If You Know Where You Are Going . . .
. . . it's easier to get there. Does New Albany have a plan?
Take a look at the Asheville, NC city website and make sure to read the Strategic Operating Plan (select it from the drop-down menu under "Featuring"). Asheville has a comphrensive plan that includes funding for small business development among other things.
http://www.ci.asheville.nc.us
Take a look at the Asheville, NC city website and make sure to read the Strategic Operating Plan (select it from the drop-down menu under "Featuring"). Asheville has a comphrensive plan that includes funding for small business development among other things.
http://www.ci.asheville.nc.us
posted by na girl | 11:41 PM
9 Comments:
NA Girl here is the skinny on a city of 68889 that has a decisive plan for what direction they want to head in. We have stooped through Asheville many times enroute to our son's place in Charleston,SC and have watched how Asheville has morphed over the last few years. Yes, they take advantage of being next to I-40 and I-26 but the downtown is well removed away from each, but yet they have percivered with their downtown, instead of turning a blindseye and watching it decay and die. http://asheville.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm
Edward,
Thanks for the Asheville website. It is exactly the kind of information that we should be looking at.
Ah, but, Kevin.
I'm from that region and I'd have to say I visited Biltmore about once for every ten times I visited Asheville, more than 100 miles away from my home. Granted, driving THROUGH the mountains is nice, and the fall color change brings many overnighters, but downtown Asheville is, itself, a tourist draw while still maintaining its commercial character.
Your point is well taken, though. I think NA Girl and Ed are more impressed with the strategic plan itself more than the particular elements of the Asheville renaissance. So am I. Would that the vision and consensus that city built could come here.
Just wanted to note that the point of this post was that New Albany needs a strategic plan. I am not suggesting that we attempt to create a mountain range, build a really big mansion, or that we adopt Asheville's plan. I am JUST suggesting that we look at Asheville's strategic plan as a model for a plan of our own.
Something that has occurred to me while exploring Portland is the extent to which New Albany has become utterly divorced from its riverport origins. Everything about Portland, Maine, points to the ocean and the human endeavors connected to the ocean.
At least a portion of Louisville's recent redevelopment success surely must be owed to rediscovering its river.
Funny that Louisville has its own Portland ... and Portland has its own museum, and if I recall, that museum has much content pertaining to the river.
Not sure what any of this means; just thinking aloud.
Yes, New Albanian. Yes. As a newcomer, I'm constantly told about the rich heritage of river commerce and shipbuilding, but without a birds-eye view, you'd think the river were just a barrier to reaching Louisville, not the once and future lifeblood of the city.
Brandon's exactly on track with his comments about IUS graphic design students. I work in IT at IUS and recently helped a faculty member complete a proposal to create a student-run design center on campus.
Essentially, students in graphic design, writing, and advertising tracks would intern in the center for academic credit doing pro bono design work for local non-profits.
The organizations would benefit from expertise they normally couldn't afford, the students would get practical experience working with real clients and a chance to grow their portfolios, and IUS would have the opportunity to prove itself a positive force in regional development.
The proposal is one of many being considered and may or may not receive funding. I'll keep everyone posted as I'm able. If you want more details about the design center and other proposals, shoot me an email.
The Portland/NA connection is an interesting one. I've often thought that NA should explore the possiblities of forming some type of partnership with our friends directly across the river. They share much of our heritage and some common problems, including the need for redevelopment.
A ride on an authentic ferry could connect spots of interest on both sides and be an attraction itself.
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