The opening of the Bend, Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery in Roanoke, Virginia is bringing a new realm of possibilities for future development in the former railroad town, as it looks to go from "trains to brains."
Reporting for WSLS in Roanoke, anchor John Carlin travels to Bend, Oregon, the home of Deschutes Brewery, to see what makes the town tick and to see how Roanoke can learn from the small city on the other side of the country. The 30-year transformation of Bend, Oregon from an economy based on the timber industry to a home for small tech companies, micro-breweries, and outdoor recreation is providing a template for Roanoke, a former railroad town, which also boasts nearby outdoor attractions and a growing micro-brewery culture. The question now becomes: Can Roanoke capitalize on its resources?
Could Roanoke do what Bend did? Deschutes CEO Gary Fish seems to think so.
“In my experience there’s two directions they go. Outdoor recreation and tech.”
...
“You want to attract a clean business. The clean industry. We just came out of a phase where it was kind of the dirty industry, the heavy-industrial phase of our development. So we want to go we want to swing away from that. And we’re going to attract all the tech companies the clean industry that doesn’t leave a mark, but generates a lot of economic activity,” he said, then added, “Well, there’s only every other community in the country it’s trying to do exactly that same thing.”
FULL STORY: As goes Bend? Can Roanoke go?
Bend, Deschutes County Move to Restrict Major Homeless Encampment
City and county officials are closing off portions of an area known as Juniper Ridge where many unhoused residents find shelter, hoping to direct people to housing and supportive services.
Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest
The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.
New Haven Reaches for Reinvention Amidst Failures of Urban Renewal
Seeking recovery from decades of failed urban renewal projects, New Haven rings in the new year by continuing a series of small-scale urban planning initiatives to reinvent its municipal spaces.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars
Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.
As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?
With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)