Category Archives: Planning

… As If People Mattered

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Ed Fuhrmann

A while ago, our group read this great piece which reflects on design and impact of buildings with and without the “benefit” of an architect: “Architecture As If People And The Planet Mattered”, by Taz Loomans. It “hit home” with all of us. … Continue reading →

Posted in Design, Downtown, Planning | Leave a comment

Yay! Another Strip Mall!

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

Well, it was time for more “growth”, so they broke out the ol’ “What Should We Build Next?” Wheel.  When the “Build a Downtown” option fell off decades ago, it was replaced with “Spin Again”. They since have gotten so used to all the options … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Business, Design, Downtown, Planning, Walkability | 1 Comment

A look at LZ’s “Rock The Block”

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

While we don’t have to “copy” other villages and towns for ideas of what to do in our own, it is prudent to see what works (and what doesn’t) for our neighbors AND find out the “why” and “how” in each case. … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Design, Downtown, Planning | Leave a comment

Our Former Applebee’s

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Ed Fuhrmann

[This post was started before the recent announcement about the re-purposing of the former RLB Applebee’s building. If this reads like it starts out in one direction, then changes course and heads another way, well… that’s exactly what happened.] Well, it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Planning | Leave a comment

Webinar: Creating Great Communities Through Public Involvement

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

Webinar: “Creating Great Communities Through Public Involvement” Date: Thursday July 03, 2014 & Thursday July 17, 2014 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CDT Cost: FREE (Advanced online registration required) The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) presents a two-part Thursday webinar series … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Community, Meeting / Webinar, Planning, Walkability | Leave a comment

Form-based vs Use-based code Example 1

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

[We’re going to look at a circumstance in neighboring Antioch IL as an opportunity to learn why using the CORRECT “Code” for planning and building a village is so important!] If you’ve lived in this area for any amount of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Community, Downtown, Planning, Seniors, Walkability | Leave a comment

About Hardee’s Bike Rack…

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

[ The Round Lake Bicycle Club asked if we could post this on their behalf, since they don’t have their website/blog up and running yet. This is a very relatable topic, so of course we said “Yes!” ] The Short … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycling, Millennium Trail, Planning | 1 Comment

Why “Reimagine” Round Lake Beach?

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

Why is it “Reimagine” Round Lake Beach? Many reasons, most of which we’ve covered in this blog, and on our Facebook page, over the last year… but here’s one more. From Leigh Gallagher, author of “The End of the Suburbs: … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Economics, Planning | 2 Comments

Sunday Small-Business Blues

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

So this is the first “nice” weekend of spring (after that extra-nasty winter), and we were out and about today like good American consumers, spending money here, and planning to spend money later there. (That IS what we’re supposed to do, isn’t it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Downtown, Economics, Planning, Resilience, Walkability | Leave a comment

About those jobs…

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Ed Fuhrmann

While we’re waiting for the economy to “rebound” (ain’t gonna happen, but that’s another post), it is important to really understand that a lot of the well-paying, benefits-providing jobs that existed before the recession just aren’t coming back. More and more of the “middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Economics, Planning | Leave a comment