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Ben Kaplan
Ben Kaplan

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Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Mar 16

Steak and Dessert Urbanism

I can’t stop thinking of this framing about one of the big current debates in urbanism by Addison Del Mastro: I think a lot of critics of urbanism/walkability/etc. think that what we’re saying is, essentially, “eat your vegetables” — that we agree with them that these things are inferior and…

Urbanism

3 min read

Steak and Dessert Urbanism
Steak and Dessert Urbanism
Urbanism

3 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Jun 17, 2022

Dunkin Donuts Coming to WFLA Building

Eastern Iowa Food service will be converting the WFLA building on 1st Ave and 19th St NE into a Dunkin Donuts and the regional offices of Eastern Iowa Food Service according to Andrea Farley, who oversees the Dunkin Donuts franchises the company operates in the corridor area, and Clifford Reif…

Cedar Rapids

1 min read

Dunkin Donuts Coming to WFLA Building
Dunkin Donuts Coming to WFLA Building
Cedar Rapids

1 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Sep 9, 2021

Would It Make Cedar Rapids Better If This Was Torn Down for a Gas Station?

Obviously not. — Kwik Trip Inc. Wants to Build A Gas Station at 1900 1st Ave NE Kwik Trip Inc. wants to rezone 1900 1st Ave NE to put in a KwikStar gas station and convenience store. Kwik Trip Inc. operates gas station and convienence stores under the KwikTrip, KwikStar and Tobacco Outlet Plus brands. …

Cedar Rapids

4 min read

Would It Make Cedar Rapids Better If This Was Torn Down for a Gas Station?
Would It Make Cedar Rapids Better If This Was Torn Down for a Gas Station?
Cedar Rapids

4 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Jun 17, 2021

The Scooter Problem

Change is Hard — I don’t love the scooters. I do love the e-bikes, with their baskets that have a cupholder ring and wide comfortable seats. But the scooters stress my used up cross country knees and test my limited balance. The sit-down scooters are great, but there’s no basket. This is all just…

Bike Sharing

6 min read

The Scooter Problem
The Scooter Problem
Bike Sharing

6 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Jun 11, 2021

Mount Vernon Road is Dangerous By Design

And the city’s proposed redesign keeps it that way. — On Wednesday afternoon, June 9th 2021, two boys ages 12 and 8 were struck on a VeoRide scooter on Mount Vernon Road SE near the intersection of Mount Vernon Road and Camburn Ct. The boys are still in the hospital, with life-threatening injuries. The boys did not stop before turning…

Cedar Rapids

3 min read

Mount Vernon Road is Dangerous By Design
Mount Vernon Road is Dangerous By Design
Cedar Rapids

3 min read


Apr 21, 2021

Color is back on the Mac!

By god, they actually did it. They made the Mac fun again. I love the design of the new iMacs. They’re fun, stylish, and the perfect office or family computer. I was also struck by how clear it is that the new iMac isn’t a replacement for the 27" iMac…

Apple

2 min read

Color is back on the Mac!
Color is back on the Mac!
Apple

2 min read


Jan 7, 2021

The Living Room Putsch

Yesterday, January 6th, 2021, a violent mob of fascist protesters incited by the President of the United States stormed the United States Capitol to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power. The event was broadcast live on major news networks, and leaders of the mob livestreamed their takeover of the building…

Extremism

3 min read

The Living Room Putsch
The Living Room Putsch
Extremism

3 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Nov 1, 2020

Guest Post: Rents Are Going Up — We Should Expect More From Landlords

This is a guest post by Eric Gutschmidt. Gutschmidt has been a landlord for over 11 years and is the owner of Gutschmidt Properties. He is also my boss. Last month we posted a typical ad for one of our rental properties on Zillow. What wasn’t so typical? The response…

Cedar Rapids

6 min read

Guest Post: Rents Are Going Up — And We As A City Should Expect More From Landlords
Guest Post: Rents Are Going Up — And We As A City Should Expect More From Landlords
Cedar Rapids

6 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Aug 14, 2020

Cedar Rapids Residents Face $1000s in Surprise Expenses — And Most Can’t Get Any Relief

It has been five days without power for most of Linn County. Alliant energy has announced that nearly all customers will have power within five to seven days. The grid might be back in that amount of time but many customers will still be without power for long afterwards. …

Cedar Rapids

3 min read

Cedar Rapids Residents Face $1000s in Surprise Expenses — And Most Can’t Get Any Relief
Cedar Rapids Residents Face $1000s in Surprise Expenses — And Most Can’t Get Any Relief
Cedar Rapids

3 min read


Published in Corridor Urbanism

·Aug 12, 2020

It’s Worse in Cedar Rapids Than You Know

At 11 a.m. on Monday, August 10 2020 Cedar Rapids was there, by 2 p.m. it was gone. Monday’s derecho, a landlocked hurricane with straight line winds over 100 mph, has impacted every part of the city catastrophically. Nearly every home has damage. Most big trees in the city fell…

Cedar Rapids

2 min read

It’s Worse in Cedar Rapids Than You Know
It’s Worse in Cedar Rapids Than You Know
Cedar Rapids

2 min read

Ben Kaplan

Ben Kaplan

154 Followers

Urbanism nerd, Mac enthusiast, Iowan

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