Roanoke’s Green Reputation is at best Embattled
In honor of the Green Issue, let’s take an honest look at Roanoke in context. There are hundreds of “green city” surveys out there. All of them use some form of scoring system that weighs everything from air quality to public policy. However, there isn’t really an official “greenest city.” Read more
Highest and Best Use in Downtown Roanoke
Everyone’s talking about downtown development. From the new flats popping up, to new restaurants, Roanoke’s downtown is experiencing what a lot of urban areas have already seen. Investors are snapping up property on the fringes of downtown and extending the walkable neighborhood. Read more
Actually, it’s pretty easy to be Green
Since this column started, the most-read article in the archive is from May 2007, entitled “Now Entering Virginia’s Green Technology Corridor.” Ten years before the article was published, our region was designated “Virginia’s Technology Corridor.” Read more
Attracting the Not-So-Young Professional
We talk a lot about young professionals in Roanoke. For young professionals, a job is everything. It’s a stepping stone to the next career move. It’s an income to get some cash in the bank. Read more
Can the Creative Class Rise in Roanoke?
Almost two years ago, this column referenced Richard Florida and his book The Rise of the Creative Class. Since then, he has published another bestseller, Who’s Your City?. He has also developed a robust consultancy called the Creative Class Group. Read more
Roanoke’s Social Graph
About 270,000 people live in the Roanoke area. You can find 63,603 of them on facebook. That would mean that about one in four people in Roanoke has, at a minimum, some degree of computer literacy and awareness of social networking. Read more
Take the interstate, while it’s being offered.
Before Eisenhower got the interstate highway system rolling, the United States were not that united. Imagine driving from here to California on a road like Route 11. Less than 50 years ago, that was the only option. Read more
Share the ideas that lead to wealth.
It’s interesting the themes that are gripping our politics in these post-election times. We’re talking about a transportation industry that needs to be reinvented. There’s talk of a new deal on the horizon that will create millions of jobs in the green energy sector. Read more
The Power of Positive Certainty
By the time you read this, the election will be over. A huge question mark that’s been hanging over our heads for what seems like two years will be gone. Joe the Plumber will be back to business as usual, having a Busch beer at the local bar in Ohio. Read more
Pass the torch before it burns your fingers
Succession planning is something that every business has to grapple with unless the founder has an exit strategy to sell out before the heirs have a chance to fight over everything. But what about communities?
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