I'm not a planner, but some days when I'm testing yet another piece of software, I swear I'll go back to school and switch professions. But before I dive in and get another degree, I figure I'd better find out what the water's like first. That's mainly why I'm here, though I hope to make an occasional contribution in the process.
Despite my current techie bent, I have a B.Arch degree and did my thesis on a urban-scale project in Cd. Juarez, Mexico. But then I veered off, got an MIM (master of international management) degree, went into consulting and ended up in IT. What a long, strange trip it's been.
What has really stirred up my interest in planning, though, is that I recently designed and built my own home in an area of downtown Indianapolis that's undergoing the process of revitalization. It was a really cool opportunity...the neighborhood basically took it upon themselves to develop an edge that had long been neglected. Originally they tried to get funds to rehab an isolated house, but the bank said no because the area was too precarious. So they decided a critical mass of properties were needed, and eventually made it happen. I happened into it just as the lots were made available for sale.
If you want to check it out, here's some info on the project, and some pics of my house, too.
http://www.kibi.org/monumental/Old_Northside.htm
http://www.theoldnorthside.org/onsf.html
http://photos.thesapps.com/thehouse
Despite my current techie bent, I have a B.Arch degree and did my thesis on a urban-scale project in Cd. Juarez, Mexico. But then I veered off, got an MIM (master of international management) degree, went into consulting and ended up in IT. What a long, strange trip it's been.
What has really stirred up my interest in planning, though, is that I recently designed and built my own home in an area of downtown Indianapolis that's undergoing the process of revitalization. It was a really cool opportunity...the neighborhood basically took it upon themselves to develop an edge that had long been neglected. Originally they tried to get funds to rehab an isolated house, but the bank said no because the area was too precarious. So they decided a critical mass of properties were needed, and eventually made it happen. I happened into it just as the lots were made available for sale.
If you want to check it out, here's some info on the project, and some pics of my house, too.
http://www.kibi.org/monumental/Old_Northside.htm
http://www.theoldnorthside.org/onsf.html
http://photos.thesapps.com/thehouse