FrankLloydMike
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As has been discussed in the Manchester Developments thread, I am planning to start a website to promote livability, traditional neighborhoods, urban development and smart growth in Manchester, New Hampshire similar to what Greater City: Providence is doing there.
I am starting this thread initially to gather input on the site content, direction and name. Once it's up, I hope this thread will continue to offer ideas, feedback and criticism as necessary for the website.
The website will initially start out small, and hopefully grow with more contributors, ideas, proposals and so on. I will set it up initially, offering some basic information and explaining the mission of the website, and presumably solicit contributions or further information from interested parties, particularly resident-advocates. I'm not sure how this will work, but I'm guessing that at least in the beginning I will serve as a sort of editor/publisher and contributors will have to submit ideas, posts, information and tips, which I will then post (crediting the contributors, of course). Perhaps in the future, there can be more of an editorial board made up of major contributors, neighborhood editors and so on, while I would likely continue to serve as publisher.
The site will focus primarily on Manchester, both the city as a whole and individual neighborhoods and groups of neighborhoods. Reflecting the somewhat arbitrary municipal lines, I think it would be good to also include information on urbanized or ubanizing areas immediately adjacent to Manchester, such as Pinardville in Goffstown and the South River Road corridor in Bedford. Pertinent major developments in neighboring towns (Woodmont Orchards in Londonderry, for instance) and projects of regional importance (Capitol Corridor commuter rail, for instance) could also be included.
Content
Here are my thoughts on what the website should contain, whether initially or eventually:
Name
As far as a name goes, I am thinking of LivableMHT. I like this for a number of reasons: it?s succinct and clearly articulates the focus of the site; the airport code, MHT, is less generic and wordy than either Manchester or Queen City, and is clearly associated with the city; MHT also indicates a primary focus on Manchester with a secondary interest in the region; LivableMHT can easily be both the name of the website/organization and the URL address. While it?s a bit cheesy, it also lends itself to a slogan like ?Manchester: Livable, Lovable? or something similar. I?m far from set on this, though, and would really like some feedback. The content can be easily adjusted later, but the name won?t be so flexible.
Mission Statement
Finally, here?s a first draft mission statement that I would post on the ?About? section, and which should sum up the goals, intentions and focus of the site:
LivableMHT is a website dedicated to gathering information regarding livability issues, the built environment and planning in Manchester, New Hampshire. LivableMHT also promotes livability issues, traditional neighborhoods, urban growth, pedestrian and transit-oriented development, public transit and alternative transportation, neighborhood revitalization and civic beautification efforts to create more vibrant communities and improve the quality of life for residents of Manchester and the surrounding region.
I think either linking to or explaining ?livability? (perhaps that it?s the flip side of the same coin more often focused on conserving open space and fighting sprawl in rural New Hampshire) would be helpful.
Feedback needed
I?m hoping to get this started soon, so any feedback would be hugely appreciated. Everything I?ve written here is an early draft and I?m not wedded to any of it. For this site to be successful, it?s going to need to reflect the input and ambitions of members of the Manchester community and those of us interested in seeing its further growth through smart planning and development.
I am starting this thread initially to gather input on the site content, direction and name. Once it's up, I hope this thread will continue to offer ideas, feedback and criticism as necessary for the website.
The website will initially start out small, and hopefully grow with more contributors, ideas, proposals and so on. I will set it up initially, offering some basic information and explaining the mission of the website, and presumably solicit contributions or further information from interested parties, particularly resident-advocates. I'm not sure how this will work, but I'm guessing that at least in the beginning I will serve as a sort of editor/publisher and contributors will have to submit ideas, posts, information and tips, which I will then post (crediting the contributors, of course). Perhaps in the future, there can be more of an editorial board made up of major contributors, neighborhood editors and so on, while I would likely continue to serve as publisher.
The site will focus primarily on Manchester, both the city as a whole and individual neighborhoods and groups of neighborhoods. Reflecting the somewhat arbitrary municipal lines, I think it would be good to also include information on urbanized or ubanizing areas immediately adjacent to Manchester, such as Pinardville in Goffstown and the South River Road corridor in Bedford. Pertinent major developments in neighboring towns (Woodmont Orchards in Londonderry, for instance) and projects of regional importance (Capitol Corridor commuter rail, for instance) could also be included.
Content
Here are my thoughts on what the website should contain, whether initially or eventually:
- Act as a clearinghouse for information regarding plans, proposals, projects, developments, ordinances, zoning and so forth, which right now is spread across a wide number of websites and agencies. I think this would consist of links to relevant materials sorted by project, neighborhoods, etc.
- Publish columns, posts, opinion pieces and news from myself and contributors (plus links to pertinent pieces elsewhere) regarding livability issues, the built environment and community efforts toward the same
- Generate community and resident-driven ideas, development plans and proposals, neighborhood plans, zoning and ordiance proposals, development strategies and so on
- Provide maps of neighborhoods (according to the City planning department) and neighborhood centers; major ongoing, proposed and potential developments; transit and alternative transportation; and so on
- Post (perhaps on an affiliated flickr account) images of historic, current and proposed neighborhoods, developments and the city in general
- Link to planning agencies and departments, government and civic groups, transit and transportation planners and advocates, neighborhood groups, related websites and advocacy groups for other cities and livability issues in general
Name
As far as a name goes, I am thinking of LivableMHT. I like this for a number of reasons: it?s succinct and clearly articulates the focus of the site; the airport code, MHT, is less generic and wordy than either Manchester or Queen City, and is clearly associated with the city; MHT also indicates a primary focus on Manchester with a secondary interest in the region; LivableMHT can easily be both the name of the website/organization and the URL address. While it?s a bit cheesy, it also lends itself to a slogan like ?Manchester: Livable, Lovable? or something similar. I?m far from set on this, though, and would really like some feedback. The content can be easily adjusted later, but the name won?t be so flexible.
Mission Statement
Finally, here?s a first draft mission statement that I would post on the ?About? section, and which should sum up the goals, intentions and focus of the site:
LivableMHT is a website dedicated to gathering information regarding livability issues, the built environment and planning in Manchester, New Hampshire. LivableMHT also promotes livability issues, traditional neighborhoods, urban growth, pedestrian and transit-oriented development, public transit and alternative transportation, neighborhood revitalization and civic beautification efforts to create more vibrant communities and improve the quality of life for residents of Manchester and the surrounding region.
I think either linking to or explaining ?livability? (perhaps that it?s the flip side of the same coin more often focused on conserving open space and fighting sprawl in rural New Hampshire) would be helpful.
Feedback needed
I?m hoping to get this started soon, so any feedback would be hugely appreciated. Everything I?ve written here is an early draft and I?m not wedded to any of it. For this site to be successful, it?s going to need to reflect the input and ambitions of members of the Manchester community and those of us interested in seeing its further growth through smart planning and development.