James Rojas

Articles

  • The Prophet of Micropolis

    January 7, 2019

    Vincent DeSantis, the author of “Toward Civic Integrity: Re-establishing the Micropolis,” published eleven years ago, works in the spirit of Holly Whyte: quietly, carefully and with great acuity. Vince was my host, at his B&B, on my trips to Gloversville, New York. He is a Gloversville native, an attorney, served as the City Court judge in town for years and is now the at-large member of the city’s Common Council. He’s the moving force behind many of the good things happening in Gloversville. What I didn’t know, I suppose because of his reserve and modesty, is that he wrote a book that was years ahead of its time and that even today should be essential reading for everyone involved in placemaking. Back in 2007, Vince was conclusively making the case for small cities and how to revitalize them.

  • When Main Street is a State Highway: Building Community through Transportation in Valentine, Nebraska

    January 1, 2019

    Highway 83 runs from North Texas straight through to North Dakota. Valentine, Nebraska sits somewhere in the upper middle, the closest neighbor the Rosebud Lakota Sioux reservation, where Highway 83 morphs into Main Street. Valentine is lucky: the looming façade to façade reconstruction of Main Street - is a cause for celebration. 

  • Viva Las Vegas (NM): 200 years Hispano Urban Design & Architecture

    November 26, 2018

    Inspired by his time in the Southwest for the 2018 CIRD Workshop in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Resource Team Member James Rojas authored this piece, in which he uses examples from West Las Vegas to demonstrate the material significance of Hispano urban design and architecture and its importance in preservation and expression of local Hispano culture.

  • Restoring a River Park – Restoring Relationships: Improving Environmental and Community Health in Las Vegas, NM

    November 26, 2018

    This year’s CIRD Workshop in Las Vegas, New Mexico, hosted by the  Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance (HPWA) – a Las Vegas-based environmental non-profit with more than ten years of experience in watershed restoration projects – brought a new focus to active listening and drew upon the community's knowledge to drive the design and planning of the town’s future river park. By empowering independent voices, members of the town worked toward a foundation of communal trust and common purpose: what emerged was a shared love and value for the river.

  • Call for Contributions to the “Greatest Hits” Issue of the CIRD Newsletter this December

    November 13, 2018
    Calling all CIRD Awardees Past and Present!
     
    As Project for Public Spaces' tenure with the CIRD program concludes, we ask that you JOIN US in celebrating this great collaboration! This December's CIRD Newsletter will feature PPSxCIRDs "Greatest Hits" and we’d love to include you in that piece. We ask that you complete the attached survey, share your proudest CIRD moments, most surprising CIRD outcomes, and other meaningful CIRD memories with us! 

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