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From my perspective, a student studying for 4 years, I have always felt that you get out of ASLA what you put in. I am by no means making a judgement on you. I feel ASLA needs more evolvement from it’s members.

Now Alan you founded your firm the year I was born so as an elder you have my respect in that sense with all your experience. I feel as…[Read more]

That’s cute that you feel that way….ASLA is what we thought 40 years ago would make our profession the beacon of design and innovation that it should be….
Someone in  here please inform me of ASLA”s  achievements in support or promotion for our profession.
A new and improved magazine?  I can’t even get my bifocals dialed in on the small prin…[Read more]

I’m new to this thread – but having recently and successfully taken the multi-choice sections of the LARE, I thought it was worth noting that while one may not need to be a member of the ASLA, the LARE still tests for ASLA codes of conduct. And until one has taken these tests and understands the process of passing them, one will not fully…[Read more]

WE get resumes! haha…that always depresses me.

I know they are talking about putting the highway underground…but there are politics involved of course. That area needs SO much…every time we park under the viaduct I look up at it and wonder how sturdy it is.
Wanted to add…the best thing about this whole thing is an LA gave a presentation to 1000 people!

Good advice. Yes, for us we were in a different situation…literally had NO work and couldn’t find work that would support our family. Amazingly, we survived…if I understand correctly you have no rent right now though? Big props to food stamps and medicaid for us that first year. 🙂
Also, Jon did take a part-time job that he does at the…[Read more]

Douglas,
We are in Idaho so yes, you can just purchase a contractors license and of course all the necessary insurances. That seems really crazy in CA…Jon is a RLA but he could still be and was a contractor here before that. For us the RLA offers us a few more opportunities but not much at this point.
Maybe it is time to move? Or see if you can…[Read more]

Heather, I am very interested to hear more about how you developed your business. I know you have said your husband is licensed as a Landscape Architect, but does he have a contractors license as well? I have always been very interested in doing design/build, but here in California you need to be a licensed landscape contractor to do that. In…[Read more]

I’d add that untill you have enough work that you don’t have enough time to get things done in addition to your day job, you might as well keep that small money coming in as well. You also will be talking to people during the commute if you are using public transportation (wear or carry things that identify that you are connected to the green…[Read more]

bump, um anyone?

Maybe since gas is going to get too expensive to drive you can remove the roadway….
Now you have a real greenway…..that’s about as practical of a suggestion yet….or  if you do have several billion to spend, how abour a cut and cover tunnel for the roadway…
I do love plans like these as an exercise in creativity but at some point they…[Read more]

thanks for posting, Heather, interesting event..
To me this design fails to deal with #1 problem – the highway. Same problem in Philly – have to underground highway, to make space truely usable..
Yes, that is expensive, but tourism brings money and good parks raise property values..Besides, how about just doingit because it is the right thing to…[Read more]

so where do you begin mauijim? Start with the lowest common denominator and hope someone in the audience is paying attention?
 
I can’t really say I love it or hate it because I dont think we’re getting the full story, not even close, but I certainly wouldn’t say its a bad plan because it’s too ‘fantastical or academic.’
 
What I would say is t…[Read more]

The stock market is not exactly the lottery, if you do your homework. Read the Wall Street Journal every day and you’ll have a pretty good idea where things are headed… plus, a lot of investing is just being aware of companies that you think are good companies.
Even if I was filthy stinking rich (it’s good to dream), I’d still design. Design is…[Read more]

I’m with you maui, this is absurd….almost as bad as the Hargreaves design for Nashville’s riverfront that we paid over $400K for an unbuildable plan….unless you have about a Billion or two or five lying around…..How much did Seattle shell out for this expert from out of town??
 

 
Personally, I’d rather see unemployed LA’s out selling used cars than playing the lottery in the stock market.
 
I gotta wonder why brilliant people like MauiJim work as well with so much independent wealth! wow.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Heather. I think you’re right… I should be able to make twice as much in a day, working for myself, as I do in a week in my current position. Yeah… thanks for the motivation. It might be time to put in my two weeks… and start making some dough!

The wind…won’t somebody PLEASE think of the WIND! Whenever you get near large expanses of water you very often get pretty heinous winds much of the year. Add in all the grass open space with no trees or anything else to break up the wind and you have just made it uninhabitable. Plus, having such steep slopes kind of defeats the purpose of…[Read more]

Heather,
Your experience matches mine.  The economy is looking up–still soft, but hopeful.
 You will find most design builders to be a helpful lot, because most are geographically centered and don’t mind sharing with others a few cities or states away.
I am not trying to discourage you from the plant route.  I have a relationship with a couple of…[Read more]

I didn’t read where it said there wasn’t flat areas…or even benches?