Chris Hwang’s Post

San Francisco's downtown has taken a hard hit since the pandemic, with small businesses bearing the brunt. Enter the city’s bold "Vacant to Vibrant" program, designed to breathe new life into this once-active area by offering free rent to cafés, shops, and other businesses. Downtowns are the heartbeat of urban life, driving economic growth, and serving as hubs for people to work, play, and connect. In every city and town where Ichor has presence, we see how much a local downtown matters to the well-being of communities, even the ones that are based in suburbs. San Francisco’s initiative underscores the power of community engagement and the transformative potential when local government and businesses join forces. This program isn’t just about revitalizing downtown San Francisco—it’s about creating a fertile ground for local entrepreneurship and setting the stage for a resilient, dynamic urban future. Other cities across the country should take note and follow suit, so we can revitalize our communities and help small businesses flourish again.

Growing up in a small town was incredible, but between my wife and me, we have had the opportunity to live in several of the country's "great" big cities as well, before settling in #Cincinnati. We have amazing memories and experiences from each of them, including our oldest being born in California, but we proactively chose to stay in Cincinnati to build a business and raise our family. Many cities like Cincinnati across the country, whether small or medium sized, are also "great". Incredible innovation, culture, arts, restaurants, universities, pro sports (football, baseball, and soccer) and most importantly close access to it all; with a wildly supportive, collaborative, and growth minded/entrepreneurial community. You no longer need to live in a big city to have access to those things, or need to live in the city at all, as the #suburban amenities have changed drastically as well. Our investing reflects this perspective and experience as we seek out "great" markets (of all sizes), #submarkets, and nodes with tailwinds to invest in throughout the US. #Cincinnatibased #greatmarkets

🌟 A Visionary Call for Partnership in Williamson County 🌟 #HauntedTexas | #CommunityDevelopment | #InnovationMeetsHeritage As we embrace the technological renaissance in Williamson County, fueled by giants like Samsung, we at Haunted Texas are forging a path that honors our past and welcomes our future. 🔍 We’re Seeking a Land Partner We’re on the lookout for more than just land; we’re seeking a partnership steeped in shared values and a vision for legacy. A partner who sees beyond the acreage to the potential of what we can build together – a landmark that intertwines African-American history, cultural prosperity, and the well-being of our community. We were hoping for at least 100 acres with 65 of that being the park and the rest being residential and commercial developments around the park. 🚀 Our Mission Haunted Texas is not just an amusement park. It’s a catalyst for minority-owned businesses, aiming to scale 100 entrepreneurs to unprecedented heights in Williamson County, near Taylor. It’s about creating a vibrant hub where retail and culture aren’t just present; they thrive. 💡 Why Now? Why Taylor? The answer is simple: opportunity. With the economic boom led by tech advancements, our chosen location near Taylor is ripe for a transformation that aligns with the CHIPS for America program’s vision and the rich tapestry of our community’s heritage. ✨ Join Us This is more than a call for investment; it’s an invitation to become part of a story that will be told for generations. We stand ready to create an experience that educates, entertains, and enriches. Not only will we make sure you are paid for your land, but we would like to bless your family for generations to come and our hope is that one day we will be just as great, as if not greater than Disney. If you share our passion for creating a space that celebrates our collective history and fuels economic inclusivity, we want to hear from you. Let’s build this future together. 🤝 #PartnershipOpportunity | #EconomicGrowth | #CulturalPreservation

What story is being sold about Denver? Ednium started the Denver Deep Dive because we learned that alumni weren’t aware or have access to the systems that help run our city. For nine months, we engaged with the community and learned how Denver's systems are interconnected. The Denver Deep Dive stood out by taking participants to unique city locations: The Denver City & County Building, Comal Heritage (a local food incubator), the CSU Spur Campus, Moline at Stapleton Apartments (an affordable housing community), the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Building, Manual High School, and Gary Community Ventures. We covered nine topics: 1️⃣ Denver’s History  2️⃣ Education 3️⃣ Economic Development 4️⃣ Housing 5️⃣ Environment 6️⃣ Transportation  7️⃣ Gastronomy 8️⃣ City Politics 9️⃣ Arts & Culture We learned the importance of curiosity and looking beyond the surface of the stories about Denver. Before the modern Denver we know today, indigenous people lived on this land. The phrase, “We did not cross the border, the border crossed us,” reflects how people became Americans overnight by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War. In our city politics session we discovered the feedback gap between community needs and the people whose job it is to address and solve those needs. In our housing session, it was shocking to hear that originally HOAs were created to upkeep the image of a residential community. City residents are legally obligated to pay HOA dues, but overtime HOAs have become a burdensome fee rather than providing tangible value to residents. We also learned that affordable housing can be built to match the quality of other apartment complexes. Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Denver Deep Dive. Your curiosity made this program a success! Thank you to all the guest speakers for sharing valuable lessons. We envision a future where homegrown talent holds leadership roles throughout the city. With the Denver Deep Dive, we are one step closer to that future. #EdniumAlumni #EducationLeadership #HomegrownTalent  #HomegrownAwards 

Check out this new series in Buffalo Business First - Buffalo Unlocked - that takes a look at the WNY region, what's working and what NEEDS work!

"Every Bro down in Broville liked Cities a lot But the Farmers, who lived near Broville, did not!" Jeff sent me a great podcast yesterday and I wanted to reflect on it. I encourage you to listen to it: https://lnkd.in/eAD8aZYz The TLDL; is that an LLC established in Delaware bought up a LOT of farmland in a rural county in California. There was a lot of speculation about WHY this land was being purchased (was this land for farming, was it a non-US organization buying with the intent to spy on Americans (an Air Force base is adjacent to this gigantic plot). A journalist finds out that (in fact) this LLC is backed by billionaires, and the intention is to build a new city on the farmlands. California has an affordable housing problem (duh) but the lack of political will to fix the system is part of the rationale for building an entire new city. It was postulated that this group of billionaires would rather fight court battles with farmers out in the country than try to shift politics in existing Californian cities to demand more housing builds. Some of my general takeaways after reflecting on this podcast: - "Can" a group of billionaires with extensive resources build a city? Probably. Will it be a "good" city? I have no idea! For instance, would they prioritize central access to a private airport for elites to travel? Would they clad all of their housing structures with stainless steel like Elon did with the Cybertruck? :D - A city starts with people. People built the first cities and towns in our country out of necessity, as a trading post, or a rail town. People migrating in and out of cities contributes to the urban thread, puts demands on the city, and leaves its unique footprint through arts and culture. I have no idea what kind of culture you can build in a city that's manufactured from the ground up, but we may get a chance to find out. - I've said it before and I'll say it again - our places are our last vestiges of untouched, unfiltered life. The idea of creating the technocrat's dream of urban living is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. A move like this should be seen as a bellwether for all of us who like our places to take action NOW to make those places more pedestrian friendly, with complete streets and redesigned vehicular patterns. The billionaires aren't doing this out of the goods of their hearts; they are running out of ways to extract wealth from places in the traditional sense so they are turning the knob up to 11 and developing their "product" to sell to you as an improved lifestyle. They may be right about the premise of an improved lifestyle, but at what cost to us? #urbanplanning #plannedcities #capitalism #california #zoning #affordablehousing

Last week I sat down with Stet New's Joel Engelhardt for an informal conversation about my time at the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, what we do and why, and downtown in general. It was a good chat, framed as an exit interview, as I prepare to transition to a new role with at Quantum Foundation's Palm Beach Venture Philathropy. Some highlights from Stet: Few leaders are as visible in their city as Raphael Clemente. The outgoing Downtown Development Authority executive director lives just south of the city center. He rides his bicycle along the waterfront. And he’s a New Urbanism/mass transit geek. Clemente’s 18-year tenure traced the rise of West Palm Beach from its Great Recession low to a post-pandemic economic engine and booming residential center. On engagement: “What I'm excited about and what I love about our city is that people care enough about it that they fight over it. That they push and shove. They get mad. They voice their concerns. And it moves us. It moves us toward solutions.” On downtown overall: “It is a potent, intense center, city, neighborhood and business district. West Palm Beach is lucky to have it. The region is lucky to have it. It is the economic engine of the region.” On the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries: “There's a difference between a dispensary and a pub. … And when you look at what makes cities really work well, urban places in particular, it's sociability. The ability to socialize and connect with others. … That's the most important thing for humans, right? It's the No. 1 thing. We're social creatures.” On traffic: “The challenges we have of traffic and other things are growing pains. These are, I don't want to say they're good problems, but … they’re problems many other cities wish they had right now.”

Wow. This article is an inspiring read. "In the summer of 2014, an acquaintance of mine walked past a blighted building in a neighborhood commercial district in Appleton, WI, and had an idea: “Someone should buy that building and do something with it.” Within five years, the building (and the one next door) had been fully renovated resulting in a neighborhood social club, three remodeled apartments, two Airbnb rentals, a café, an office, and two artist studio spaces. A backyard littered with dog poop had been replaced with outdoor seating, flowering gardens, and public art installations. How did it happen?" We have a beautiful newly designed main street with an ever-increasing number of empty shops and buildings. What might energise these vacant spots? How can we re-imagine these spaces to share, create community and connect together? What would you want? Dunedin City Council #connect #community #urbanspaces #placemaking #repurpose #rethink #ideas #neighbourhoods

Somber article about San Francisco - I worked in City Hall many moons ago and know its a tough City (and County) to run. This article gives some details about why…worth the read.

Can you fill empty storefronts in neighborhood or town commercial districts in ways that promote cohesion? Are there alternatives to economic incentives and entrepreneurship to revitalizing places? Here is a good article on leveraging neighborhood assets and expertise to develop innovative, cost effective approaches to these challenges. Here is the conclusion: "While there are many things cities can do to facilitate small scale development, there is no reason to wait. Most neighborhoods and smaller downtowns have blighted, vacant, and low- cost buildings for sale today. These same communities also have many residents, artists, and entrepreneurs all looking to make a positive impact on the community. By working together, neighbors wanting to see positive change occur can tap into local assets and expertise to make an immediate impact. Creating opportunities for residents to tangibly support neighborhood and downtown commercial development, either by investing financially or through volunteer labor, immediately enhances the image of the district and creates a sense of neighborhood ownership that can help small business startups succeed." For more, see https://lnkd.in/eybdXrf3 The American Downtown Revitalization Review has other useful information for those looking for practical ideas. Andrew Dane Jerome Barth Michael Berne Laurel B. Kat Correll David Feehan Robert S. Goldsmith Nicholas P. Kalogeresis, AICP Paul Levy Andrew Manshel N David Milder Norman Walzer Main Street America #strongtowns #neighborhoods #towns #community #socialimpact #downtown