Live/Work Grows Up
Admittedly my last few posts have been long in promise and short on details. You see, there’ve been a lot of big happenings behind the scenes at Live/Work and between these developments and running Kinesis, updating the blog has taken the back burner.
BUT, don’t despair…we’re making important changes, all centered around the theme of giving this site a real home and new purpose. You might say it’s time to grow up.
The Past…
Nearly three years ago I began this site mostly as a way to help myself (and others) maintain a visual/written record of small-scale development in Portland. In that time I’ve been contacted by dozens of people from around the world – all interested in some aspect of the site. It’s been especially rewarding to help others avoid the pitfalls I’ve encountered along the way, and to learn about new and exciting trends and products in the building industry.
That said, I never intended Live/Work to be a “big deal”…but, strangely enough, it HAS become a big deal. At last count, we’ve had over 600 visitors per month, with folks arriving at the site from searches relating to everything from “concrete countertops” to “cement siding.” I’ve made new friends and learned about some amazing businesses as a result of this endeavor.
At the same time, I’ve realized Live/Work has its limitations. It’s very niche focus and has lost some momentum as my project stalled. I realized that I needed to expand the dialogue and bring in other interesting topics and areas of focus. The entrepreneur in me also sees an opportunity to expand the conversation…
The Future…
In the coming months I’ll be launching a new site that centers around the products, developments, and businesses working in and around Portland. The new site will be a combination of both personal projects (like Live/Work) as well as topics relevant to development and building in the place I call home. For now, I’m keeping the focus of this new effort relatively broad. Here are some criteria for inclusion in the new site…
- Do you MAKE something in Portland or the surrounding area?
- Do you make something that has something to do with building design, sustainable development, interior design, construction, or related trades?
- Are you a craftsman (crafstwoman!)? Do you make things with your hands that are unique and memorable?
- Do you contribute to a larger dialogue on the use of space and design?
- Are you working in or around the “green building” revolution?
These are just some general guidelines and I’ll be refining the criteria in the coming weeks. Now is a GREAT time to get in, however, as the new site will be HUNGRY for CONTENT. If you’ve got a product or business that seems to fit this model, please contact me at s[at]shawnbusse[dot]com. I’m just now setting about the process of reviewing what will go in the new site.
But what if I don’t make stuff in Portland?
For those of you outside the Portland area, fear not! The new site (code name PDXBuilt) will feature projects and topics that relate to the main focus areas of the site – even if not directly in Portland proper. Examples might include…
- Businesses with practices that relate to or could affect development in Portland.
- Businesses or individuals who may not live here, but do important work here here (for example, Serious Windows makes a fantastic 3-pane window that is just now being offered through Portland distributor Medallion Industries.)
- People who are making GREAT THINGS that Portlanders could learn from. Chad’s 100k House is a great example of a project that’s built in Philadelphia, but that has great relevance in Portland and beyond.
As always, thanks for your continued support of Live/Work. Feel free to leave comments, send me an email, or simply check back when I announce the launch of the new site.