I ran across this interesting website with some food for thought about redeveloping downtowns.
Lots of reading, some of it more applicable than others, but a lot of thinking points as Wichita begins a goals discussion for its downtown.
Commercial construction is now following residential construction into the tank, at least nationally, according to the Associated General Contractors:
“Construction spending passed a somber milestone today according to new February 2009 data released today by the Census Bureau. The 0.2 percent decline over last year in private nonresidential construction is the first time monthly spending has declined for two straight months year-over-year since 2003. Unfortunately this decline in construction activity is likely to accelerate for the foreseeable future. While the recently enacted stimulus should lead to needed increases in public construction spending that will be little solace for tens of thousands of construction workers that rely on private construction activity to earn their livelihood.
It was a little wacky, to say the least, to see Go Wichita chief John Rolfe and Carlos O’Kelly’s official Jon Rolph sitting next to each other Tuesday morning at a downtown revitalization steering committee meeting at City Hall.
Rolfe, the city’s tourism chief, delivered an impressive mission statement on a strong core downtown’s value to local tourism.
Then, Rolph brought the house down with his reply:
“Ditto.”
The Charlotte Observer has a story this morning about how April is a key month for Bank of America chief executive Ken Lewis.
Not only does this month mark Lewis’ eight year at the helm of the country’s biggest bank — and the Wichita area’s second biggest by market share — but also whether or not the proof will be there to back up his claims that 2009 will be a profitable year for the bank.
Lewis also is facing pressure by some shareholders to resign his post.