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Here's the Community News You Requested October 23, 2025 |
Please visit A Good Community: Making and Keeping One. Specifically, this month check out pages on community development ideas, winter newsletter ideas, conflict resolution in neighborhood associations, general principles of code enforcement, or whatever else tickles your fancy.
We call this making the most of what you've got. As some point this summer, I found myself in Hamilton, Missouri, wondering at the collection of textile-related shops dominating the main street and delighting in the murals. Even if your city is not the boyhood home of J.C. Penney, you must have something to celebrate! Find it, and make the most of it, finishing the hem by adding another theme carried out at scale. Don't tell me your community is dead, and you can't do anything about it. I don't believe it for a minute.
Since our last email, we published a new page about ugly utility lines, including some criteria to decide whether the expense and aggravation of moving them underground is worthwhile. I used to be "all in" on this process, but now I think it's worth questioning what you are trying to accomplish.
Another new page is an answer to a website visitor's question about the terminology used to describe various signs in his city's zoning ordinance. This page, especially geared toward plan commissioners and city councilpersons, is full of pictures to give you points to ponder locally.
Also I answered a visitor question about how to
replace a bad planning commissioner. Complicating the problem is the fact that the person who asked the question is a developer!
It's worth reading about how new or reimagined downtown libraries can actually anchor downtowns, since department stores don't do that these days. This article is in the engaging and brief storymap format; if you aren't familiar with that, take a look, if only to learn about the creativity this ArcGIS product affords. (See a basic orientation to creating a simple storymap using a free account.
Read about a wonderful effort to create recreational, cultural, and open spaces near the Erie Canal in upstate New York. This article describes projects to program events and create attractive green spaces that respond to local economic
development needs and reinforce local self-identities. I want to note that despite all this optimism, long-term success will require some repairs of the basic infrastructure, to put it mildly.
I appreciated an opinion article from "The Hill" about why the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, should it become law, is mostly a bad deal for Republicans. I want you to read this article whether you're a Republican or not, though, because it will introduce you to some of the contents of this important and potentially helpful act, which now is stalled.
Resident ownership in mobile home parks is now becoming a thing, if you aren't aware of that. Since mobile homes are an important housing source for many lower income and rural folks, this can be an important development. Read about an "intermediary" organization working to make it happen.
If you are involved in local government in any capacity, as a volunteer or staff member, see this good summary of some current opinion research on how people see government. It gives insights into both polarization and the large plurality of residents that see local government in a more positive light than the national government. Go forth and be encouraged.
The next regular issue of Good Community Plus will arrive on a Thursday in November. Reply to this email if you have a comment about this email. For questions, remember to use the public-facing page to ask your question. I will answer them on a page that becomes viewable on our website, but your email address won't show. You can be anonymous if you wish.
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