By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Real Estate , Urban Economics
If we build more mixed-use communities, ones that are neo-urbanist, that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, plus they are walkable, animated, livable districts where people can— LIVE-WORK-PLAY-CREATE-MAKE-LEARN-ENTERTAIN-SHOP-EXERCISE-GROW-SOCIALIZE in one neighborhood, this will do more to reduce congestion than anything else I can think of…
By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Business Models , Real Estate , Urban Economics
At a recent Ottawa mayoral candidates debate, the issue of what to do (if anything) about Airbnb came up. Current mayor Jim Watson pointed to a 4% tax now levied on Airbnb rentals somewhat leveling the field between professionally-run hotels and sharing economy-based ones. Mr Watson also said, “When you move into a neighborhood, you expect […]
By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Business Coaching , Business Models , Design , Real Estate , Sales & Marketing
Engineers say a perfect machine is one with no moving parts. I’d add to that: Complexity is the enemy of success in all endeavors. How could we apply those twin concepts to business modeling? Here’s how: By answering the question–can we reduce the complexity of operating an organization, any business even charity, not-for-profit or foundation, […]
By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Business Models , Design , Investing , Real Estate , Urban Economics
Where buildings in North America meet grade, we tend to throw away its value. How’s that? Every time you open a building at grade to the outside, every time, you add both functionality and value. It’s easier to access apartments, condos, retirement residence suites/rooms, stores, offices co-working spaces, makerspaces, you name it and it makes […]
By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Business Coaching , Design , Investing , Real Estate , Sports & Entertainment , Urban Economics
“You can’t drink all day, unless you start in the morning,” one middle-aged female fan of the Buffalo Bills told me at their home-opener on Sunday September 16th, 2018. It was 0930 at the time, proving her point. That the Bills are important to Buffalo seems self-evident to me. But after tailgating with over 100,000 […]
By Bruce Firestone | Architecture , Design , Investing , Real Estate , Urban Economics
Law of unintended consequences It’s one thing for a city to allow secondary dwelling units (ie, basement apartments, in-home suites or coach houses in your backyard), it’s another to provide enough parking to get cars off streets, especially in northern shelf areas and the snow-belt. If you ban frontyard parking and second driveways, this is […]
