Impact Resistant?

Posted by PatteeGorilla on Feb 1, 2012 in Develop-MENTAL, February/March 2012 | 1 comment

The constant battle to develop the northern blocks of market street.

By Matt Edens

“All businesses are equal as far as I am concerned.” That’s what Mayor Randy McClement said when executive chef Bryan Voltaggio, co-owner—with partner Hilda Staples—of Frederick’s Volt restaurant, asked the city for relief from an estimated $200,000 in water and sewer impact fees for a planned, new eatery. 

Overall, I can appreciate McClement’s position. As far as the city reducing or waiving fees and requirements is concerned, it shouldn’t matter who is doing the asking. 

A Fairytale of “Two Cities”

Posted by PatteeGorilla on Dec 1, 2011 in December2011/January2012, Develop-MENTAL | 0 comments

By Matt Edens

It’s not every day that you open a magazine and find you’ve been elevated to the peerage. But it happened to me. The Gorilla’s October issue contained a rant by Gary Brooks, chair of Frederick City, southwest’s Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) 8, which is west of Route 15 and between Route 40 and I-70.

According to Brooks, who lives in Hillcrest, I’m one of Frederick’s fortunate few, a privileged downtown aristocrat.

Craving the Edge

Posted by Frederick Gorilla on Oct 4, 2011 in Archives, Develop-MENTAL, October/November 2011 | 0 comments

By Matt Edens

You might say I have a little history when it comes to historic preservation. Long before my wife and I bought our circa-1870 townhouse in downtown Frederick, we restored a previously condemned Victorian home in Knoxville, Tennessee. We also invested in the renovation of some other rundown houses, partly to take advantage of the federal tax credits available for historic properties. In addition, I served on the board of a local preservation non-profit and walked door to door with a petition, gathering signatures to get our neighborhood listed as a local historic district.

Precious Authenticity

Posted by gorilla on Aug 1, 2011 in Archives, August/September 2011, Develop-MENTAL | 0 comments

By Matt Edens

America is awash in generica—from generic stores and generic malls to generic food and chain restaurants,” writes Richard Florida. An economic development guru and author, Florida famously coined the term “the creative class” to describe the drivers of today’s post-industrial, creative economy.