Why Pioneer Square is a Better Fit for the Creative Economy than South Lake Union
Why old work districts fit the needs of new creative workers better than the sleek tech zones such as South Lake Union. One reason: small ...
In Seattle’s Tech Suburbs, Kroger Will Have a Near-Monopoly in Conventional Supermarkets
The country's two largest supermarket chains want to merge, which would locally combine Safeway, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, and QFC. Kroger would own 26 of the ...
Downtown Portland’s Recovery Is Now Up To Its Citizens
Last week my post about the need for leadership in bringing back downtown went viral, prompting the head of the City's economic development authority, Prosper ...
A Bloomberg Business Article That Gets It All Wrong About Urban Economic Development
This article talks about fusing business recruitment and tourism to draw new residents, especially with cash bonuses. As if a talented person would move to ...
For Younger Workers, This Article Notes Face-to-Face Work Brings Familiarity, Mentoring, and a Gain in Productivity
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/remote-work-feedback.html
Tourism is Now Downtown Seattle’s Primary Retail Anchor
I prepared the map below after biking downtown. Red shows occupied retail space, which is probably 1/3 to 1/2 pre-Covid. Total sales volumes are probably ...
“I Have Something Going On For Which I’ll Need to Postpone Our Meeting…”
From an April 2023 presentation by Nick Bloom of Stanford, one of the leading work-from-home experts.
Potential Students Are Voting With Their Feet
My work in industrial revitalization found that community colleges avoid industry-specific certification programs because they get more state funding the longer those students sit in ...
The Real Problem Is the Ineffectiveness of Planning
In my neighborhood on South Bainbridge Island, neighbors are already organizing to fight state-mandated infill, and they are right to be fearful of new plans. ...
The Biggest Problem In Downtown Portland Isn’t Homelessness or Drugs, But Leadership
As a fourth-generation Oregonian, I love downtown Portland, and when I was in town yesterday I spent three hours walking from the Civic Auditorium on ...