David Holtzman
David Holtzman is a planner for Louisa County, Virginia, a freelance writer, and a former Shelterforce editor.
How About Walkable “Small Town-ism”?
Forgive me if, after living in a small town for seven years, I have forgotten exactly what “walkable urbanism” means.
I walk every day on...
Making Mixed-Income Developments Work
A single development with an intentional income mix involves very specific challenges—both in its design and its management.
Control of Farmland, City Style
I have thought a lot lately about the issue of land ownership for farmers, and the barriers they face to buying land so they can plan for growing their business and serving more food consumers. This issue really matters on the edges of metropolitan areas, where farmers can find lucrative markets for their products and […]
Hubs Help Move the Local Food Movement to the Next Level
It’s not unusual to read a press release from a governor’s or mayor’s office celebrating a deal to bring a new company to a neighborhood or city. Typically we’d be talking about a new manufacturing or tech firm, and the press release would speak glowingly of the prospects for economic development. Which makes a bit […]
Do Fences Prevent Good Neighbors?
Lately I've been reading about places where communities are separated by fences. Not divided, as if they had previously been together. I mean places...
A Victory for Local Control re: Fracking
Localities in New York State appear to have won the right to ban fracking, thanks to a decision by the...
Deep-seated, Anti-Government Mood Remains
The stunning upset of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a Republican primary election on Tuesday by a Tea...
Outside Investment or Self-Reliance for Rural Success?
Recently I came across a couple articles that questioned the economic viability of rural areas in large parts of...
A Farm-to-Fork Movement, Starting with the Corner Store
One of the more intriguing aspects of the local food movement in the United States is the effort to...
How Millennials Are Rocking the Cradle
On this blog recently there have been several posts wondering whether the millenials are going to stay in the...
Tiny Homes, Big Solutions
A couple years ago I wrote on this blog about the burgeoning tiny house movement. Individuals across America are...
Maybe Money Really Can Grow On Trees
Guess what? The local food movement is actually good for your local economy! At least that seems to be...
Once a City Dweller, Always a City Dweller?
Just how strong is the long-term allure of the city to young people today? Sure, cities don't have the great public schools and the...
In the South, Politics and Tourism Don’t Mix
The Civil War is big business in Virginia, which saw more than its share of big battles during the...
Landlines Turned Lifelines
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the growing hardships of people living a rural life. They tend to have...
If You Build It: A Story of Transformation Through Education
“If You Build It,” a new film directed by Patrick Creadon, explores what happens when teachers urge students to...
Better Business, Better Food…Better Community?
At a grand opening for a new retail market operated by a farm family, celebrants posed for a group photo on the sidewalk and...
Cause of Death: Rural Life?
Every once in a while I read that the federal government has come up with some new definitions for...
Despite Changing Dollar Store Demographic, NIMBY Attitude Persists
Last winter I wrote about a possible trend in which dollar stores were moving into older downtowns, filling vacant spaces abandoned decades ago when...
Can a Community Fair Save a Dying Town?
Last weekend there were two ribbon cuttings here in Louisa County. One was for an expansion of the food...
