Overall, the project is continuing to move along at a rapid pace.  Work in being completed on the exterior of the 200 Building, which will be the next building completed.  The Clubhouse exterior siding is finished and the interior business office portion is nearing completion so the management company will have a place to conduct placement interviews.

As with the future, it’s always determined by the character of the people that make it, but I for one believe that all things are cyclical. This idea of ebb and flow is not new. It’s the course of nature and we’re no different. This next generation will see one or more recessions before they finally come of age and through those bits of adversity, they’ll leave the lessons that our parents tried to teach us. What’s more important that them learning the lessons, however, is our willingness to teach the lessons.  We have to learn from these financial mistakes and missteps in order to teach the correct life lessons to our children. Ultimately, it’s our decision and our future. How will OUR character shape our children?

You’ll notice on the exterior photo of the 400 building (2 story) a comparative view of the new siding profile and trim dimension as opposed to what’s being replaced.  The wider dimension and stark contrast is really making quite a difference.  At the horizontal band, we’ll be moving from the darker color to a lighter color, so actually, the photo is a fairly good example of what’s going to happen with the color.  You can see the change in color at the eave end of the 300 building in the other picture.  Be looking forward to seeing some finished interiors by this time next month!

Visiting Southview Apartments today was good. We’ve finally crossed the threshold of “moldy” and entered “construction.” In the 200, 300 and 400 buildings, there is no mold smell anymore and that’s amazing compared to where we were just six weeks ago.  When we had  the exterior wall finishes off, you could really see how wet the framing had been. There were also signs on the exterior boxing of wood rot at window corners and wall intersections. We have patched all those places with new boxing.

The 200 building is the furthest along and the first floor exterior walls have their blown-in insulation installed as you can see in the pictures above. The insulator was in the 300 building today and it was interesting to watch him work. He first covers the stud space with a fabric and staples it profusely from sill plate to bearing plate and to each stud in between.  The fabric comes in rolls that are cut to fit.  Next the insulator creates a small slit at waist height just large enough for the hose to be inserted and he blows-in the fiberglass first toward the bottom and then from the top to meet again at the fabric opening.  It’s an interesting process and they’re pretty quick.

Lastly, all the sump pumps and dehumidifiers and their associated alarms have been installed in 200, 300 and 400. The alarm units are place in the commons closet on the first floor of each building.  They are all direct plugged to electricity but have battery back-ups in the event of power failure.  It’s clear they’re doing their job!

On the horizon, we will be seeing the drywall hanging and finishing in the 200 building as well as some vinyl flooring installation.  The siding representative from James Hardie, Inc. will be on-site Friday for a pre-installation conference with the General Contractor.  Carpet has been ordered.  Cabinet layout and finish is being finalized.  Everything is moving along for the 200, 300 and 400 buildings.

Lastly, the 100 and 500 and buildings, which are still partially inhabited, are going to be the last units completed along with the Clubhouse.  More to come.  Please follow along and feel free to comment!

When we talk about the trains today we aren’t thinking of the benefits, we’re thinking of wait times.  The only solutions people think of is flying over or under, but never about adjusting what I see as another problem.  Well, in all fairness, there are two problems with the wait times:  the first is not easily fixed; the schedule of the east/west freight trains passing one another in our community.  The second, however, is more controllable yet something we never speak of.  So, let’s wave our magic wand and make the turntable and all it’s associated BNSF train maintenance buildings move south and west away from the intersections of Main Street, Fourth Street and Plum Street.  Those train activities are better suited to the industrial area on south Boyd Street.

While we discuss the nuts and bolts, please remember three things:  we are designing a Wellness Community, we are designing an enlivened and pedestrian downtown core, and we are designing development along the Wellness Trail.  As you probably know, Newton is scheduled to become part of the Heartland Flyer service as the rail is extended north from Oklahoma City, connecting Kansas City, Missouri to Fort Worth, Texas.  As I understand it, the schedule will remain much the same as it currently is meaning westbound passengers on the Southwest Chief will get into Newton at 3:25 a.m. and eastbound passengers will arrive in Newton at 3:01 a.m.  For folks that want to stop in our community to change trains we need something open, welcoming and friendly at 3:00 a.m.  ”What is that,”  you say?

It’s the new mixed use development that gets constructed in the vacant land left from BNSF!  That’s right, a new recreation option, a coffee shop and internet lounge, a couple of shops and restaurants some urban living apartments and THE NEW BUSINESS INCUBATOR!  Here’s the logic:

1.  The Newton’s are already coming downtown to exercise. Those citizens that are members of the Wellness Center and those that participate in all the Recreation Center has to offer, are already coming to the downtown core.  It’s no giant leap to determine that, whatever recreation activity is eventually developed in our community, the downtown core is the appropriate place to site it.  It can anchor what could become a well populated, well used,mixed-use development on the scale that we’ve yet to see.

2.  The Wellness Trail is located south of the tracks in the railroad park. Remember, under the Wellness Plan, all new development must associate itself with the Wellness Trail and any neighborhoods that are adjacent to pockets of wellness (open spaces, parks, recreation activities, etc.) receive a higher and more desirable Wellness Rating.  This also allows residents from all over the Newton’s to access this development by walking or cycling.

3.  Having a mixed use development allows activities like a coffee shop or a café to be open and available immediately to passengers of the train. These mixed uses will give downtown living a better Wellness Rating.  A Recreation Center or other exercise business could offer one time membership opportunities for travelers to work out, take a shower or just sit to enjoy the free city wifi. The Heartland Flyer and the Southwest Chief currently have incompatible schedules thereby making passengers transitioning between one train and the next, spend a few hours in our downtown core.  If we have business or tourist travelers spending hours and not minutes in town, let’s give them something to do.

4.  It gets a large scale, commercial project on the tax rolls. The BNSF land is prime downtown core land that’s worth developing and now it sits as an industrial site in the middle of town paying little in the way of taxes.  It would be a much nicer aesthetic if visitors didn’t have to see idling trains all day long.  Let’s see some commercial development that bring benefit to private as well as public interests.

5.  Lastly, it will enhance the downtown life experience by having a shop or dining experience or two. This development will bridge the pedestrian gap over the tracks which seem to separate north downtown from south downtown businesses.  Plus, it will give the site an opportunity to provide a pedestrian bridge over the tracks making it safer for residents in the Stroll Zone.

I should say, just for clarification, I’m not taking a position one way or another concerning a YMCA coming to town.  What I AM advocating is a mixed use development for downtown.  AND, if the YMCA does come to town, then I would advocate developing it in this downtown area.  It think it makes more overall sense.

I’ve said before that I believe we should begin to develop the Newton’s as a community of Wellness with all the benefits that go along with it.  So when I take that idea and apply it to the Kansas Logistic Park, I see an imperative need for the Harvey County CDC and the Newton’s to have a strong, clear vision and a well developed plan to discriminate when offering space in our community.  Now, listen, I don’t mean to say that we should only court “green” industry, but an important emphasis on environmentally friendly manufacturing and distribution solutions and techniques should be a part of their proposal.  Distribution isn’t just about where in the nation a business is located, but also how much money it will cost to distribute said product, and that requires forethought.

We cannot and we should not allow industry or invention to come to the Newton’s that would run counter to our overall plan of Wellness.  Sometimes the best stand to take is also the hardest.  Being an Architect, there are many times during the construction process, after all the planning and documentation is done, that I must remind our clients that together, we made all the right decisions during design and it’s best not to waiver.  Trust yourself!  Sure, uneasiness may set in as you wonder if you made the space big enough or tall enough or the right color; you must trust your own planning!  That’s what a comprehensive plan is.  You take the time to slowly and courageously make all the right decisions so that when the time comes, you’ll be able to stand firm and not waiver knowing that the best is yet to come…and come it will.

First, I think that the downtown business district should be supplied with free, wireless, high-speed internet access.  This should be paid for by the city government and it’s should be maintained by the city government for the life of the technology.  Further, the city government should build into it’s annual budget the money to keep up with the internet technology, whatever that may ultimately become.  Why?  Because Main Street should, in a small part, be a cooperation between the public and the private.  I am a firm believer that the machine of industry, whether blue or white, is the responsibility of the citizenry and the entrepreneur.  However, the infrastructure needed to have a Main Street is the responsibility of the government.  In the Present and the Future, this infrastructure includes the internet.

What will this infrastructure give the Newton’s?

First, the internet is the way the world works today.  That is a given.  e-Commerce, media, social interaction and information are all the bailiwick of the internet and everyone uses it; Boomer’s are embracing it, Xer’s do business with it and Millennial’s accept it as a way of life.  Because we will have a city core that is free and open to the internet, we will draw the laptops, iPods and iPads to the core at all times of the day and evening.  These people are the users and purchasers.  They are attendees of structured and unstructured activities.  They are the users of the “third spaces.”  Further, they are the humans that the businesses of downtown need for life.

Second, with wireless internet access and people downtown, this will fill the storefront businesses with consumers; consumers of goods, consumers of services and consumers of ideas.  This lifeblood is absolutely required for the entrepreneur.  For the businesses that are already downtown, the internet access will enable them to start e-commerce links for their stores.  Think of it!  While the Newton’s resident is sitting outside your store waiting for a friend, drinking the coffee they purchased at your store, at the sidewalk bistro table you put out, and while purchasing a pair of climbing shoes from an online retailer on their new iPad, so too is someone in a Pennsylvania kitchen purchasing baking utensils from a Newton store.  e-Commerce!  Let’s embrace it.

Now for the Business Incubator idea.   I think there should be a limited number of downtown storefronts scattered among the various blocks that are designated “Business Incubator Zones.”  These storefronts are leased for a finite term, say six months to a year, for little or no cost to the lessor in exchange for his/her willingness to take that newly hatched and weaned business to a rentable storefront after that time.  During their time in the B.I.Z. (Nice acronym.  I think I’ll use that!) they will have a Technology Mentor to train them set up the electronic end of their business or service and they will have a Business Mentor to train them on the day to day details of living and working on Main Street.  Local financiers would make available low interest loans to these entrepreneurs to get them started.  The local Chamber of Commerce would give them one free year of membership in exchange for participation in community service projects the CoC sponsors.  In turn, the CoC would help promote the new B.I.Z. businesses in the Newton’s, the county and the surrounding areas.

While some ideas and entrepreneurs will inevitably fail, others will flourish.  The constant movement of signs and products will constantly change in the B.I.Z., but the Newton’s shouldn’t mourn the loss.  Maybe they’re going on to be successful; maybe not.  Either way, it’s another person’s turn to start something new, fresh and innovative.  That’s what the Newton’s are all about:  new, fresh and innovative.  It’s the entrepreneurs spirit!

The bottom line is this community should do everything in it’s collective power to promote ideas and success.  People with good ideas should be nurtured by other businesses and the patrons of the Newton’s will be growing the local economy and providing more opportunities for the “third spaces” that will make the community more marketable.

Now, I’m not advocating trying to quantify the notion of “wellness.”  There are qualified people in the medical field that can speak to that.  But what I am advocating is a separation of these two terms.  ”Green” refers to anything that is ecologically friendly whether that is defined by the buildings we use or the cars we drive or the products we buy.  ”Wellness,” on the other hand, should speak to the kind of lives we lead.  I’m speaking very directly about the quality of air and water in our communities, the opportunities to exercise whether recreationally or competitively, the opportunities we have to walk or ride to work or school versus drive.  It speaks to the availability to foods that are fresh and healthy, whether that is the whole foods section of your local corporate marketplace or your downtown, Saturday morning farmer’s market.  If I may be bold, I would assert that “green” falls under the umbrella of “wellness,” and Wellness (with a capitol “W”) should be the focus of our attention rather than what rating we apply to new or repurposed homes and businesses, factories and warehouses.

Great Plains communities of the future, and the Newton’s in particular, are going to need to market themselves not only as “cool” cities, but as “Healthy” and “Well” communities.  It may have been about commerce and production in the past twenty years, but in the next twenty it’s definitely about being healthy, whether Millennials or ‘Boomers.  Our city government (notably the planning department) have been steadfastly planning and building the Newton’s Hike/Bike Path.  It’s an organized and documented “Wellness” path that runs the entire length of our two communities.  I think that path should become the impetus for all development in the city.  I think that vital pieces of the community (athletic areas, recreation areas, business parks, neighborhoods, etc.) should connect to the path or allow the path to wonder through or be situated adjacent to the path.  Each of these scenarios will increase the “Wellness Profile” of use and living thereby giving a “wellness index” to each.  Now, as a new resident to the Newton’s, I can choose to purchase a house in Wellness Index Area _ , or I can build my new business in Wellness Index Area _ , or my child’s school is in Wellness Index Area _ .  The Newton’s themselves should have a wellness index in the State of Kansas, as the Great Plains will inevitably have in the future.

Final thought?  Each and every new growth opportunity, whether individual business or service or neighborhood scale, in these two cities should first ask the question:  ”Where along the Wellness Trail should I plant my development?”