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1st Public Meeting for Fulton Corridor Specific & Downtown Neighborhood Community Plans

1st Public Meeting for Fulton Corridor Specific & Downtown Neighborhood Community Plans

‘m in Portland for National Charrette Institute training. So , unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend the 1st public meeting for the creation of the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and Downtown Neighborhood Community Plan. Though some discussion has been picking up on twitter. So did you attend? What were your thoughts and observations? I also will [...]

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speaking of façade improvements

speaking of façade improvements

I posted about a bad façade job yesterday. Then today I saw some news in the Business Journal about Fresno County’s façade improvement program. It seems to be pretty effective. [PDF] It was a little reminder that the City of Fresno’s façade improvements are getting more and more behind. I mean if Caruthers businesses are [...]

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Specific Plans

Specific Plans

The days of vague plans for downtown Fresno are over. It’s time to get specific. his is the hope of the Swearengin administration, Downtown Revitalization Department, The Planning and Development Department and a diversity of private citizens. The contract for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan were approved by Fresno City [...]

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Developer pours millions into downtown landmark but refuses to pay architect

Developer pours millions into downtown landmark but refuses to pay architect

On the front page of Saturday’s (1/29/10) Fresno Bee there ran another success story of downtown revitalization. However, after I read through the story, there were a few key details that were left out regarding the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation Building aka International Trade Center. Both in the article and at the State [...]

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AIASJ 2009 Design Awards

AIASJ 2009 Design Awards

The American Institute of Architects has long set the bar for quality design in the United States. The organization awards buildings and architects that are contributers to a high quality built environment. Awards are given by the national, state and local chapters of the organization. The AIA San Joaquin has a bi-annual awards program. Projects [...]

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AIASJ 2009 Architecture Design Awards

AIASJ 2009 Architecture Design Awards

The American Institute of Architects, San Joaquin Chapter, invites you to attend the 2009 Architecture Design Awards Dinner and Presentation. This event will showcase architectural projects by local firms that demonstrate a combination of those qualities of talent, vision, and which have produced a significant contribution to the built environment. This event is open to [...]

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Fresno’s Planning and Development Department Receives State Historic Preservation Award

Fresno’s Planning and Development Department Receives State Historic Preservation Award

Fresno, CA – The City of Fresno’s Planning and Development Department has been awarded a 2009 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for its 2008 publication, Architecture, Ethnicity and Historic Landscapes of California’s San Joaquin Valley. Fresno is one of 12 statewide projects that will be honored at a ceremony and reception at the Leland Stanford Mansion [...]

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Tweeting toward government transparency

Tweeting toward government transparency

Tuesday 01/12/2010 I was interviewed by CBS 47 for a news segment regarding the City of Fresno’s use of twitter. Below is the embedded video. I’d like to know what you’re thoughts are on @CityofFresno tweets. Is this platform a good way to increase government transparency? How does Fresno stack up to other jurisdictions that [...]

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unemployed architects

unemployed architects

A report of unemployment statistics through the 3rd quarter of 2009, released this week, finds the architecture industry is the hardest hit by the continued recession. - Job losses in the profession jumped 17.8 percent, bringing the total number of employed architects to 189,000 in the first three quarters of 2009, compared to 230,000 in the [...]

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Boomerang talk

Boomerang talk

Below is the talk I gave at the Boomerang Reception held on 12/20/2009 at the CSUF Smitcamp Alumni House. I was the first speaker of the evening. The other speakers were Mayor Ashley Swearengin, CSUF President Dr. John Welty, FUSD Superintendent Michael Hansen, and FPU President Merrill Ewert. It was an honor to be [...]

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Iron Bird Lofts open house this weekend

Iron Bird Lofts open house this weekend

As some downtown buildings just begin construction and others get a new lease on life, the Iron Bird Lofts opens its doors. - I ran into developer, Reza Assemi, Wednesday morning on my way back from the Bank of Italy press conference. He was busy giving direction to the concrete sub-contractor at Broadway Lofts

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Granville Homes moves dirt on Fulton Village

Granville Homes moves dirt on Fulton Village

Tractors have been rumbling outside my office this week. I decided to walk over and snap some photos. I caught this one of Tommy Yoshioka, owner of Tokyo Garden, and construction worker look on as tractor pushes dirt around Granville Homes latest downtown project Fulton Village I was also lucky enough to chat with Darius Assemi [...]

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Penstar Group purchases Bank of Italy Building

Penstar Group purchases Bank of Italy Building

In Fresno, CA there is only one building on the Fulton Mall that is also on the National Register of Historic Places. That is the Bank of Italy Building. A new owner of the building was announced today in a press conference hosted by the City of Fresno. The new owner is the Penstar Group, [...]

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FCC AIAS Design Competition

This morning I will be on a jury of a design competition that is organized by the Fresno City College AIAS club. Below is a model of the site in SketchUp that was provided to the student competitors. Jury will include Michael Fennacy, AIA. He is an architect with Darden Architects. and on the AIASJ [...]

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AIASJ – 2009 Design Awards Call for Entries

AIASJ – 2009 Design Awards Call for Entries

2009 DESIGN AWARDS CALL FOR ENTRIES The American Institute of Architects has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the profession of architecture and the AIA. In keeping with that tradition, the AIA San Joaquin hold biannual design awards program. The application process for awards is now open. [...]

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Well Church responds to controversy over Neighborhood Thrift mural

Well Church responds to controversy over Neighborhood Thrift mural

Update 10/26/09 In a dramatic turn of events, the mural on the East wall of Neighborhood Thrift got spared from being painted over. In an outpouring of community support that involved emails, phone calls and a human wall in front of the mural the Neighborhood Thrift Board reconsidered it’s course of action. See The Fresno Beehive [...]

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City of Fresno selects Moule & Polyzoides as Downtown Specific Plan consultant

City of Fresno selects Moule & Polyzoides as Downtown Specific Plan consultant

The City of Fresno’s Downtown and Revitalization Department has made an announcement on the consultant it selected to complete the Downtown and Neighborhood Specific Plans. The announcement came through a note from department director Craig Scharton on the Department Facebook page. See full announcement below. On Friday we announced that we have selected a team for [...]

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Fresno Planning Commissioner, Cam Maloy, resigns

Fresno Planning Commissioner, Cam Maloy, resigns

Update 10/15/09 A vote Cam Maloy cast in September is being reviewed for conflict of interest after she resigned from the commission. The 4-0 Planning Commission vote approved locked-in fees and requirements of a tentative tract map on a Granville project located just North of Tokyo Garden on Van Ness. Read more from the Fresno Bee. Original [...]

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Visalia City Council candidates green forum

Visalia City Council candidates green forum

5:30pm Wednesday October 7th Visalia Downtown Marriott The USGBC (United States Green Building Council) Central California Chapter and Tulare/Kings Branch will be hosting the Visalia City Council candidates green forum. Candidates will respond to critical questions on Visalia’s sustainability practices. names of candidates: Greg Collins Paul Fry Jesus Gamboa Warren Gubler Mike Lane Dominic Prado Mary Wheeler for additional information contact: Robert Mihares, T/K USGBC Chair Robert Mijares, [...]

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Joe Moore joins Historic Preservation Commission

Joe Moore joins Historic Preservation Commission

On July 17th, Fresno Mayor, Ashley Swearengin proposed changes to the city’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. The changes which City Council approved allowed the mayor to appoint non-city residence to the commission. Before that was not allowed. That applied to residents who lived in county island as well. That included Joe Moore. If you spend anytime [...]

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