Writing
Insights
Practical perspectives on running Florida communities — downtown redevelopment, Main Street, economic development, and the elected commitment that gets things done.
- Downtown RedevelopmentJune 1, 2026· 4 min read
Downtown Redevelopment: A Field Guide for Florida Communities
After nearly 30 years reviving Florida downtowns, here is how the pieces fit together — Main Street as economic development, the buildings as a community asset, and the elected commitment that makes it all happen.
Read - Community RedevelopmentMay 28, 2026· 5 min read
Starting — or Reviving — a Main Street Program: The Critical Elements
Standing up a downtown organization from scratch is a different animal than restarting one that has gone quiet. Here is what I have learned about each — being honest about why programs die, leading with organization, finding champions, and rebuilding the city partnership on purpose.
Read - Community RedevelopmentMay 1, 2026· 7 min read
You Have the Downtown Your Elected Officials Are Committed To
A provocative lens for any community serious about its downtown: if you want to know what your leaders are truly committed to, look at what you already have — and at the hidden 'shoulds' running the show.
Read - Community RedevelopmentApril 9, 2026· 8 min read
A New Context for Downtown Buildings
Our historic downtown buildings are a community asset, even when they're privately owned. Shifting the context we view them through can open up possibilities that the old approach never will.
Read - Economic DevelopmentMarch 12, 2026· 7 min read
Everything Your Main Street Organization Does Is Economic Development
After nearly 30 years in and around the Main Street movement, here is why an independent Main Street organization is one of the best economic-development investments a city can make.
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