CONTRIBUTORS
DAN APPELL
I started as a gardener in my parents backyard. I studied fine arts at the University of Calgary. I spent some time in Arizona at Arcosanti, studying the urban design theories of Frank Lloyd Wright and Paulo Soleri. I returned to U of C to study architecture, urban design and environmental design. While I was there, I was introduced to the work of Jane Jacobs and Christopher Alexander. Though my education was an extensive progression from art, to architecture to urban design, almost all the sensibilities I have retained, I developed as a gardener. I remain humbled by the forces that compel life, and inspired by patterns that determine growth.
My interest in the way things grow led me to a study of growing cities. As a young student, I started to develop models that would predict how individual urban development projects would behave over time. I thought there was a need to do realistic projections, independent of hype generated by real estate developers. I still think this.
These models have taken a long time to develop. A models projections must be tested using real developments. This takes about ten years. Then the model is refined and tested again, and again. There are three models; a psychological model, a structural model and an economic model. These models can, with a good deal of accuracy, predict the behaviour of people around a development, the influence of a development on urban growth and the effect of a development on the local economy.
After a number of successful trials, I started to use the models to inform my own designs. These models have resulted in a very different approach to urban planning. I believe I am developing techniques that will fundamentally change the way urban planning is done.
I am creating a design process that works in concert with forces that already shape successful urban environments. It is creative, inclusive, flexible and very powerful.
The ‘inclusive’ bit of the process is where you come in. Unlike other types of design efforts, the results tend to improve as the number of people who have input increases. This blog might become a means by which you contribute to this urban planning process. I’m hoping that your submissions can be channelled towards creating a planning document like no other. I need you to present concerns and issues, provide solutions and discuss results in an open ended design charette or planning workshop on the internet. Everyone respects every other point of view, all ideas are considered and every argument is part of the construction of an Unofficial Community Plan (UCP) that can eventually replace the official one.
For now, I’m just like every gardener. I’m planting a seed, hoping it will grow, expecting to be delighted by the result, knowing, whatever the result, life is good.
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RON BOLIN
My background includes degrees in government and in geography. I taught in the Geography Department at the University of Calgary for six years and served for two years on the University of Calgary Faculty Association. I have certificates in management from the Manitoba Institute of Management and the Harvard Business School.
I left Calgary for the Planning Department at the City of Edmonton where I established and headed the Information Section. I subsequently became a Senior Analyst with the City’s Management Studies, Systems and Budget Department and served as the initial Director of the city’s award winning Geographic Information System. This project involved extensive cooperation between the city’s Planning, Assessment, Engineering and Utility departments at a time when Edmonton operated its own Power and Telephone companies. I was later promoted to Manager of all Land Information in Edmonton’s Computer Department, managing some 60 permanent and contract staff.
Following six years with the city I moved to private industry, first as the Manager of a start-up computer mapping concern and later as a private consultant. As a consultant I have worked with the Province of Alberta, the City of Vancouver, the United Nations Development Program and the Government of Singapore, The Inter-American Development Bank and the Government of Jamaica, and for the United Nations Office for Project Services in Bosnia.
We moved to Nanaimo in 1989 as my wife, Inge, took a job in the Anthropology Department at Malaspina University College. In Nanaimo, when not working overseas, I have worked with various grassroots start-up organizations. I sat on the City’s Advisory Committee on the Environment (ACE) for three years and worked for a year with MISTIC, the Nanaimo Chapter of the Science Council of British Columbia. I have been a member of the Friends of Plan Nanaimo since its inception and previously served on its executive.
I have, at various times, been a member of the NDP, the Conservative and the Liberal parties, drawn by outstanding individuals. I have not been a member of any political party for some time and owe no political debts in any particular direction.
Over the years I have spoken out at Council Meetings and in Letters to the Editor on issues which I think are important for Nanaimo.
Ron Can be reached at: rlbolin@telus.net
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GORD FULLER
50ish, 6′ tall, long greying hair. KIDDING Folks. The aforementioned is true but perhaps something more descriptive is appropriate. I have been an outspoken community and social activist in Nanaimo for over a decade working with a number of different groups and organizations over the years. I believe strongly in a person’s right to freedom of speech provided they do not intentionally set out to hurt in doing so. I intensely dislike closed mindedness and racism and belive that everyone, no matter their current situation, has the potential to benefit society.
Gord’s blog: http://gordonfuller.blogspot.com/__________________
Posts and Comments on Nanaimo Governance 
The News Bulletin (which, I might add, has much wider circulation than the ‘one paper’ to which Mr. Shulstad refers and is consistently rated higher by our peers at the community newspaper associations, including this year) does not refer to citizens who raise questions about city spending as “naysayers”, “complainers” and “cranks”.
One thing I will say about the Bulletin, and many, many other publications with an online presence that at least when you post comments it is published immediately.
With the Daily News if you post around 7 AM you may get it listed by 8, otherwise, it may not be until a day or so later.
So, like this board, I do encourage people to stake their opinion. Only through posting one’s opinion can we actually start a debate and debates lead to a healthy understanding of topics from which people can make educated decisions.
Just my two bits.
Somewhere on Nanaimo City hall blog there was a suggestion that Nanaimo is well endowed with urban places. I dispute that claim!
That may be true in theory but, for instance, Lubbock Square is a parking lot, even as it is gazetted as a public place. There are many more . . .
Nanaimo downtown has many potential public places that could be interconnected into a very pleasant experience.
Here are two examples, in my personal experience, http://members.shaw.ca/urbanismo/two.little.places.pdf of little public places, one of which is quite unappreciated!
As the up-coming Port Plaza disaster illustrates a profound and quantum change in our urban thinquing, politically and administrative structure is long over due.
PS A peripheral park is not an urban place!
Also consider the paved space being used to park cars at the Anglican Church on Church and the United on Wesley. The City should use property acquisition funds to purchase both of these sites and turn them into European style public squares. The Dallas Square site — the cenotaph — could be opened up from Chapel to Front, eliminating the ramp from Front onto Church. It would have the critical advantage of pedestrian traffic flowing through it from all sides.
“I urged the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership to make their opposition to these developments known Though they were in complete agreement that this sprawl across the south would have an equally destructive impact on the city centre as did the sprawling residential and commercial developments in the north end over the last 25 years, they were unable to act as 3 city councilors had an effective veto in the organization and were in support of the project.”
Frank, Just one correction . . .
I was on DNPS’s development and design committee. At the time we prepared a pretty comprehensive paper against Sandstone: if for no other reason there was at the time, and more probably now, 150,000 sq. ft. of commercial space already languishing, unused, in the city.
Nanaimo needs more sprawl and more malls like a proverbial head cold, then and now!
Because as George Hanson contended DPNS is the financial step-child of council we could not present. Our paper, therefore, was read by the old Quarter people. Unfortunately they were ill prepared and did no justice to our very well researched paper.
IMO councillors, in favour, were probably under the illusion they were voting for jobs.
The future does not bode well for a city hobbled by such thinking.
I’d like to think there’s been positive change in the new organization (Downtown Nanaimo BIA Association). I’d like to know the parameters given to the City appointed representatives. Their independence will be key. The independence of the organization is still at least somewhat compromised by the matching City funds they receive on top of the levy paid by commercial property owners. Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) in other cities do not receive matching funds and are to my mind more likely to be independent and activist when it’s time to speak up for the interests of their constituency which will inevitably come into conflict with what the City sees as in its best interest.
An unappreciated sequence of little urban spaces that could be very attractive urban experience:
Walk north off Diane Krall, along Adam Grant Horne, and the little parking lot behind NAG. to Bastion. Remove the power spaghetti and, voila, yet another great tiny place . . .
. . . another Lois Lane . . . and behind The Painted Turtle . . .
I have water coloured the lot o’ ’em!
They’d be great when someone awakes up in the little blue and white building on the corner of Wallace and Frankie . . .
Hidden spots like these could be charming enclosures, discovered by the stroller exploring the narrow walkways. Link the watercolours for us Urbanismo.
http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/New.Nanaimo.Center/cultural.event/cultural.event.html
Mui bueno Urbanismo! Thanks…
Where is Wayne Schulstad? Is he no longer a contributor?
Wayne has withdrawn from the blog. He hasn’t said why on the blog but his contribution is missed. He was contributing strong stuff on the fiscal side and developing both readership and discussion. It was friendly fire apparently (perceived mistreatment by his colleagues here at the world headquarters…).