I am taking my typical Daily Sprout time to tell you a little about the development going on around my office. I hope to utilize this information to tell you what’s going on, as well as to inspire you to be fearless. BE BOLD. That’s actually the tag line of my wife’s and my development company. Take a risk, trust in God that you are more than you think.
I bought more than just my office when we moved to Main Street. It started with one other home, and has grown to several. The idea started simply… add value to my mission and my office by placing density around it. This vision changed over time, as I decided to become more involved, and eventually decided to live here.
So now, 2 years later, I have invested a significant amount of time learning the trade of a developer, and being taught by trusted advisers, and I have sat through endless meetings. Now I am pushing for some variances to the zoning code, to allow for taller buildings, and to have an historical look approved for these buildings. The city currently allows me to build larger buildings on the North property, but the ones on the south are supposed to look less like an historical urban building, and more like an historical home, even if built larger like a traditional urban building.
My goal with the variance is to allow a look that is more akin to historical buildings, with elements of modernization. So that they look like buildings built 50,70,100 years ago, but that have been renovated along the way. We will have single family homes, and town-homes, but I am going to live in a condo myself. Something that was not even a consideration 2 years ago, and now I find myself very excited to take on this kind of city living. I love what Woodstock has to offer. With the amphitheater, and the restaurants. I see a draw for new retail, markets, and more… right here in downtown.
One area that I have looked at closely, is the impact that urban density has on traffic. What is really cool, is that as you increase density in an urban setting… not a suburban setting like Towne Lake, but an urban setting like Woodstock. The traffic begins to dissipate, as pedestrian traffic begins to take over. In other words, the more people you get, the less traffic you have. Counter intuitive isn’t it! But this past week, as I had my meeting with the city planning and zoning commission, who by the way voted unanimously to recommend approval of all of our variance requests to the council; but in my meeting commissioner Darin Hunter, spoke to this fact as he explained how he parks his car every Friday, and leaves it parked as he walks all around downtown Woodstock.
I plan on putting in gas lamps as well… simply because they are a pleasure to walk next to.
So, in sharing this, I wanted to let you know my involvement, but also ask for yours. On May 22nd, we are running a Summer Party day at the office. Invite people to come get their spine checked, come and join me, but I am asking you to please, please, please come and support my effort with city council. Clear your schedule, and come to the office at 6pm. I’ll have wine and refreshments, and I will walk down with a mob of you wearing your green ”4 North Main” T-Shirts, as we show support for the variance requests to city council.
Just an FYI – I have met with all of the councilman already, and they are strongly in support. But this would give them the confidence to stay strong, even in the presence of others who might speak against it. So I would love to be able to count on you!
Thanks for your concern, the image above is the main building facing Main Street that I will have a condo in. Right next door to the office. :)
Be well and Be blessed! – Dr. E