You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
Critics say they're dirty, that it has enormous leave-behinds in the form of ash, pollutants like sulphuric acids, arsenic and loads of carbon dioxide, not to mention the costs - both quantifiable and non-quantifiable - for mining, disposing of leave-behinds, and illnesses in the local communities.
Doesn't sound like a really pleasant thing to be around, does it? Did you know that Virginia Tech has it's own power plant, and that it's fueled by coal, that dirtiest of fossil fuels?
Before you jump up and start making picket signs, check out this article by 16 Blocks Magazine - it might just give you a different perspective on new ways that 800 pound gorilla we call Virginia Tech is discovering to serve an increasing demand while minimizing its' impact. Think it isn't working? The systems installed in the Virginia Tech facility have resulted in "a ninety percent reduction in emissions and a smoke stack that hardly seems to smoke at all. By industry standards, an emissions opacity of ten percent is considered good. VTPP's opacity hovers between two and three percent, a level of smoke invisible even in broad daylight."
The Current yesterday ran a "forum" piece regarding the proposed Blacksburg workforce housing project that's been hotly debated; it appears that the forum was a response to this October 5th editorial.
Please tell me this was a joke. Honestly. I'm confused as to the message this sends to community residents.
Quotes include:
"Residents ... would have the convenience of having elementary, middle and (proposed) high schools; churches; parks; recreation fields; and grocery and other shopping located one mile or less from their neighborhood"
"Blacksburg Transit service would be extended to the site ..."
the residents would enjoy "social and environmental benefits of living in an EarthCraftdesigned and certified community -- the first such proposed project in Virginia"
Why is the Blacksburg Housing and Community Development Advisory Board determining that the best place to put an affordable housing project is outside the Town limits? At least on the Harding Avenue site we were attempting to annex the property so that it'd be within the Town boundaries and it has easier access to downtown, but to say the Merrimac Road location is the best solution is crazy. The whole goal of the project is to find a location where residents can easily interact with things happening within the Town while utilizing current roads, public transportation and walking and biking trails, but as it is now the Merrimac Road location is outside of Town limits, and provides no easy alternative to get in and out of the downtown area other than Price's Fork Road. I haven't driven it - yet - but I'd guess the Merrimac Road location is nearly 5 miles from Main Street and College Avenue, widely regarded as the "center" of downtown. The Harding Avenue location is maybe half that, and for the most part follows established bike paths and suburban streets? Furthermore, to extend Blacksburg Transit just to serve this community smacks of "thank us for our generosity." The Harding Avenue had a bus stop literally yards away, eliminating the need for heavy rerouting of buses and scheduling.
The forum goes on to say that the project will be green and efficient, and will be the first such project proposed in Virginia. If they're referring to affordable housing that may be the case, but I don't think it's the first EarthCraft certified community in the state, nor is it the first in Blacksburg.
Why is this important? Taking care of our environment is more than a fad, it's the right thing to do. We have a legacy to leave - what will it be? If you enjoyed this post, why not leave a comment and subscribe via RSS or email here to be sure you don't miss the next post?
Zach Crizer of The Collegiate Times called me early last week and asked "why do people decide to invest in college towns?" We talked for a few minutes, and later in the week he posted "Blacksburg Real Estate Weathers Financial Storm".
Thanks, Zach, for the chance to talk with you, and to be quoted in the same article as someone as well known in his field as Dr. Koebel was an honor. He certainly described it in much more intelligent terms, but at least I didn't stutter.
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