Better Than Ever
What if ‘IF’ had not been there for me? Or: We get by with a little help from our friends
In this new year, don’t underestimate the power of your community. READ MORE
Articles by Stuart Arnett
Better Than Ever
Comeback Communities: Making Manchester great again
Manchester is a comeback community. It was up, then down and is now undeniably heading up. So when we started looking at Comeback Communities, Manchester was, is, and will be a great example of how it gets done right. READ MORE
Better Than Ever
No to “Smarty Pants”: A Defense of Humility
In my field, I have some pretty good experiences, but some of that is from what did not work. From my good-fortune education opportunities, I’ve retained some knowledge and skills, but they, too, have a shelf life. I work with some real smart people, but they can only go so far making me look and sound like I have all the answers.
Better Than Ever
Brezhnev was wrong . . .
Newsflash: The people-job-idea urban leakage has slowed, and it might start getting crowded here again. READ MORE
Better Than Ever
Next act for Club Liquid: Sink-hole or Downtown oasis?
This week we take a look at 23 Amherst St., the former Rex Theatre, and more recently Club Liquid bar-pit. The City of Manchester – via the affiliated Manchester Development Corporation (MDC) – has issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to buy-develop the site. The MDC did a good thing to acquire the property and offer it for redevelopment, or else it may have deteriorated indefinitely, as it is definitely a “challenging” property. Today I offer my 2 cents. READ MORE
Better Than Ever
In memoriam: Remembering good works and good people
Three colleagues – and three of their “wins” – are the focus of this tribute. Each win was toward a better future for their community, and was realized working alongside many others. Sadly, each of these good people left us in the past year. READ MORE
Better Than Ever
Money-Market-People and Place in practice: A look at 400 Bedford Street’s potential
Revitalization begins with a ‘360 Opportunity Assessment’ of what the community needs and READ MORE
Better Than Ever
4 “Musts” for Better-Than-Ever Community Sites
First, no place – no matter how perfect the place is for that imagined community-theatre-kitchen-homeless-shelter-yoga studio – will it happen if the money and markets are not there, and if the surrounding neighbors are calling 1-800-Lawsuit.
READ MORE
Better Than Ever
Fixing ‘boo-boos’ starts with finding the realistic Band-Aids
My job in this space on Manchester Ink Link is to bring examples of now-better places, and in my humble opinion suggest why they healed. Your job – distinguished reader – is to bring to my attention places that need healing, and we’ll see if we can suggest realistic Band-Aids. READ MORE
