They put a restaurant in a roofless building
I created the Tour of Empty Buildings ten years ago, in 2013. There have been many towns that ran with the idea and host tours too. Natchez, MS, Danville, KY, Jefferson, IA, Oglesby,Il are just a few of them. The Texas Historical Commission has been hosting Imagine The Possibilities Tour in small towns state wide…
Steal all the ideas
As you travel, locally or further, take a look at what other communities are doing to create ways for people to remember them (placemaking.) In Gulfport where I live, the Port Authority lights up the port with the colors of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is kind of a big deal down here. Where could you…
Most of us are just curious (snoopy) by nature
Ten years ago I made up the Tour of Empty Buildings. I had moved to a town with 14 empty buildings downtown and was the new Chamber of Commerce Director. I knew it would be my job to fill those buildings. But how? I wanted to know what was in those buildings, what had been…
Looking for the easy way?
Aren’t we all looking for the easy way to get things done? One of the great things about the Idea Friendly Method is it is the Easy Way! The old way of doing things, the piles of paperwork, the endless committee meetings, the heavy decisions that need to be made – is no longer the…
Fishbone Alley Gulfport Mississippi
Hurricane Katrina damaged downtown Gulfport, Mississippi in 2005. During restoration they found brick pavers under the asphalt. These were used in 1908 to build their streets. In 2016 those pavers were used in an economic development project called Fishbone Alley. Local artists have created a visual delight as you walk down the alley. This is…
Is your town age friendly and accessible?
I recently traveled with my friend who uses a scooter to get around. There were so many curbs that she couldn’t climb over, so many buses she couldn’t get on, and so many paths she couldn’t follow. The locals were great. They helped with a lot of lifting and finding other things to do that…
Let go of control the Idea Friendly Way
I get it. Everything is coming at you at once. Trying to prioritize becomes an exercise in futility. You’ve lost your grip on being in control. Stop. Breathe. Realize that you don’t have to be in charge. In fact, being in charge and in control is a demon of the past, part of the old…
Have you shared your rural challenges on our survey yet?
What challenges do you face in your community and business? SaveYour.Town (Becky McCray and I) have had over 1400 people have share their rural challenges with us since 2015. With all the change we’ve been through, have your priorities changed? We’d like your help to get an updated view of the challenges to your community…
The Tour of Empty Buildings Long Story
I’d like to share the story of one town that suffered a huge economic blow, then kind of got stuck at the bottom, and how they got out. This is Webster City, Iowa, Population about 8,000. It was home to a factory that at its peak employed over 2,000 workers. In 2009, the corporation announced…
Small steps for downtown placemaking
My friend has written a grant for funding to re-do the bump outs in our downtown as part of a placemaking project. There will be trees to help cool down the area. They hope to have bicycle racks specially designed as art. Then another friend told me about a small town in Missouri that painted…