Comments for What Makes Cities Great? at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 1 out of 1 comments http://www.theind.com Sun, 19 May 2013 05:54:51 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/ind-events/4209#comment-727 Discovering Urbanism: Two Innovative Policies from Charleston and Savannah. http://discoveringurbanism.blogspot.com/2009/04/two-innovative-policies-from.html This weblink sends reader to story about innovative Historic District "Primary Residency Easement" utilized (though sparingly) by City of Charleston to keep their historic neighborhoods vitalized. Perhaps not of direct necessity to Lafayette, though this expresses the kind of thinking Mayor Riley has brought to the policy realm in his city. Such a strategy might be brought to bear against excessive rates of absentee landlordism of single-family homes which are best-suited to be owner-occupied. Fortunately the second strategy highlighted on the linked blog, presents Charleston's coastal counterpart, Savannah, and their use of Community Development Corporations with churches to infill urban parking lots that the churches rarely use. While I was in Washington DC a month ago, it was uncommon to find parking lots servicing a church (and most other buildings for that matter.) Lafayette is fortunate to have an historic preservation committee recognized by local government, assisted by a non-profit organization, as well as a number of up and coming land banks and other community alliances within our historic core. I hope for the day when we shall see the evolution of these organizations into vehicles of the delivery of reinvestment funds into the community. - Jason D. Faulk Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:33:30 +0100