Aaron M. Renn

All Things Aaron

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Press
  • Archives
    • By Date
    • By City
    • Podcasts
    • Reviews
    • Articles in Governing Magazine
    • Articles in the Guardian
    • Articles in City Journal
    • Articles in New Geography
  • Get Posts by RSS
  • Podcast

From Naptown to Super City

February 2, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

I have long touted the sports strategy that Indianapolis used to revitalize its downtown as a model for cities to follow in terms of strategy led economic and community development. I really think it sets the benchmark in terms of how to do it, and it has been very successful. Indy is hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday, something that is locally seen as a sort of crowning achievement of the 40 year sports journey. As part of that, the Indianapolis Star and public TV station WFYI produced an hour long documentary on the journey called "Naptown … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Demographics and Economic Development, Indianapolis

The Case for Quality of Space

January 26, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

Last November I was privileged to be able to speak at a community conversation event in Franklin, Indiana - a town of about 25,000 people south of Indianapolis that is an old county seat on the edge of suburban expansion - sponsored by Indiana Humanities and Ball State University's Bowen Center for Public Affairs. The topic of the evening was quality of space and what, if anything, Franklin should do in this area. There had recently been some big disputes over downtown redevelopment projects I believe. I gave a talk that set the stage for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Demographics and Economic Development, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Indiana’s Bridge Deal Boondoggle, Part 4 – A Better Plan

January 12, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

In the first three parts of this series, I discussed how Indiana so badly botched its negotiation with Kentucky on the Louisville bridges project that its share of the project went up by $200 million at the same time the total project declined in cost by $1.5 billion, how this will result in $432 million being drained out of regular highway funds to cover a resulting tolling gap, how tolling likely results in Indiana paying even more, and the significant risks Indiana has taken on by agreeing to build a tunnel in Kentucky. Amazing as it sounds, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Louisville, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Indiana’s Bridge Deal Boondoggle, Part 3 – INDOT’s Mini-Big Dig

January 11, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

In previous installments in this series I highlighted how Indiana managed to increase its share of the Louisville bridges project by $200 million even as it bragged that the total price tag had gone down by $1.5 billion, how this led directly to Indiana having to allocate $432 million in regular highway funds to the project, and how tolling puts Indiana at significant risk of paying an even greater share of the project. Today I'll highlight how Indiana is stepping into a potential quagmire by agreeing to take responsibility for building a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Louisville, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Indiana’s Bridge Deal Boondoggle, Part 2: Hoosiers to Pay Even More With Tolling

January 10, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

In part one of this series I examined how Indiana managed to give away $1.7 billion to the state of Kentucky in renegotiating the project cost split for the Ohio River Bridges Project at Louisville. Despite a series of scope changes that reduced total cost by $1.5 billion, Indiana's share of the cost actually went up by nearly $200 million. Some might object that the project cost split is essentially meaningless because the project will be funded via tolling in a public-private partnership like the Toll Road deal. Unfortunately, this is not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Louisville, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Indiana’s Bridge Deal Boondoggle, Part 1: A Financial Fiasco

January 9, 2012 By Aaron M. Renn

- Indiana gives away $1.7 billion to Kentucky - - Indiana's costs up by $200 million while total project costs decline by $1.5 billion - - $432 million diverted from other projects to close funding gap recreated by Indiana's botched negotiators - - Tolling likely to mean Indiana pays well over half the project - - Indiana potentially exposed to major risk by agreeing to build a tunnel in Kentucky through Louisville's most affluent suburb that the state has no expertise to construct -I've noted before how the Indiana Toll Road lease was a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Louisville, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Review: Urbanized – A Film by Gary Hustwit

November 6, 2011 By Aaron M. Renn

Urbanized is the third entry in Gary Hustwit's so-called "Design Trilogy," the first of which was Helvetica (which I saw and enjoyed greatly) and Objectified (which I have not yet seen). Because I liked Helvetica so much and because of the hype surrounding this film in the urbanist community, I was really looking forward to seeing it. Alas, Urbanized turned out to be a disappointment. This is a weak film that did not in my view measure up to Helvetica. Here are a few reasons why. 1. No narrative or thematic coherence. Urbanized consists of a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Planning, Transport, and Environment

The Gated City

October 9, 2011 By Aaron M. Renn

Update: Ryan posted a reply to some of the points I raise here. It's definitely worth reading. The Gated City is a mini-ebook by Ryan Avent that makes the case for removing restrictions on densification in cities. In addition to being a left-leaning economist, Avent is also a journalist who is an editor at the Economist magazine and a principal contributor to its Free Exchange blog. Avent's journalism skills make him one of the more articulate and easy to read economists out there. This book brings Avent's signature readability to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Planning, Transport, and Environment

The Cost of Congestion, The Value of Transit

October 6, 2011 By Aaron M. Renn

Last week the Texas Transportation Institute released the 2011 edition of its benchmark Urban Mobility Report. It is packed full of useful statistics about roadway networks, congestion, and public transit, though is not without its critics (see below). I'd like to highlight some of the more interesting findings out of this. The Value of Transit One of the values TTI estimates is the number of additional hours of delay each peak hour commuter would incur annual if public transportation were discontinued. In effect, this is one key benefit to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Planning, Transport, and Environment

Globalization and the Airport

October 2, 2011 By Aaron M. Renn

I had originally planned to position this as a day late and dollar short review of Greg Lindsay's book Aerotropolis: The Way We'll Live Next. Yet I think in a way the title misleads. The word "aerotropolis" conjures up dull visions of depressing airport development, security lines, and power points at conferences. But what Lindsay has done with this book is really something much bigger: He has told the story of globalization as seen through the lens of the airport. Because of that, the book isn't entirely convincing. Air travel and shipping … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Planning, Transport, and Environment

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • …
  • 32
  • Next Page »

Get my eBook The Urban State of Mind for your Kindle from Amazon.

About Aaron M. Renn


 
Aaron M. Renn is an opinion-leading urban analyst, consultant, speaker, and writer on a mission to help America’s cities and people thrive and find real success in the 21st century. (Photo Credit: Daniel Axler)
 
Email: aaron@aaronrenn.com
Full Bio

Trending Posts

  • A Manifesto Against Completing Sagrada Famí­lia Church
  • Ten Things You Need to Know About Indianapolis City Culture
  • In Case You've Forgotten How Badly Freeways Damaged Our Cities, Cincinnati Edition
  • Global City Framework
  • Next American Suburb: Carmel, Indiana

Disclosures

Links on this site may contain embedded “affiliate codes.” Purchases made through these links may result in a payment to me.
 
Header design by Carl Wohlt.
Header images via Shutterstock.

Copyright © 2006-2020 Urbanophile, LLC, All Rights Reserved - Click here for copyright information and disclosures