There’s a funny thing happening with this site. It’s slowly turning into an urban planning blog. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’m trying to do. Don’t get me wrong - I love planning blogs. There are some great ones here, here and here. What makes them great? They’re written by planners! Here - not so much. The only way to get the blog on track is content from those doing the developing.
I have a number of developer interviews in the pipeline, and I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to share and dialogue. That said, there’s still a hesitancy from some to participate. I don’t blame them - but rather than sending the same two page email, pitching the idea and why it’d be great for them to write a post - I figure I’d just list the top reasons for a developer to get involved at C’villeDevelopment.com:
1. Be your voice - Don’t assume that by not talking, you and your projects won’t be talked about. You might as well have a seat at the table. If you wait to give your side of the story in a press release - it’s too late.
2. Gain credibility - The community would like the opportunity to hear your thoughts on best practices, when those best practices aren’t directly involved in your bottom line. If you wait until you have an iron in the fire, you lose some credibility.
3. Influence future development - If you speak openly and honestly, people will listen. People will comment. People will invest in what you have to say. No investment = No influence.
4. Learn something - not from me. but from someone. I can’t predict what you’ll learn, but the more you put into sharing the more people will put into responding.
5. Become an expert - knowledge and experience do not make you an expert. Other people referring to your expertise does. If you don’t share the knowledge - you’re only and expert in your own head. Maybe you know more about condo conversions than anyone else… maybe you’ve done historic preservation projects. The world won’t know unless you share.
6. Fail safely - do you know how the public feels about certain types of development? Would you rather find out here or at your SUP hearing? Worst case here: someone writes a comment. Worst case there: back to the drawing board.
7. Be the first mover - there’s an advantage to being in front of the curve. In the past, that meant having information others didn’t and leveraging it for profit. Now, information comes easily and can’t be contained. New profit areas will be centered on leading, teaching and connecting people. How do you expect to be a silo during the planning process and then connect with your customers during the sales process? Start connecting now.
8. Get Free Marketing - Only cost to you is your time, honesty and openness.
9. Reap the intangibles - an idea posted could end up anywhere. What might this exposure bring? For Chris Schooley, it was contact from the USGBC days after his article. For you, who knows. But if you don’t post, you’ll never find out.
10. Take a stand - people mistrust when you don’t take a stand. After you’ve made the stand - people like or dislike you. If you’re a developer, worry about being mistrusted not about being disliked.
Are you developer with an idea for a post? Contact me.
3 Comments
Brant,
I think the interesting part here is that you said this is becoming an urban planning blog and not a development blog. I would actually argue that what you are reading is that the parties in Charlottesville that are interested in the future of development happen to be folks with a good grasp of the role that we would like to see development play in urban planning. However, not a lot of developers spending that much time here because they are still working their projects with the rules and regulations of Char. and Alb. Neither of these areas has really made development easy for anyone who wants to shape a new model. The DISC report from Albemarle from 2000ish is a far cry from the Neighborhood model that arrived in the Comprehensive Plan. All the right steps, little of the philosophy to guide it.
Keith,
Timely comments - “…regulations of Char. and Alb. Neither of these areas has really made development easy for anyone who wants to shape a new model.” I just finished conversing with a developer who echoed this sentiment.
As for the planning discussion - I think one of the emerging trends in development is the heavier integration between the fields of architecture and urban planning with real estate development. As little as 10 years ago - it was actually frowned upon in architecture to be associated with a development firm. Now many planners and architects have this as part of their practice. I love the planing discussions - I just hope the prime mover of discussion here can be content from developers. Only because I see a huge void there. We’ll see what happens!
Brant:
I’d be interested in a cup of coffee. I follow the blog, it’s interesting, and I agree it certainly doesn’t seem to be doing what you originally envisioned.
I am a developer. I am busy, but for me, the issues are managing my online reputation and trying not to get sucked in so that blogging is my life. I might engage on a smaller scope discussion — not all of Belvedere, but what do you like (i.e., LEED, pocket parks) or what you don’t like (e.g., massive clearing). But if you take the latter, not sure everyone believes that the NMD necessitates massive clearing in order to create small, rear loaded lots on a gridded network of streets. Will the people that disagree kill my online reputation or engage? I have discussed this problem in a number of public venues, why here too? Why on a project I wasn’t involved in?
LEED. In my opinion, good design is good design, with or without a certification.
I don’t see using this as a venue for testing the waters or collaborative design.
But my biggest fear is getting sucked into this full time. I am not prepared to dedicate what I think is required to actively participate. I am a strong supporter of educating the public on issues and I spend a lot of time in townhall meetings to make sure people understand what I propose and why. We certainly have different goals, at times, but I would prefer to discuss them with a public that is educated on the regulations that we follow as well as the rules-of-thumb that we use to design.
So, happy to participate. Would prefer a nice conversation over a cup of coffee, but I am trying to warm up to the idea of blogging.