Transit’s Post

Check out this great piece from WTOP on how thanks to DOB's Pop Up Permit Program, the Theater Alliance was able to secure a vacant spaces for performances. Here's what DOB Director Brian Hanlon said: “It’s kind of plug and play,” You’ve got space that’s almost ready for a tenant, people can just go in and essentially start using it as is.” The PUPs program was announced by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser last spring, as another innovative way to spur economic development in DC. It is exclusive to reactivating vacant spaces involving a new use with minimal to no construction for up to one year! If all documentation is in order, applicants can get their Certificate of Occupancy in 15 days or less after submitting an application--this timeframe includes DOB application review , fire and egress plans, and the initial inspection. Read the WTOP story here: https://lnkd.in/en6m3z72 DOB welcomes those looking for a temporary space to hold performance and festivals, run retail businesses, and more, to reach out to us. Learn more about the program here: https://dob.dc.gov/popup. #economicdevelopment #publicsector #realestate #commercialdevelopment #retail #arts

These transit projects are changing how we travel and really improving the region.

New York New York

Introducing the next evolution of Melbourne Square, where the significance of open space, fresh air, and the freedom to roam has been meticulously considered within a holistic design that prioritises wellness and fosters a sense of community. “It’s rare to create a building designed today delivering tomorrow’s living standards. A blueprint for modern life, BLVD is for you and your community to live well and foster better connections than ever before." https://lnkd.in/gvBnxYSy

Heading to Connecticut

We’re in the home stretch of one of our projects overlooking Boston Harbor, and one of our biggest finishing items was coordinating this living room TV. Many clients want their technology hidden from view, and this Future Automation Lift – the RPS or Retracting Panel System – is one way to do it. It has two moving mechanisms, one that controls the panel and moves up and out of the way and one that pushes the hidden TV forward. This RPS is combined with an LG G-series OLED TV, which pushes forward after the custom marquetry panel is moved out of the way. The RPS has built-in sensors to ensure that the elements work together and could never run into each other. Of course, with hidden technology, there’s always a trade-off since the tolerances on such an installation are so tight. That means a different TV model won’t fit into this design, so you must be absolutely sure of the TV size and location before committing to the solution. For this client, we collaborated with the designer, architect, GC, and client to ensure that we got the perfect sized TV for the space while also ensuring everything fit perfectly. In fact, you can see the only way for the panel to be hidden was for it to go vertically up into the ceiling void, so there was a lot of coordination to make sure that the custom-built box that holds the lift, TV, and panel had enough room during framing. Truly a collaboration, but what a result! . . Future Automation #tspsmartspaces #smarthome #homeautomation #audiovisual #smarthometechnology #integration #avinstall #customav #luxuryhome #designdetails #smartbuilding #interiordesign #bostonrealtor #bostonarchitect #futureautomation #hiddentv #tvlift

Part 2 of 2 We are at a pivotal moment. The trains, tracks, and Washington Park station are still present and accounted for, if a bit overgrown and needing some TLC. Why aren’t we using them? When the WP&Z Railway closed in 2013 to accommodate major zoo construction, a press release promised the “longer Washington Park train route, which operates seasonally, will also return once construction is complete.” Yet the longer route never returned. Issues of cost and track repairs were raised. Institutional repurposing of the right-of-way proposed. Now, a decade later glimmers of hope in our city’s and regional leadership’s mindset perhaps signal we are serious about getting back on track: a new Zoo Train Task Force has been approved. Meanwhile, Portland leaders just voted to support building a new performance hall at Portland State University AND keeping and upgrading Keller Auditorium. From this outgoing body a statement that Portland can respect the past and invest in the future. That a great city layers in new assets as we grow, while nurturing the ones we already have. Price tag: $600 million for the two venues. It’s perhaps risky to link this investment, this operatic forte, to a steam whistle’s soulful blow, which our conductor Dr. Doppler eases into a humble exuberance as we marvel its passage. Each has its audience, though one may be more universal. Let them all work together to define Portland’s unique sense of place. Bring back the full run of the WP&Z Railway - that’s what this overture is all about.

I recently visited New York City for NBCUniversal’s Olympic Hub and found myself caught in what felt like a traffic nightmare—honking cars, road rage, and expensive rides. Back home in Dallas, we're not far behind. Drivers here spent an average of 56 hours in traffic last year, and the situation is getting worse. Local and state leaders have tried to address these issues with new road projects, but it seems like these efforts aren’t keeping up with our city's rapid growth. Recent talks about cutting DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)’s funding make it even more important to improve access to public transportation. How can we stop Dallas from becoming a traffic nightmare? Check out my latest article on Messy Media: "Is Dallas the Next City to Become a Traffic Nightmare?" to find out more.-> https://lnkd.in/gmFgrA6G

Today marks 10 years of me managing City Channel Pittsburgh with the City of Pittsburgh and City of Pittsburgh Department of Innovation & Performance. We were a technologically-irrelevant government-access television station when I took over. We had absolutely no digital footprint and were mastering all of our sparkling-standard-definition productions to S-VHS. Yes. You read that correctly. In 2014. Throughout the past 10 years, I have planned for and designed two technology overhauls, removed all remnants of our analog past, upgraded all of our recordings and channel outputs to high-definition, and built a digital footprint with tens of thousands of followers across a handful of social-media platforms. I have done all of this by consistently finishing short-term and long-term projects under budget and ahead of schedule... and without spending a single tax dollar. This 2016 picture of me standing on a six-foot tall pile of 30+ years of unnecessary cabling (and the accompanying smile on my face) is a good representation of what has happened here over the last decade. Come on by and check out what's been built. I promise I won't ask you to help me clean up.

Check out the latest video from Urban Arts!