind of boring from the beginning. I applaud them on education and legacy efforts, making the games an educational experience for their youth and really focusing on how to continue the Olympic spirit in their city and nation post olympics. However, it's just a boring bid. No real wow factor to it. They lost to London for the 2012 bid, and I think this is their last real effort to go for it again, why not think outside the box and do something spectacular? Hire a better PR firm to really get the word out there and say that the london games are not the same as a spanish games? Evoke Barcelona, the games that most people point as the beginning of the modern movement of the Olympics in terms of urban planning, design and spectacle. Does anyone NOT remember the archer shooting the arrow into the cauldron? AWE. SOME. Second to that is the Sydney games where the runner throws the torch into the water and the cauldron rises up out of that, pretty neat.
Anyways, Chicago i think will win in the end. They will blow people out of the water in Copenhagen, Obama will appear and share his love about Chicago and the world will cheer in August 2016 when we open the summer games in Chicago. Fingers crossed for October!
Once the winning city gets the nod to host the games they have seven short years to transform into the capital of sports. They will host the world for a brief time, the whole world watching, hoping their athletes win. The city must make their transportation systems run smoothly, the hotel rooms will be packed, the city-wide concerts and nightly celebrations will be precisely timed and planned. This is the time for that City to show the world how they can party and host the greatest sporting event ever. Yes we all arent into ping pong or ribbon dance gymnastics, but someone in the world is and I think that is what is great about the Olympics.
Now on to Chicago. My last post was about WHY I think Chicago should win the Olympics. Today the IOC posted their repots on each city. In April of this year, a 13 member delegation from the IOC came to each city to listen to the bid teams, tour the venues and mingle with celebrities to lobby for their city's right to host. I skimmed the report this morning and well, no city really stands out as THE city to win. I think it's a great synopsis of what each city has to offer, their style for hosting and the general analysis of each essential component to their bid (Security, Transport, Venues, etc).
What I do think is interesting is that while Chicago has their challenges and the IOC has some concerns (sponsorship, transportation plans, etc), Rio has the biggest issues especially concerning safety and transportation. Rio is going to have to do a huge transformation of their city to host the games. The IOC is naturally concerned about displacement of slums, gentrification, and the guarantee that all venues and transport systems proposed can be built on time. The lack of good quality hotel rooms and the fact that they can't guarantee the use of cruise ships docked in the harbor for hotel space is a concern as well. Chicago has the rooms, we have the security and we wont be displacing people. We have a unique chance to fix the things that are wrong with our transport system, yet we dont have to build a brand new one. 6 of the 10 major Olympic sponsors are US corporations, sponsorships will not be a problem.
Tokyo's government just changed hands for the first time since the 1950's. while the new prime minister has voiced support for the games and they have the financial backing of their government, Citizen popularity is low in support. The IOC also found fault in their venues (apparently they listed a few venues as "built" and they havent been built yet...). Their lackluster public voice will be a big factor I think in their loss.
Madrid, well, all i have to say is Yawn. Their bid has been kind of boring from the beginning. I applaud them on education and legacy efforts, making the games an educational experience for their youth and really focusing on how to continue the Olympic spirit in their city and nation post olympics. However, it's just a boring bid. No real wow factor to it. They lost to London for the 2012 bid, and I think this is their last real effort to go for it again, why not think outside the box and do something spectacular? Hire a better PR firm to really get the word out there and say that the london games are not the same as a spanish games? Evoke Barcelona, the games that most people point as the beginning of the modern movement of the Olympics in terms of urban planning, design and spectacle. Does anyone NOT remember the archer shooting the arrow into the cauldron? AWE. SOME. Second to that is the Sydney games where the runner throws the torch into the water and the cauldron rises up out of that, pretty neat.
Anyways, Chicago i think will win in the end. They will blow people out of the water in Copenhagen, Obama will appear and share his love about Chicago and the world will cheer in August 2016 when we open the summer games in Chicago. Fingers crossed for October!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Hiatus
Call it what you will, but the last few months have been busy. When I last wrote here, I just got hired at the City of Evanston as their new general planner. Things have been busy. I was quickly thrust into the life of City Government. Working on a federal grant worth 40 million dollars puts a lot of eyes on you at once!
Beyond work, which I am sure my readers would like to move from, I have been active this summer. The trips to the family lakehouse in Angola, Indiana, attending the numerous street festivals in Chicago, a trip to Denver, a trip to Toronto and the countless evenings just running around the city have kept me busy.
But enough about my personal life. This blog is about Chicago, urban planning/design and all things in between. This summer has been a busy one for Chicago. The city and region are in the final stages of competition for the 2016 Summer olympic games. We are going against, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid for this honor and it seems the drama never stops. Insiders getting sweet deals on land near potential venues, the City taking the tab for the games, tearing down what some feel are historic buildings, the list goes on.
My postion on the Games is that Chicago is the clear winner. Yes we dont have some shiny new transit system or a new stadium like the Birds nest and yes there are a host of other problems that the money could be spent on instead of the games. Lets think larger here though, Chicago gets to be in a club of cities that hosted the largest peaceful gathering of individuals at one time. We get to be part of the Olympic Movement, one that strives for unity through sports. Chicago and the US will find a way to make our transit system sparkle again and to get the venues built properly, we have the best engineers, architects and designers in the world if we can't do it no one can. Will the finances work out EXACTLY like they say they will in the Bid Book? probably not, but I can guarantee you that Chicago wont create a city strife with White elephant venues like Athens or Beijing, we are too pragmatic here. Chicago is the ONLY bid in this running that is truly integrating the games into the entire city. There is no distant remote olympic village like in Rio, we arent building a massive new island like Tokyo (northerly island is relatively small compared to the one that Tokyo is using) and yet we are still finding room to build new venues and not rely on just old ones that have been there for decades like Madrid is.
Stretched and woven into the long green park system that is the Chicago lakefront, people in lincoln park can walk out their front door and enjoy world class tennis competitions, residents of Washington park can gather the night of the opening ceremonies and witness history, condo dwellers in the loop and south loop can venture lakeside to see a variety of sports - all within walking distance. No need to drive or fly anywhere to see these events, they are here to see US. We are the host, Chicagoans love to party and why not invite the world to it. Let there be some congestion and crowds, the more the merrier!
Will there be congestion? Probably, I cant really say. I can say from those that were at the Atlanta games that traffic was LIGHTER due to the fact that most locals stayed away from downtown. I also know that any event ticket you purchase includes a CTA pass so the need for a car should be greatly dimished. Start saving your PTO time now, take the two+ weeks off and go have fun in your own city. Should you be lucky to rent out your apartment, home or condo, I encourage you to find a place to stay in the city, bunk up witha friend if you need to and enjoy the events that are taking place here. Take your time, show up early if you need to, after all you are on vacation!
Lastly my argument for the Olympics in Chicago is that the world needs Chicago to have the Olympics. Not that we are the center of the universe (yet) but with 11.5 percent unemployment, the games in Chicago will put Chicagoans back to work for the next seven years. The billions of dollars in Olympic investment and side private development will help spur the midwestern economy and hopefully pull the US economy out of the slumps for the next few years, helping other economies get back on track. Is this a guarantee? no, but it couldnt hurt right?
The Olympics in Chicago will let the world know what we already know, that this is a great place to be. It will put the city on a level that it should be in recognition, spur tourism and help move beyond the image of gangsters and crazy governors (though i suspect the opening ceremony will consist of one or two songs from Chicago the musical followed with an hour long house music jam session, but one can only dream at this point...)
So in my book, I welcome the Olympians, their fans and their pocketbooks. Lets get to work on the greatest party Chicago has ever held!
Enjoy your week, and safe travels!
With you,
C
Beyond work, which I am sure my readers would like to move from, I have been active this summer. The trips to the family lakehouse in Angola, Indiana, attending the numerous street festivals in Chicago, a trip to Denver, a trip to Toronto and the countless evenings just running around the city have kept me busy.
But enough about my personal life. This blog is about Chicago, urban planning/design and all things in between. This summer has been a busy one for Chicago. The city and region are in the final stages of competition for the 2016 Summer olympic games. We are going against, Rio, Tokyo, and Madrid for this honor and it seems the drama never stops. Insiders getting sweet deals on land near potential venues, the City taking the tab for the games, tearing down what some feel are historic buildings, the list goes on.
My postion on the Games is that Chicago is the clear winner. Yes we dont have some shiny new transit system or a new stadium like the Birds nest and yes there are a host of other problems that the money could be spent on instead of the games. Lets think larger here though, Chicago gets to be in a club of cities that hosted the largest peaceful gathering of individuals at one time. We get to be part of the Olympic Movement, one that strives for unity through sports. Chicago and the US will find a way to make our transit system sparkle again and to get the venues built properly, we have the best engineers, architects and designers in the world if we can't do it no one can. Will the finances work out EXACTLY like they say they will in the Bid Book? probably not, but I can guarantee you that Chicago wont create a city strife with White elephant venues like Athens or Beijing, we are too pragmatic here. Chicago is the ONLY bid in this running that is truly integrating the games into the entire city. There is no distant remote olympic village like in Rio, we arent building a massive new island like Tokyo (northerly island is relatively small compared to the one that Tokyo is using) and yet we are still finding room to build new venues and not rely on just old ones that have been there for decades like Madrid is.
Stretched and woven into the long green park system that is the Chicago lakefront, people in lincoln park can walk out their front door and enjoy world class tennis competitions, residents of Washington park can gather the night of the opening ceremonies and witness history, condo dwellers in the loop and south loop can venture lakeside to see a variety of sports - all within walking distance. No need to drive or fly anywhere to see these events, they are here to see US. We are the host, Chicagoans love to party and why not invite the world to it. Let there be some congestion and crowds, the more the merrier!
Will there be congestion? Probably, I cant really say. I can say from those that were at the Atlanta games that traffic was LIGHTER due to the fact that most locals stayed away from downtown. I also know that any event ticket you purchase includes a CTA pass so the need for a car should be greatly dimished. Start saving your PTO time now, take the two+ weeks off and go have fun in your own city. Should you be lucky to rent out your apartment, home or condo, I encourage you to find a place to stay in the city, bunk up witha friend if you need to and enjoy the events that are taking place here. Take your time, show up early if you need to, after all you are on vacation!
Lastly my argument for the Olympics in Chicago is that the world needs Chicago to have the Olympics. Not that we are the center of the universe (yet) but with 11.5 percent unemployment, the games in Chicago will put Chicagoans back to work for the next seven years. The billions of dollars in Olympic investment and side private development will help spur the midwestern economy and hopefully pull the US economy out of the slumps for the next few years, helping other economies get back on track. Is this a guarantee? no, but it couldnt hurt right?
The Olympics in Chicago will let the world know what we already know, that this is a great place to be. It will put the city on a level that it should be in recognition, spur tourism and help move beyond the image of gangsters and crazy governors (though i suspect the opening ceremony will consist of one or two songs from Chicago the musical followed with an hour long house music jam session, but one can only dream at this point...)
So in my book, I welcome the Olympians, their fans and their pocketbooks. Lets get to work on the greatest party Chicago has ever held!
Enjoy your week, and safe travels!
With you,
C
Saturday, May 30, 2009
This Week.
So i was writing this long winded "me" blog (yes i realize a blog is essentially about me but this was more than usual about me) when my internet at the starbucks wouldnt work. Thankfully I decided not to publish that awful article and instead talk about the previous week.
The past six months of being unemployed made me forget the ritual that is commuting here in Chicago. Every morning, Monday through Friday, millions of hard working Chicagoans strap on their messanger bag (or in my case backpack), stop by their local coffee shop for an injection of caffine and maybe a breakfast item (I enjoy an iced coffee and the occasional bagel, but trying to be a healthier eater so protein bar and banana for me) and then wind their way to their favorite bus stop or el station to head into work. Then the adventure begins. Will my train/bus be on time? what's the traffic like on the LSD (applies to buses only, LSD= Lake Shore Drive) Will I get a seat? Also the unknowns will happen, like say a homeless person sitting next you in your business suit (or a rich lady in a fur coat in the winter, that's my favorite scene) Or a methhead chatting on his phone with his friend on how to get more drugs from the state to fulfill their habits (true story...)
The commute can either be a dreadful experience or a fun game, depending on how you look at it and your attitude towards public transit. If you just roll with the punches and take your eyes off your ipod/iphone/blackberry/newspaper for a while and look at your surroundings you can watch a parade of humanity entering/exiting your train to the Loop - in my case in the opposite direct to Evanston. It can be a great way to start the day or end the day.
So I started this ritual again. It is something I have to get used to as I have not had a steady schedule for the last six months, but I am slowly getting over that. I find comfort in the routine of going to work, grabbing my cup of joe and a copy of the RedEye (a free newspaper that is basically 20 percent AP news articles, 30 percent ads for lincoln park and wrigleyville bars and 50 percent celebrity gossip, I MUST know what the people from the Hills are doing these days!) and settling in for my 30 min ride on the El.
On another note, this weekend kicks off several street festivals across the City. Most noteable is May Fest in Lincoln Square. I am told it is Germanfest in May so I plan on checking it out on Sunday this weekend and grab a beer, brat and maybe some local band on stage. Chicagoans get out and enjoy the city, and other readers of this blog I encourage you to explore something about where you live, post a comment here if you want to talk about what you like about your city in the summer.
With you always,
Craig
The past six months of being unemployed made me forget the ritual that is commuting here in Chicago. Every morning, Monday through Friday, millions of hard working Chicagoans strap on their messanger bag (or in my case backpack), stop by their local coffee shop for an injection of caffine and maybe a breakfast item (I enjoy an iced coffee and the occasional bagel, but trying to be a healthier eater so protein bar and banana for me) and then wind their way to their favorite bus stop or el station to head into work. Then the adventure begins. Will my train/bus be on time? what's the traffic like on the LSD (applies to buses only, LSD= Lake Shore Drive) Will I get a seat? Also the unknowns will happen, like say a homeless person sitting next you in your business suit (or a rich lady in a fur coat in the winter, that's my favorite scene) Or a methhead chatting on his phone with his friend on how to get more drugs from the state to fulfill their habits (true story...)
The commute can either be a dreadful experience or a fun game, depending on how you look at it and your attitude towards public transit. If you just roll with the punches and take your eyes off your ipod/iphone/blackberry/newspaper for a while and look at your surroundings you can watch a parade of humanity entering/exiting your train to the Loop - in my case in the opposite direct to Evanston. It can be a great way to start the day or end the day.
So I started this ritual again. It is something I have to get used to as I have not had a steady schedule for the last six months, but I am slowly getting over that. I find comfort in the routine of going to work, grabbing my cup of joe and a copy of the RedEye (a free newspaper that is basically 20 percent AP news articles, 30 percent ads for lincoln park and wrigleyville bars and 50 percent celebrity gossip, I MUST know what the people from the Hills are doing these days!) and settling in for my 30 min ride on the El.
On another note, this weekend kicks off several street festivals across the City. Most noteable is May Fest in Lincoln Square. I am told it is Germanfest in May so I plan on checking it out on Sunday this weekend and grab a beer, brat and maybe some local band on stage. Chicagoans get out and enjoy the city, and other readers of this blog I encourage you to explore something about where you live, post a comment here if you want to talk about what you like about your city in the summer.
With you always,
Craig
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Official Start of Summer
The end of May is an exciting time. This is the time of the year the days are consistently warmer, you notice the sun is staying up longer and the blossoms of spring fade to the warm shades of green that signal summer is beginning. Nature isnt the only cue that I get that summer has begun. Driving home from the lakehouse today, I was cruising along Lake Shore Drive and noticed the beach houses are open, lifeguard stands are up and the harbors are crowded with a parade of boats ranging from the dingy to the yachts signal summer has arrived in Chicago.
Soon hot humid days will allow us the convenient excuse to drop everything and cool off at the beach. Ice cream at 1 in the afternoon will be a relief to the sweltering sun and we will be wishing for the cooler days of fall. Under the relief of old trees in the various neighborhoods, neighbors will be assembling to enjoy a block party or a backyard bbq filling the air with that wonderful smell of raw flesh meeting hot coals. Summer is a great time of the year (well every time of the year in Chicago is good, they all have their bad parts too). This summer I would like to make sure I enjoy the outdoors on the weekends I am here (the other weekends will be spent at the lakehouse...). I want to hit a couple of block parties too, enjoy bands outside the way God intended and I would like to attend something at the Pritzker Pavillion this summer too.
Whew! summer is going to be busy, but fun, so come join in the festivities, only a few more months before fall and then winter set in and we are all dreaming of the sweaty days of august!
Thank you to those that serve to protect my freedom and this country, Happy Memorial Day! My respect for the armed services is always high, today especially!
With you ,
Craig
Soon hot humid days will allow us the convenient excuse to drop everything and cool off at the beach. Ice cream at 1 in the afternoon will be a relief to the sweltering sun and we will be wishing for the cooler days of fall. Under the relief of old trees in the various neighborhoods, neighbors will be assembling to enjoy a block party or a backyard bbq filling the air with that wonderful smell of raw flesh meeting hot coals. Summer is a great time of the year (well every time of the year in Chicago is good, they all have their bad parts too). This summer I would like to make sure I enjoy the outdoors on the weekends I am here (the other weekends will be spent at the lakehouse...). I want to hit a couple of block parties too, enjoy bands outside the way God intended and I would like to attend something at the Pritzker Pavillion this summer too.
Whew! summer is going to be busy, but fun, so come join in the festivities, only a few more months before fall and then winter set in and we are all dreaming of the sweaty days of august!
Thank you to those that serve to protect my freedom and this country, Happy Memorial Day! My respect for the armed services is always high, today especially!
With you ,
Craig
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Back to the Grind.
So Monday was my first day at work. After sleeping oh about an hour total Sunday night, I got out of bed, shaved, showered and headed out the door to my first commute in 6 months. This commute was different. Heading in the opposite direction than most of Chicago, my commute is a quick 20-30 minutes by CTA train to the North. My quiet empty CTA car was a welcome sight in the morning sun. Clear skies and sunshine greeted me on my first day to work.
Switching trains at the Howard station, I soon arrived to Evanston City Hall. The mountain of paperwork they gave me 10 days prior was filled out, so HR was a breeze then it was off to my floor. Evanston Civic Center is an old Catholic girls school, so while it sounds nice and historicy, in reality it creates a lot of chaos for a government. So my office space is a little 7'x9' space carved out of a larger room that is the community development department. I get a window and all that goes with an office, desk, chair, guest chair and drafting table. File cabinet and shelves are there for added decor. This is my space, and it's organized. The most organized office in city hall as far as I can tell! The former General Planner was very meticulous I have a big order to fill in that department, so I am at a good start as it is, lets hope it doesnt get too wild on my part!
I settled into my new space as good as I could (dropped bag, found pen and paper, logged onto computer...) and then was paraded around the city hall to meet every person in every department. Let me say, everyone I have met at the City is super nice, but I will not remember their names, heck I dont even remember my secretary's name (the department shares a secretary...) right now, hopefully i will get that down this week...
Anyways, the job is good, it's slow right now, but I think I will do great in Evanston, I have to remember this job is a job that doesnt have a timeline, the last person was there 6 years... I can build a career out of this one and slow down a bit. The slowing down part is the hard part!
With you,
Craig
Switching trains at the Howard station, I soon arrived to Evanston City Hall. The mountain of paperwork they gave me 10 days prior was filled out, so HR was a breeze then it was off to my floor. Evanston Civic Center is an old Catholic girls school, so while it sounds nice and historicy, in reality it creates a lot of chaos for a government. So my office space is a little 7'x9' space carved out of a larger room that is the community development department. I get a window and all that goes with an office, desk, chair, guest chair and drafting table. File cabinet and shelves are there for added decor. This is my space, and it's organized. The most organized office in city hall as far as I can tell! The former General Planner was very meticulous I have a big order to fill in that department, so I am at a good start as it is, lets hope it doesnt get too wild on my part!
I settled into my new space as good as I could (dropped bag, found pen and paper, logged onto computer...) and then was paraded around the city hall to meet every person in every department. Let me say, everyone I have met at the City is super nice, but I will not remember their names, heck I dont even remember my secretary's name (the department shares a secretary...) right now, hopefully i will get that down this week...
Anyways, the job is good, it's slow right now, but I think I will do great in Evanston, I have to remember this job is a job that doesnt have a timeline, the last person was there 6 years... I can build a career out of this one and slow down a bit. The slowing down part is the hard part!
With you,
Craig
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Whats in a Neighborhood?
Andersonville, Edgewater, Lakeview, Rogers Park, Albany Park, Wicker Park. The list goes on and on in the City of Chicago. Carved out of the 77 wards in Chicago, the 228 defined neighborhoods might as well be their own village or town, their name alone sounds like it. I often will be talking to a friend and mention I'm in oh say Andersonville, and they think I went out of town for the weekend.
Truth be told, the history of Chicago's neighborhoods has a lot to do with segregation. Chicago was a melting pot of settlers during the great immigration in the early 20th Century. So little settlements within the city were built, catering to the ethnicity of that particular area. To this day we have Chinatown, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, Little Vietnam, etc. The neighborhood mix may be different today but the neighborhood seems to be keeping their heritage in the forefront.
I bring this up today as I sit in the Starbucks in Andersonville. I have been spending a lot of time in this commercial district lately because it has great restaurants and shops and is near my house, within walking distance at least. Originally a Swedish settlement on Chicago's far north side, Andersonville is this great collection of locally owned restaurants and shops that while some would say is trendy, I feel is more genuine than some of the other "trendy" neighborhoods in the city. There is still a presence of Andersonville's history. The American Swedish Museum has a big location along Clark Street, with their water tower painted as the Swedish Flag. There is a Swedish deli and variety of restaurants that serve the ever popular winter beverage Glogg, a hot mulled wine that I find repulsive but Chicagoans love because it warms and intoxicates at the same time, a much needed feeling during the bitter cold winters here.
And so my neighborhood exploration of Chicago begins in familiar territory. Andersonville is a must stop for those coming to the City that want to see true Chicago. Favorite restaurants include Tapas Las Ramblas, Hama Matsu, Ann Sathers (for their famous delicious, insulin-required cinnamon rolls), Reza's for their authentic presentation of Mediterranean food and the Hopleaf with their vast selection and knowledge of Belgium beer and delicious Belgium food.
There is something for everyone in Andersonville, and on a sunny mild May Sunday it's a good day to explore Clark Street and all that it has to offer.
With you,
C
Truth be told, the history of Chicago's neighborhoods has a lot to do with segregation. Chicago was a melting pot of settlers during the great immigration in the early 20th Century. So little settlements within the city were built, catering to the ethnicity of that particular area. To this day we have Chinatown, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, Little Vietnam, etc. The neighborhood mix may be different today but the neighborhood seems to be keeping their heritage in the forefront.
I bring this up today as I sit in the Starbucks in Andersonville. I have been spending a lot of time in this commercial district lately because it has great restaurants and shops and is near my house, within walking distance at least. Originally a Swedish settlement on Chicago's far north side, Andersonville is this great collection of locally owned restaurants and shops that while some would say is trendy, I feel is more genuine than some of the other "trendy" neighborhoods in the city. There is still a presence of Andersonville's history. The American Swedish Museum has a big location along Clark Street, with their water tower painted as the Swedish Flag. There is a Swedish deli and variety of restaurants that serve the ever popular winter beverage Glogg, a hot mulled wine that I find repulsive but Chicagoans love because it warms and intoxicates at the same time, a much needed feeling during the bitter cold winters here.
And so my neighborhood exploration of Chicago begins in familiar territory. Andersonville is a must stop for those coming to the City that want to see true Chicago. Favorite restaurants include Tapas Las Ramblas, Hama Matsu, Ann Sathers (for their famous delicious, insulin-required cinnamon rolls), Reza's for their authentic presentation of Mediterranean food and the Hopleaf with their vast selection and knowledge of Belgium beer and delicious Belgium food.
There is something for everyone in Andersonville, and on a sunny mild May Sunday it's a good day to explore Clark Street and all that it has to offer.
With you,
C
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Last Day
Well the time has come. My time has been served, I am ready to join the working world again! During this time I have been able to assess my spending habits, pay down debt and create a new budget to live on. It has been lean times for the most part, but I am lucky to have those around me that supported me in my time of need. Whether it was the occasional dinner or staying in with me to hang out because I didn't have the money to go out on the town, I found out who my true friends were during this time and it has not been forgotten.
While it is not the most ideal situation, and I was depressed about being laid off, gained weight, etc; I feel that this was a way of me really being able to step back, access my life and see where i really wanted to go. The door was open, I could do whatever I wanted and I feel in the end landing the job at the City of Evanston was the best thing to happen thus far. I am able to have a career I can grow into while being able to take time to focus on me personally. The last nine years I was so concerned about getting the best grade or getting into the right program or finding the right job and then working as hard as I could at that job so that my career was set. Well that paid off for sure, I have had some amazing experiences in the last 9 years, but I never really took the time out for me. Focusing my life on health - both mentally and physically - and becoming better at my hobbies, namely rugby are what I want right now in my life. I will be able to accomplish this now. Yes I could of been doing all of this while I was laid off but lets be honest, my mind was racing on the uncertainty of my life and well I just kind of shut down and revert to comfort zones like ice cream and fast food when that happened.
So Monday is a new day a new era in my life. I have a new job a new apartment and a new attitude about my career and how it affects the way I live. I am returning to old habits, ones that I cultured in Denver, going to the gym, losing weight, getting fit and healthy. Eating well, reducing my drinking and being active 5-6 days a week (this doesn't involve the gym but being out and running or biking or throwing the rugby ball around count as active too) are things I am incorporating back into my life. No cable in the house, heck even no internet helps that too. Summer is the good time to bring all of these habits back and get ready for the fall/winter.
It is fitting the last day of unemployment is rainy. It was a rainy/snowy day the day I was furloughed, triggering the last six months of searching. I look forward to what the next few months and years bring, and I hope you all will join me on my journey through the discovery of Chicago and through the travels I take outside the city. Thank you all for reading my blog this week and stay tuned for more adventures. I am enjoying my last day of unemployment, reflecting, relaxing and preparing for the work week ahead.
With you always,
C
While it is not the most ideal situation, and I was depressed about being laid off, gained weight, etc; I feel that this was a way of me really being able to step back, access my life and see where i really wanted to go. The door was open, I could do whatever I wanted and I feel in the end landing the job at the City of Evanston was the best thing to happen thus far. I am able to have a career I can grow into while being able to take time to focus on me personally. The last nine years I was so concerned about getting the best grade or getting into the right program or finding the right job and then working as hard as I could at that job so that my career was set. Well that paid off for sure, I have had some amazing experiences in the last 9 years, but I never really took the time out for me. Focusing my life on health - both mentally and physically - and becoming better at my hobbies, namely rugby are what I want right now in my life. I will be able to accomplish this now. Yes I could of been doing all of this while I was laid off but lets be honest, my mind was racing on the uncertainty of my life and well I just kind of shut down and revert to comfort zones like ice cream and fast food when that happened.
So Monday is a new day a new era in my life. I have a new job a new apartment and a new attitude about my career and how it affects the way I live. I am returning to old habits, ones that I cultured in Denver, going to the gym, losing weight, getting fit and healthy. Eating well, reducing my drinking and being active 5-6 days a week (this doesn't involve the gym but being out and running or biking or throwing the rugby ball around count as active too) are things I am incorporating back into my life. No cable in the house, heck even no internet helps that too. Summer is the good time to bring all of these habits back and get ready for the fall/winter.
It is fitting the last day of unemployment is rainy. It was a rainy/snowy day the day I was furloughed, triggering the last six months of searching. I look forward to what the next few months and years bring, and I hope you all will join me on my journey through the discovery of Chicago and through the travels I take outside the city. Thank you all for reading my blog this week and stay tuned for more adventures. I am enjoying my last day of unemployment, reflecting, relaxing and preparing for the work week ahead.
With you always,
C
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Traveling for the Year
So I have spent the week talking up Chicago but I haven't really spent much time talking about what I plan to do for traveling for the year. Now that my new job is virtually zero travel, save for the occasional convention, my travel will be primarily for fun. 
With summer comes the biweekly road trip to Angola, Indiana to enjoy the sights and sounds of summer on Lake James. My family bought a condo along the
lake in 2002 and I only enjoyed this amenity for a short time before I moved off to denver for a period of 3 years. The lake is about a 3 hour drive from the Chicago area and is a great way to get aw
ay without breaking the bank for the weekend. Sun, boating, swimming, and eating good food are always on the agenda. If you want to tag along this year let me know!
Beyond that I have trips planned to Denver - sometime in july/august and then again when my good friend Christy has her baby! Usually these trips involve catching up with friends and hitting up my old haunts along Colfax Avenue. Again if anyone wants to join me on these excursions I would gladly be host, Denver is a great town to visit, even better if you know the local places to go! This trip I plan on going the Museum of Contemporary Art and walking around downtown looking at the new development that has been occurring. It's funny, when I moved to Denver it was the largest city I had ever lived in. I thought it was this amazing vibrant place (having previously lived in rural Indiana and then Muncie, Indiana for four years...). Now after living in Chicago for two years, I am struck at how vacant and small the city is. Everything in Denver seems, quiet. I like that about Denver though, it was so approachable when I first moved there and I grew into loving the city. I wonder how I would of fared if I moved to Chicago right after college...
Also on the books for the fall is a trip to Washington DC. I have frequent flier miles used for a ticket I purchased for the inauguration but couldn't get there due to funding issue (aka I got laid off.) So i plan to be in DC for the September 11th Holiday. I haven't been to DC in years, since I was a kid really. I am looking forward to seeing how DC has changed both in my mind and physically. I remember falling in love with the metro subway there as a kid. I would find reasons why we should use the system and my parents would oblige for the most part. It was thrilling! DC is where I started becoming a transit nerd.
That's all my travel plans for now, if I have the time and money I would like to get to Seattle to see my friend Dan, and a trip to LA to see my buddy JJ. We will see, gotta see how far my salary goes first after bills and such before I commit to trips.
Sunny and warm in Chicago today, enjoy your day!
With you,
C
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Rainy Days
Chicago isn't all sunshine and mild weather as I have been enjoying the past few days. We have days where the clouds don't go away and the rain (or snow) seems to be an endless drizzle. These days could make the toughest person just want to stay in their bed. I say we fight back! Chicago has some of the greatest indoor activities in the world. From world class art to an indoor oasis and an never ending parade of live entertainment, there is something to do on sunny and cloudy days in the city.
One of the greatest indoor activities is the Art Institute of Chicago. This expansive museum has grown over the years, but it is set to open it's newest wing this weekend. The Modern Wing, designed by famed architect Renzo Piano, will add 264,000 sqft of space to the Art Institute, adding nearly 30 percent more space to the facilities. This weekend is free! go stand in line and see it, I plan on stopping by myself to gawk at the art and the new building. What makes this an exciting addition is that it departs from traditional art museum structures in that it is drenched in glass allowing patrons to enjoy art in natural light as well as taking advantage of some spectacular views of the City of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Traditionally art museums have become these caves of collections, forbidding any natural light into their spaces for fear of ruining artwork. UV Rays are not friendly to art over time and to prevent any of this, architects have created solid fortresses banning any light at all entering the building save for some small spaces here and there. Piano solves this problem by creating a "flying carpet" structure seperate and floating above the glass box that now houses the modern collection of the Art Institute. This structure will shield direct rays of light from entering the building, thus protecting the millions upon millions of dollars of collectable art from being damaged.
I am excited to see this new wing, it will be a great departure from the traditional museum approach in that I wont feel like I am exiting a casino after an all night bender at the blackjack tables, squinting my eyes at the light, even on a cloudy day. I look forward to experiencing this new addition myself, and catching other parts of the museum that I have yet to get to.
Other rainy day activities:
Catch the new Oceanarium at Shedd Aquarium! Reopening May 23, the Oceanarium at Shedd is an amazing collection of dolphins, penguins, sea otters and beluga whales overlooking Lake Michigan. There is also an amazing collection of water creatures from around the world.
Head to the Field Museum. In their timely fashion, the Field Museum is showcasing Pirates right now...
One of the most popular museums in Chicago is the Science and Industry Museum I enjoy this building because it is the ONLY structure left from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the great planning and design experiment that jumpstarted the City Beautiful Movement in the United States. Highlights to this museum include the only German U boat captured during WWII and the Coal Mine.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is a great collection. The Building is tucked behind the Water Tower on the Mag Mile, one of the oldest structures in the City of Chicago that survived the Great Chicago Fire.
It's Wednesday today, so all of the shows in the Theater District are having Matinees. Visit Broadway in Chicago to get your tickets!
Lots to do, lots to choose from, lots to enjoy on days that are rainy and aren't the best for enjoying the outdoor Chicago. So even if you don't live in the city and happen to be visiting and it's raining, you now know there is a wealth of experiences out there that dont involve walking the streets and seeing the sights... just have to make it from your hotel to the cab to the entry of any of the indoor activities I have listed.
Enjoy today!
With you,
C
One of the greatest indoor activities is the Art Institute of Chicago. This expansive museum has grown over the years, but it is set to open it's newest wing this weekend. The Modern Wing, designed by famed architect Renzo Piano, will add 264,000 sqft of space to the Art Institute, adding nearly 30 percent more space to the facilities. This weekend is free! go stand in line and see it, I plan on stopping by myself to gawk at the art and the new building. What makes this an exciting addition is that it departs from traditional art museum structures in that it is drenched in glass allowing patrons to enjoy art in natural light as well as taking advantage of some spectacular views of the City of Chicago and Lake Michigan.
Traditionally art museums have become these caves of collections, forbidding any natural light into their spaces for fear of ruining artwork. UV Rays are not friendly to art over time and to prevent any of this, architects have created solid fortresses banning any light at all entering the building save for some small spaces here and there. Piano solves this problem by creating a "flying carpet" structure seperate and floating above the glass box that now houses the modern collection of the Art Institute. This structure will shield direct rays of light from entering the building, thus protecting the millions upon millions of dollars of collectable art from being damaged.
I am excited to see this new wing, it will be a great departure from the traditional museum approach in that I wont feel like I am exiting a casino after an all night bender at the blackjack tables, squinting my eyes at the light, even on a cloudy day. I look forward to experiencing this new addition myself, and catching other parts of the museum that I have yet to get to.
Other rainy day activities:
Catch the new Oceanarium at Shedd Aquarium! Reopening May 23, the Oceanarium at Shedd is an amazing collection of dolphins, penguins, sea otters and beluga whales overlooking Lake Michigan. There is also an amazing collection of water creatures from around the world.
Head to the Field Museum. In their timely fashion, the Field Museum is showcasing Pirates right now...
One of the most popular museums in Chicago is the Science and Industry Museum I enjoy this building because it is the ONLY structure left from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the great planning and design experiment that jumpstarted the City Beautiful Movement in the United States. Highlights to this museum include the only German U boat captured during WWII and the Coal Mine.
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago is a great collection. The Building is tucked behind the Water Tower on the Mag Mile, one of the oldest structures in the City of Chicago that survived the Great Chicago Fire.
It's Wednesday today, so all of the shows in the Theater District are having Matinees. Visit Broadway in Chicago to get your tickets!
Lots to do, lots to choose from, lots to enjoy on days that are rainy and aren't the best for enjoying the outdoor Chicago. So even if you don't live in the city and happen to be visiting and it's raining, you now know there is a wealth of experiences out there that dont involve walking the streets and seeing the sights... just have to make it from your hotel to the cab to the entry of any of the indoor activities I have listed.
Enjoy today!
With you,
C
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What the H*%L is an urban planner?!
Many of my friends have expressed their excitement and relief that I have finally obtained employment in the past week. However when they ask what my job is (General Planner for the City of Evanston), the first two questions I get are:
1. Where is Evanston?
2. What is a General Planner?
This might be a bit more boring blog than the past but I feel it's a great opportunity to help my friends and family understand what I do and why I have such great passion about. And a chance to learn something more about the Chicago Region!
To address Question 1.
Evanston, IL is a city of 75,000 people situated approximate 8 miles to the north of Chicago, Illinois. Evanston and Chicago share city boundaries and it is the first suburban city to the north of Chicago. Evanston has a great downtown with many new high rise condos and a new shopping district. The neighborhoods of Evanston are less dense than Chicago's but still are compact and urban in nature, what you would find in most small cities across the US. What I love about the city is that it is a suburban city in the truest sense but it still kept the urban grid and is continuing to develop itself as an alternate urban lifestyle than that of living in downtown Chicago which to many could seem overcrowded and too expensive.
Evanston is connected to the City of Chicago through Metra and the CTA El System's Purple Line. The Purple Line Express runs from Evanston to Belmont non-stop during rush hours affording residents of Evanston a quicker commute to the Loop. This affords ME the opportunity to commute to my new job via transit and I dont have to move closer to get there. I am a reverse commuter now. Emptier trains and seats aplenty I will get to travel in style compared to the cramped chaotic mess that is the southern trek to the Loop.
Evanston has some interesting aspects to it. It is the epicenter of the Prohibition Movement in the United States. This was thanks in part to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that was founded in Evanston in 1874. Evanston is also the main home to Northwestern University.
In short, my new job working for the City of Evanston will be exciting. How does a city that is landlocked and mostly built up develop in new and exciting ways for the 21st Century? How can we increase tax base without compromising quality of life for its current citizens? Are there ways to improve transit in the city? All kinds of new possibilities are out there and Im looking forward to the future.
On to Question 2, What the H*&L is an Urban Planner?
Lets first start with what the H&*L is urban planning? Urban planning deals with the built environment from the smallest project and smallest town all the way up to an entire state or nation. Planners help guide development in hopes to help cities understand their infrastructure needs for the future and to physically layout how a city will develop over time. In the Chicago region the most famous plan is the 1909 Plan of Chicago, developed by Evanston resident Daniel Burnham. This plan still shapes the City of Chicago today and gave us places like the Mag Mile, the Lakefront Trail, Congress Parkway and Notherly Island. Planners are visionaries, not in the sense they see and know the future, but they help try to determine the future of development. We had our missteps, Urban Renewal and the Federal Interstate System and Euclidean Zoning, some would say these were successful projects and theories, but modern planners are now having to deal with their long term effects on the urban spaces they invade and control.
Transit Oriented Developments, Urban Regeneration, Form Based Zoning, Traditional Neighborhood Developments, Smart Growth Strategies and Sustainable Communities are new development trends for planners of the 21st Century. We are striving to reconnect American society with itself after decades of seperate land use and segregation of neighbors from one another. The societal desire for these changes has led to a dramatic shift in the profession in previous years. Increases in gas prices, more concern for the environment, even obesity are factors that play into my profession.
How does a house or a development or a city affect someone's health? How does a city with all its cars and people and waste become more of an advocate for Mother Nature? These are just some of the issues and questions I will be dealing with as a planner for the City of Evanston. We are not the final designers or engineers but we help guide the development into what should be the right direction. Part sociologist part scientist part designer part analyst, a planner is someone to guide the built environment.
thanks for reading today's post, I know it is long winded and geeky but this is what I love about my job. It lets my inner geek come out and play!
Enjoy the day today guys, the weather in chicago is sunny and mildly warm, only a couple more weeks of this before the humid and 90 degree weather sets in!
With you,
C
1. Where is Evanston?
2. What is a General Planner?
This might be a bit more boring blog than the past but I feel it's a great opportunity to help my friends and family understand what I do and why I have such great passion about. And a chance to learn something more about the Chicago Region!
To address Question 1.
Evanston, IL is a city of 75,000 people situated approximate 8 miles to the north of Chicago, Illinois. Evanston and Chicago share city boundaries and it is the first suburban city to the north of Chicago. Evanston has a great downtown with many new high rise condos and a new shopping district. The neighborhoods of Evanston are less dense than Chicago's but still are compact and urban in nature, what you would find in most small cities across the US. What I love about the city is that it is a suburban city in the truest sense but it still kept the urban grid and is continuing to develop itself as an alternate urban lifestyle than that of living in downtown Chicago which to many could seem overcrowded and too expensive.
Evanston is connected to the City of Chicago through Metra and the CTA El System's Purple Line. The Purple Line Express runs from Evanston to Belmont non-stop during rush hours affording residents of Evanston a quicker commute to the Loop. This affords ME the opportunity to commute to my new job via transit and I dont have to move closer to get there. I am a reverse commuter now. Emptier trains and seats aplenty I will get to travel in style compared to the cramped chaotic mess that is the southern trek to the Loop.
Evanston has some interesting aspects to it. It is the epicenter of the Prohibition Movement in the United States. This was thanks in part to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that was founded in Evanston in 1874. Evanston is also the main home to Northwestern University.
In short, my new job working for the City of Evanston will be exciting. How does a city that is landlocked and mostly built up develop in new and exciting ways for the 21st Century? How can we increase tax base without compromising quality of life for its current citizens? Are there ways to improve transit in the city? All kinds of new possibilities are out there and Im looking forward to the future.
On to Question 2, What the H*&L is an Urban Planner?
Lets first start with what the H&*L is urban planning? Urban planning deals with the built environment from the smallest project and smallest town all the way up to an entire state or nation. Planners help guide development in hopes to help cities understand their infrastructure needs for the future and to physically layout how a city will develop over time. In the Chicago region the most famous plan is the 1909 Plan of Chicago, developed by Evanston resident Daniel Burnham. This plan still shapes the City of Chicago today and gave us places like the Mag Mile, the Lakefront Trail, Congress Parkway and Notherly Island. Planners are visionaries, not in the sense they see and know the future, but they help try to determine the future of development. We had our missteps, Urban Renewal and the Federal Interstate System and Euclidean Zoning, some would say these were successful projects and theories, but modern planners are now having to deal with their long term effects on the urban spaces they invade and control.
Transit Oriented Developments, Urban Regeneration, Form Based Zoning, Traditional Neighborhood Developments, Smart Growth Strategies and Sustainable Communities are new development trends for planners of the 21st Century. We are striving to reconnect American society with itself after decades of seperate land use and segregation of neighbors from one another. The societal desire for these changes has led to a dramatic shift in the profession in previous years. Increases in gas prices, more concern for the environment, even obesity are factors that play into my profession.
How does a house or a development or a city affect someone's health? How does a city with all its cars and people and waste become more of an advocate for Mother Nature? These are just some of the issues and questions I will be dealing with as a planner for the City of Evanston. We are not the final designers or engineers but we help guide the development into what should be the right direction. Part sociologist part scientist part designer part analyst, a planner is someone to guide the built environment.
thanks for reading today's post, I know it is long winded and geeky but this is what I love about my job. It lets my inner geek come out and play!
Enjoy the day today guys, the weather in chicago is sunny and mildly warm, only a couple more weeks of this before the humid and 90 degree weather sets in!
With you,
C
Monday, May 11, 2009
End of an Era.
Well I am happy to report, my forced vacation is coming to a close. On Monday May 7 around 5:21PM I got the news that I have been officially hired! I am now the General Planner for the City of Evanston. I will get into more details about my postion in the coming blog posts but I wanted to take this time to talk more about what this blog is going to be.
I started this blog when i worked for a private consulting firm that took me to various places around the United States. Said travel afforded me frequentl flier points which allowed me to travel to other destinations for pleasure. I love to travel, I love experiencing new places and people and sights and sounds. Now that my new job will require less travel it is up to my own time to seek out this hobby. Therefore, OTPIMG will be a blog not only about traveling but about the city that I call home and I love dearly, Chicago. Chicago, the Windy City, City of Broad Shoulders... City of Adventure?!? We shall see.
Spring in Chicago. Nothing evokes bigger smiles than those three words to winter weary Chicagoans. Gone are the 40mph winds and blowing snow and -12 degree days BEFORE the wind chill factor. Gone are the endless days of clouds and the dread of having to put on 12 layers to go outside to walk the dog. Yes Spring in Chicago is a life altering time. The Lakefront Trail that saw only the most dedicated runners and bikers during the winter sees the return of weekend and week night warriors back, jamming from end to end. Another Cubs season starts. Will this be the year? Many are hopeful, most are just wanting a good hot dog and cold beer and a winning day at the park.
Beaches are open, trees are in bloom, every sidewalk is crammed with people rushing to accomplish their daily tasks so that they can go soak in the bit of sunlight left in the ever longer days. Downtown, the Mag Mile is flush with flowers, even in this economy, enticing people to stroll, not sprint, past the stores and maybe buy an item or two. River boats are back schleping tourists around boasting our awesome buildings and amazing feats of engineering that is the Loop. Yes folks, spring is here and in full swing in Chicago.
What have I done for my adventures lately? Well to be honest, not much. I just got this new job, so my life has kind of rebooted, much like the city itself does every year during this time. I have a new apartment, which I will post pictures of soon. I have a new job, and I have a new lease on life. I enjoy my career as an urban planner and I hope to be the best urban planner for the City of Evanston in the coming years. It is my chance to shape a small city of 75,000 into a shining example of how suburban satellite cities can be just as exciting and urbane as the economic powerhouses they surround. That is my adventure right now folks, figuring this out. Stay tuned, more to come in the following days, I hope to post at least every other day while working but this week you will get a post every day.
With you always,
C
I started this blog when i worked for a private consulting firm that took me to various places around the United States. Said travel afforded me frequentl flier points which allowed me to travel to other destinations for pleasure. I love to travel, I love experiencing new places and people and sights and sounds. Now that my new job will require less travel it is up to my own time to seek out this hobby. Therefore, OTPIMG will be a blog not only about traveling but about the city that I call home and I love dearly, Chicago. Chicago, the Windy City, City of Broad Shoulders... City of Adventure?!? We shall see.
Spring in Chicago. Nothing evokes bigger smiles than those three words to winter weary Chicagoans. Gone are the 40mph winds and blowing snow and -12 degree days BEFORE the wind chill factor. Gone are the endless days of clouds and the dread of having to put on 12 layers to go outside to walk the dog. Yes Spring in Chicago is a life altering time. The Lakefront Trail that saw only the most dedicated runners and bikers during the winter sees the return of weekend and week night warriors back, jamming from end to end. Another Cubs season starts. Will this be the year? Many are hopeful, most are just wanting a good hot dog and cold beer and a winning day at the park.
Beaches are open, trees are in bloom, every sidewalk is crammed with people rushing to accomplish their daily tasks so that they can go soak in the bit of sunlight left in the ever longer days. Downtown, the Mag Mile is flush with flowers, even in this economy, enticing people to stroll, not sprint, past the stores and maybe buy an item or two. River boats are back schleping tourists around boasting our awesome buildings and amazing feats of engineering that is the Loop. Yes folks, spring is here and in full swing in Chicago.
What have I done for my adventures lately? Well to be honest, not much. I just got this new job, so my life has kind of rebooted, much like the city itself does every year during this time. I have a new apartment, which I will post pictures of soon. I have a new job, and I have a new lease on life. I enjoy my career as an urban planner and I hope to be the best urban planner for the City of Evanston in the coming years. It is my chance to shape a small city of 75,000 into a shining example of how suburban satellite cities can be just as exciting and urbane as the economic powerhouses they surround. That is my adventure right now folks, figuring this out. Stay tuned, more to come in the following days, I hope to post at least every other day while working but this week you will get a post every day.
With you always,
C
Monday, March 16, 2009
Oh the Places I Can't Go
It has been a while since I have written here. Last time I wrote I was enjoying a Chicago summer. And what a pleasant summer it was. I spent every other weekend going to the family lake house in Angola, Indiana and on the weekends in Chicago I would try to find something to do, not hard though, throw a stone there's a festival or a concert or a beach party.
Summer bled into fall and I was busy with work, slowing but still working heavily. Rugby had started back up and I was playing somewhat, but still had to travel here and there for projects. By the time rugby ended in late October my work started slowing down. Trips were being canceled and other projects were coming to an end with no other work in sight. My worst fears came true on the Monday after Thanksgiving. I was pulled into an office, told I would be furloughed for 90 days and then possibly laid off after that time.
Well cut to now. I am 96 days without a job, laid off and still applying for the few planning jobs out there in the US.
So here I am in Chicago. Lease is up May 1. I am moving back to Fort Wayne, Indiana to live with my parents until this economic crisis lifts and more jobs are available for urban planners. I hope that the Obama Administration puts more money into transit as promised, I'm ready to do my part!
Future posts will talk about my summer in and around Indiana as i will not be able to afford to travel much anywhere else until I find a new job. I wish my fellow unemployed friends out there the best of luck, lets all get to work in 09!
With you,
C
Summer bled into fall and I was busy with work, slowing but still working heavily. Rugby had started back up and I was playing somewhat, but still had to travel here and there for projects. By the time rugby ended in late October my work started slowing down. Trips were being canceled and other projects were coming to an end with no other work in sight. My worst fears came true on the Monday after Thanksgiving. I was pulled into an office, told I would be furloughed for 90 days and then possibly laid off after that time.
Well cut to now. I am 96 days without a job, laid off and still applying for the few planning jobs out there in the US.
So here I am in Chicago. Lease is up May 1. I am moving back to Fort Wayne, Indiana to live with my parents until this economic crisis lifts and more jobs are available for urban planners. I hope that the Obama Administration puts more money into transit as promised, I'm ready to do my part!
Future posts will talk about my summer in and around Indiana as i will not be able to afford to travel much anywhere else until I find a new job. I wish my fellow unemployed friends out there the best of luck, lets all get to work in 09!
With you,
C
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