Toon Dreessen
@toondreessen.bsky.social
Architect Husband Dad he/him; past pres @oaarchitects.bsky.social; president @architectsdca.bsky.social; writer, public speaker, advocate for #procurement reform; #climatepoli @riseforarch
Automobile dependency and its related automotive poverty has harmed our cities but we keep building paving and parking like it will solve our problems. Build #PlacesForPeople instead.
November 18, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Automobile dependency and its related automotive poverty has harmed our cities but we keep building paving and parking like it will solve our problems. Build #PlacesForPeople instead.
No not really… it cooks quickly (I do mine in stock until soft, then purée, back into pot to cook off, add s&p and a bit of cream, then some browned butter.
November 17, 2025 at 1:11 AM
No not really… it cooks quickly (I do mine in stock until soft, then purée, back into pot to cook off, add s&p and a bit of cream, then some browned butter.
I’d read that to my grandkids.
November 16, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I’d read that to my grandkids.
Directors cut of Apocalypse Now; and then the entire Ken Burns Vietnam series. Leaves me in tears every time.
a poster that says ' apocalypse now ' at the top
ALT: a poster that says ' apocalypse now ' at the top
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Directors cut of Apocalypse Now; and then the entire Ken Burns Vietnam series. Leaves me in tears every time.
And what city would support; also gives voice to smaller developers/builders and architecture firms so it’s not the same grey/beige/silver boring AF buildings we get over and over. Cost to city is less than $100k per site, a budget rounding error. Result is a #PlaceForPeople
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
And what city would support; also gives voice to smaller developers/builders and architecture firms so it’s not the same grey/beige/silver boring AF buildings we get over and over. Cost to city is less than $100k per site, a budget rounding error. Result is a #PlaceForPeople
Would be for city to host this as a design competition which would create the form, mass and scaling of the dev w/in that “highest best” use and/or point out modest changes to zoning that make it make more sense. That becomes basis for owner to push forward w/projeft knowing what’s possible 5/
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Would be for city to host this as a design competition which would create the form, mass and scaling of the dev w/in that “highest best” use and/or point out modest changes to zoning that make it make more sense. That becomes basis for owner to push forward w/projeft knowing what’s possible 5/
(Yeah not totally sure how it all works but where there’s a will there’s a way); key to this is clearing the hurdles of bureaucracy out of the path so that this gets done quickly; those Y2 number can be developed by (at its most basic) an architect working off the city’s source list but better 4/
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
(Yeah not totally sure how it all works but where there’s a will there’s a way); key to this is clearing the hurdles of bureaucracy out of the path so that this gets done quickly; those Y2 number can be developed by (at its most basic) an architect working off the city’s source list but better 4/
Revenue stream to offset it, or they’re going to sell and/or develop. Part of the Y2 info is an offer to buy the land and transfer to a community land trust, coop or non profit; if that’s taken, then city holds land in trust as collateral for construction financing so NP can leverage to get $ 3/
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Revenue stream to offset it, or they’re going to sell and/or develop. Part of the Y2 info is an offer to buy the land and transfer to a community land trust, coop or non profit; if that’s taken, then city holds land in trust as collateral for construction financing so NP can leverage to get $ 3/
Go to them and say “this is the as of right dev potential of your land” in sq ft and units. “And this is the property tax you’d be paying on it.” And give them a year to get going. Year three: charge 10% of those taxes. 20% next year and so on. Within a few years they’re either paying taxes w/no 2/
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Go to them and say “this is the as of right dev potential of your land” in sq ft and units. “And this is the property tax you’d be paying on it.” And give them a year to get going. Year three: charge 10% of those taxes. 20% next year and so on. Within a few years they’re either paying taxes w/no 2/
Yup; I’ve written about this somewhere: go to each land owner and invite them to submit an SPA and then permit and start construction; go back a year later if no action and say they’ve got to get moving. At that 2nd year (bc honestly that’s how long it takes to get this stuff moving) 1/
November 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Yup; I’ve written about this somewhere: go to each land owner and invite them to submit an SPA and then permit and start construction; go back a year later if no action and say they’ve got to get moving. At that 2nd year (bc honestly that’s how long it takes to get this stuff moving) 1/