Confessions of a Recovering Engineer and LaVilla tour

[thelakelander]

Charles Marohn, founder of Strong Towns, will be giving a 'Confessions of a Recovering Engineer' presentation and LaVilla walking tour on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Sponsored by the First Coast Section of the American Planning Association's Florida Chapter, the event and tour is free for all interested participants.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/confessions-of-a-recovering-engineer-and-lavilla-tour/

[thelakelander]

I'm looking forward to this one. It will be interesting to get a Strong Towns perspective on LaVilla's transportation network, equity issues and the challenges and opportunities associated with overcoming them. After the walking tour, there will be a happy hour at Myrtle Avenue Brewing for anyone interesting in dropping by and socializing.

[fsu813]

Chuck was excellent!

[thelakelander]

He was. I really enjoyed his perspective and response to the Springfield Dollar General question.

[Tacachale]

He was. I really enjoyed his perspective and response to the Springfield Dollar General question.

Lol, what was that?

[fsu813]

He was. I really enjoyed his perspective and response to the Springfield Dollar General question.

Lol, what was that?

A Springfield resident described how a Dollar General was proposed in the neighborhood, but a group of stakeholders stopped it from being developed. Therefore, he still has to drive 20 minutes and cross a bridge to buy diapers for his baby. I believe he thought Chuck would be sympathetic to his reported plight, and he knew some of those same stakeholders were in the room, so he asked Chuck for his opinion.

Chuck provided a thoughtful, nuanced answer. He gave an example of another neighborhood (in Minnesota?) also preferring to not to have a Dollar General in their neighborhood. He understood why a community may wish to stop it from opening, citing that it competes with local entrepreneurs, is among the worst type of wealth extractor, and can contribute stunting the potential of a community. He also gave another example of how local entrepreneurs can fill the gap for products/services, if there's a need for some of what a Dollar General sells.

*Note, the resident is factually incorrect, as there's both Harvey's and Walgreens just 1 mile or less away, both stocked with a variety of diapers, with no bridges to cross. And other options a bit further (ie, Winn-Dixie, Publix) but not 20 minutes away nor over bridges. Also, the same Dollar General is being developed literally just across the boundary line of the neighborhood now in the Eastside neighborhood, instead.