http://www.metropulse.com/news/columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urban/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Shot of Urban by Michael Haynesen-uscolumns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanhttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/may/08/spare-change-are-we-making-too-big-deal-over-panha/?partner=RSSA few weeks ago I read a post on a local Internet forum that touched on a familiar theme. Wed, 08 May 2013 15:16:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26006-734996columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSpare Change: Are We Making Too Big a Deal Over Panhandling?MetroPulsespare-change-are-we-making-too-big-deal-over-panhaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26006-734996Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/apr/17/lines-communication-can-downtowns-faulty-broadband/?partner=RSSThere’s a lot to downtown that isn’t on the surface. Beneath our streets and sidewalks, a labyrinth of sewers, pipelines, and conduits make up part of the infrastructure needed to sustain a city. With the coming of the digital age, those have been joined by more pathways to deliver the Internet connectivity that has become the hallmark of modern life. Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:41:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25922-734975columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNLines of Communication: Can Downtown's Faulty Broadband Access Be Improved?MetroPulselines-communication-can-downtowns-faulty-broadbandurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25922-734975Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/mar/13/sidewalk-stories-taking-back-citys-sidewalks-pedes/?partner=RSSAs downtown continues its revival, the effect of playing host to more people has meant several things, not the least of which is more traffic. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:59:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25777-734940columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSidewalk Stories: Taking Back the City's Sidewalks for PedestriansMetroPulsesidewalk-stories-taking-back-citys-sidewalks-pedesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25777-734940Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/feb/13/signs-change-will-city-finally-shake-gay-streets-a/?partner=RSSA few months back, I lamented that Gay Street, despite having just won accolades as one of the best streets in America, still needed a significant amount of improvement to function well as an urban thoroughfare. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25667-734912columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSigns of Change: Will the City Finally Shake Up Gay Street's All-Day Parking?MetroPulsesigns-change-will-city-finally-shake-gay-streets-aurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25667-734912Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jan/16/sounds-city-tuning-downtowns-ambient-soundscape/?partner=RSSIt’s weird how the mind works. For example, every day we’re assailed by sights, smells, sounds and more. Yet we’re able to filter out so much of it. Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25564-734884columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSounds of the City: Tuning in Downtown's Ambient SoundscapeMetroPulsesounds-city-tuning-downtowns-ambient-soundscapeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25564-734884Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/dec/19/grab-and-go-chick-fil--vacating-first-tennessee-pl/?partner=RSSMonday through Friday, anyway, the southern end of downtown around the city’s tallest buildings smelled like fried chicken. More specifically, it smelled like Chick-fil-A fried chicken. After years in the First Tennessee Plaza, the recently embattled chain has moved out and taken its fried-chicken smell with it. Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:38:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25469-734856columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNGrab and Go: With Chick-fil-A Vacating First Tennessee Plaza, Downtown Faces Dearth of Brand NamesMetroPulsegrab-and-go-chick-fil--vacating-first-tennessee-plurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25469-734856Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/nov/20/seasonal-observances-downtown-begins-its-annual-ho/?partner=RSSI doubt anybody’s noticed yet. But that’s to be expected, considering. After all, at the beginning of the month, all eyes were on the northeast in anticipation of a freakish storm. Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:37:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25374-734827columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSeasonal Observances: Downtown Begins Its Annual Holiday RitualsMetroPulseseasonal-observances-downtown-begins-its-annual-hourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25374-734827Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/oct/24/street-view-despite-top-10-title-gay-street-could/?partner=RSSI was on my way back home the other day from one of those excursions, having just crossed the Gay Street Bridge to my side of the river late one Saturday morning, when I noticed something. Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25224-734800columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNStreet View: Despite Top-10 Title, Gay Street Could Use Some RethinkingMetroPulsestreet-view-despite-top-10-title-gay-street-couldurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25224-734800Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/sep/26/parking-instinct-why-doesnt-city-study-downtown-pa/?partner=RSSNext week, the City of Knoxville will take yet another blind step in its uninformed quest to enhance downtown parking when it boots up two multi-space parking meters on the 100 Block of Gay Street next month. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25116-734772columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNParking By Instinct: Why Doesn't the City Study Downtown Parking Needs Before Addressing Them?MetroPulseparking-instinct-why-doesnt-city-study-downtown-paurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25116-734772Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/aug/29/seasons-city-tracking-downtowns-unique-harbingers/?partner=RSSI don’t know about you, but I’m going to be happy to see this summer go. Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25012-734744columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSeasons in the City: Tracking Downtown's Unique Harbingers of ChangeMetroPulseseasons-city-tracking-downtowns-unique-harbingersurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25012-734744Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/aug/08/park-it-we-await-new-garages-downtowns-parking-pro/?partner=RSSAs you’ve probably heard by now, downtown is slated to get additional parking via two pending projects. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:01:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24922-734723columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNPark It: As We Await New Garages, Downtown's "Parking Problem" is Easily SolvedMetroPulsepark-it-we-await-new-garages-downtowns-parking-prourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24922-734723Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jul/03/can-there-be-such-thing-too-much-liveliness-downto/?partner=RSSLike a lot of people, I keep a calendar. There are the standard birthdays, holidays, appointments, and reminders that you might expect to find on anyone’s calendar—places I need to be and things I need to do. But the majority of entries are actually things I have no intention of participating in, despite the fact that I’m probably going to be there. Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24803-734687columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNCan There Be Such a Thing as Too Much Liveliness Downtown?MetroPulsecan-there-be-such-thing-too-much-liveliness-downtourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24803-734687Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jun/06/does-downtown-really-need-new-parking-garage/?partner=RSSKimberly-Clark Corporation has been evaluating a move, claiming that downtown is no longer suitable for its operations, and last month announced the pending sale of its 12-story office building at Locust and Summit Hill Drive. Parking, downtown’s perpetual purported problem, was rumored to be among the reasons for their tentative move. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:37:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24698-734660columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNDoes Downtown Really Need a New Parking Garage?MetroPulsedoes-downtown-really-need-new-parking-garageurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24698-734660Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/09/changing-demographics-changing-downtown-knoxville/?partner=RSSI haven’t seen the figures lately. But I’m pretty confident that the number of people who are choosing to make downtown their home is continuing to grow. That’s interesting to me, especially since I know so many old friends and former neighbors who have now moved away. Wed, 09 May 2012 16:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24602-734632columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNThe Changing Demographics of a Changing Downtown KnoxvilleMetroPulsechanging-demographics-changing-downtown-knoxvilleurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24602-734632Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/11/downtown-knoxvilles-pace-slowing-down-good-way/?partner=RSSThere is a well accepted, almost universal, perspective of urban living as more fast-paced than that of the suburbs and countryside. And in some respects that rings true, particularly in bigger cities. But there’s another side, especially in downtown Knoxville, that belies that notion. I see it every day. There’s an argument to be made that the denizens of the city may very well enjoy a slower lifestyle than our suburban counterparts. Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:57:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24479-734604columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNDowntown Knoxville’s Pace Is Slowing Down—In A Good WayMetroPulsedowntown-knoxvilles-pace-slowing-down-good-wayurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24479-734604Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/14/revamping-cbids-goals/?partner=RSSIt’s hard to think of a project in recent years that hasn’t benefited from the CBID’s largesse. And that’s causing friction. In recent weeks, the CBID has suspended its grant program, and is currently reassessing the criteria it employs in providing grants to downtown developers. Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24367-734576columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNRevamping the CBID's GoalsMetroPulserevamping-cbids-goalsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24367-734576Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/15/some-suggestions-knoxville-visitor-center/?partner=RSSI’m not exactly sure what to make of the flap over the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation, except that change is inevitable. What I do know a bit about is the visitor center they operate at the corner of Gay Street and Summit Hill. They’ve been my neighbors for quite a while. You can gather a lot about your neighbors just from observation. And I can easily make some suggestions about the changes that need to happen just up Gay Street. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:58:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24257-734548columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNSome Suggestions For the Knoxville Visitor CenterMetroPulsesome-suggestions-knoxville-visitor-centerurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24257-734548Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/18/why-walmart-not-threat-downtown-we-might-expect/?partner=RSSA couple of weeks ago, when word came that developers were eyeing the former Fulton Bellows site along Third Creek as a possible location for a new shopping complex to include a Walmart and Publix, hands started wringing. After all, Walmart has a reputation for luring customers away from local businesses, and some felt that if the plans go through it could take dollars away from our downtown. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:42:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24156-734520columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNWhy Walmart Is Not the Threat to Downtown We Might ExpectMetroPulsewhy-walmart-not-threat-downtown-we-might-expecturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24156-734520Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/21/downtowns-real-parking-problem/?partner=RSSIt’s that time of year again! I was heading home the other day for lunch when I first noticed the bits of bright color adorning dozens of cars. It’s not the annual tradition of Christmas in the City. But you can always tell it’s one of those special times of year downtown when the Knoxville Police Department has a fresh crop of cadets. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24052-734492columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNDowntown's Real Parking ProblemMetroPulsedowntowns-real-parking-problemurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24052-734492Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/23/hidden-life-downtown-alleyway/?partner=RSSThe alley (sometimes called Fire Street) that runs the length of Gay Street’s 100 Block plays host to a lot of things. In fact, in terms of mixed use, it may be one of the most diverse places in downtown. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:31:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23935-734464columns/knoxville-issues/shot-of-urbanMichael HaynesKnoxville, TNThe Hidden Life of a Downtown AlleywayMetroPulsehidden-life-downtown-alleywayurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23935-734464Change0Usable