Convention Space, Corridors, Really Long Words

It’s not always a good idea to expand convention space. According to this Athens Banner-Herald article, developers are promising a new hotel if taxpayers pay for an expansion of the Classic Center’s convention space. Such an expansion might be a good idea, and it certainly seems so at first blush. But consider this: nearly every city in the country spends money to expand convention space. The convention market is so competitive that even convention centers in cities with huge tourism pull like Washington, D.C. don’t make a profit. Before I’d support spending very precious taxpayer dollars on this, I’d like the hotel developers and others who favor expanding the convention center to answer the questions this paper—“Space Available: The Realities of Convention Centers as Economic Development Strategy”—asks. (I learned about this paper from an article, “Unconventional Thinking,” in Next American City, a quarterly magazine. As of this writing, the article is not available online.) [Photo credit: Flickr user the unquietlibrarian]

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A reminder to all city planning amateurs and regular citizens (including me). The Athens Clarke Co. Planning Commission is seeking citizen input on two key Athens street corridors—Prince Av. and Oak/Oconee St. as they approach downtown. If you go here, you’ll find space to submit comments.  Don’t neglect to examine all the incredibly detailed charts and graphics depicting key features of both corridors. I’m really impressed by the quality and accessibility of the information provided by the planning commission. [Image credit: ACC]

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Antidisingenuousmentarianismphilia. Hillary Brown’s blog, Antidisingenuousmentarianism, should be a dud. For one thing, it has a title that requires one to take a breath and furrow one’s brow in concentration before attempting—and more than likely failing—to pronounce it correctly. For another, it has no unifying theme: Brown puts up little reviews of New Yorker articles, stories and reviews; she tosses off vivid little movie/DVD reviews; presents cute kitty photos; rants about service at Ikea; expands—entertainingly—on her published restaurant reviews in Flagpole Magazine; and indulges in what she calls her “lil’ hobby,” which is commenting—pithily, thoughtfully—on local affairs. But this seeming hodgepodge works. Everything is written with a certain brio, and I find the New Yorker stuff a useful guide about what to read in that relentless magazine. Plus I’ve recommended to my wife that she read her “lil’ hobby” posts as a quick way to keep up with a smart perspective on local affairs. [Image credit: Screen shot of Hillary Brown's blog banner]

Comments

[Hillary]

Hi, neighbor! Thanks for the link and the nice words. The "Lil' Hobby" section used to be called "Hobbyhorse," back when I had the time to read and comment on much more of the Banner-Herald, the Red & Black, and the AJC every day, the point being that that was my own private obsession. I shortened it when I became more gainfully employed, and I guess I've never really bothered to explain why it's called that or what it used to be.