matthampel.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Hey, Midwesterners experiencing poor air quality! Consider upgrading your HVAC filter to a higher-efficiency one (MERV 13) that will trap pm2.5 particles... Maybe you heard you shouldn't do this because it'll constrict airflow and make your blower work harder. THIS IS A MYTH! (🧵)

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

And just how did the City Administrator lower property taxes in next year’s budget? Developments like 721 S Forest. Before redevelopment: ~$105K in property taxes. After: projected ~$1.29M/year. That’s a 12x jump—funding services while easing the burden on everyone else. #a2council

submitted 10 days ago • 2 comments

"In a moment where machines churn out mediocrity, make something yourself. Make it imperfect. Make it rough. Just make it. dansinker.com/posts/2025-0...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

On August 5th, Ann Arbor will decide if @aadl.org adds the surface of the lot next door to its project to bring a new Downtown Library with housing above to the community. This summer, we want to see Your Dream Library on both sites. It just takes 4 LEGO plates to get started: aadl.org/node/642536

submitted 14 days ago • 3 comments

Huh, I haven't seen any pushback from the usual "think of the trees" and "we don't need more luxury housing" people about this development that cut down dozens of mature trees, is actually going to increase traffic and provide 'luxury' housing. #a2council

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Do this for stadium plz #a2council

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

trees & dense housing are completely compatible - but if your land use plan only limits it to toxic arterials, and opens up the FAR nozzle to try and maximize it on those narrow swaths rather than zoning for it broadly, is a recipe for less tree canopy. simple as. left: what seattle does instead

submitted 232 days ago • 4 comments

#A2Council it’s a shame our downtown design guidelines ban this design

submitted 25 days ago • 2 comments

#A2Council Fresh population growth estimates for 23-24. Ypsilanti, Saline, Scio Twnshp, and Pittsfield Twnshp all grew by more than 3%. Ann Arbor (city) +0.2% Our current land use policies encourage sprawl. Make Ann Arbor welcoming. Legalize housing. www.bridgemi.com/quality-life...

submitted 26 days ago • 3 comments

Breaking news: Ann Arbor transportation and urban forestry staff have developed a plan to build sidewalks on both sides of Brockman Blvd and save the street trees We now go live to our man on the street for the reaction from local Brockman residents #a2council #sidewalkNIMBYs

submitted 31 days ago • 3 comments

If you are missing your living room, it is off state street just before the World Market (cc @juliewbee.bsky.social )

submitted 31 days ago • 2 comments

Many aspects of the discussion around Ann Arbor's draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan are complex and nuanced. But some of the problems that the CLUP attempts to solve are not complicated. #a2council

submitted 38 days ago • 2 comments

For people who think #A2Council is moving too fast on the comprehensive plan, the initial RFP was due March 7, 2019. www.a2gov.org/media/kdlgph... (Addendum: www.a2gov.org/media/tj2czk...)

submitted 41 days ago • 5 comments

Cartoon with caption by my buddy @jackhauen.bsky.social

submitted 41 days ago • 31 comments

Edgewater NIMBYs rallying to ✨ preserve neighborhood character ✨ in a Wing Stop strip mall parking lot is peak self-parody.

submitted 44 days ago • 8 comments

If you have all-electric heat in Illinois, ComEd has to offer you their all-electric heating rate if you ask for it. Its literally half the cost, which means our electric conversion will pay for itself 5 years sooner! Here's how to get it: opcan.org/updates/come...

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Can we do this?? #a2council opcan.org/updates/come... via @derekeder.com

submitted 46 days ago • 1 comment

Oh the horror of a three-story apartment next to a two-story house. Won’t someone think of the children.

submitted 46 days ago • 1 comment

I'm seeing a cognitive disconnect with AI/LLM tooling for coders. Super experienced coders like Simon Willison or Charity Majors use it in centaur mode as augmented rubber ducking, where they discuss with themselves with AI dropping in details that they can quickly audit for BS and redirect.

submitted 52 days ago • 2 comments

Pretty much Anytown, Anywhere... #bikeped #safestreets #RedBankNJ

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

🚨Report your NSF grant terminations! 🚨 We are starting to collect information on NSF grant terminations to create a shared resource as we have for NIH. The more information we collect, the more we can organize, advocate, and fight back! Please share widely! airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...

submitted 52 days ago • 7 comments

& read Bottle of Lies by @katherineeban.bsky.social

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Every Friday, we publish a crowd-sourced list of geospatial career opportunities on our LinkedIn. Join our nearly 15k subscribers and don't miss an issue! Check it out: www.linkedin.com/pulse/open-j...

submitted 60 days ago • 0 comments

good piece about ten years of planning and precious little implementation + a call to get moving.

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

A neighbor called me and others advocating for upzoning for a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable Ann Arbor a brown shirt and has taken to referring to Ann Arbor's draft Comprehensive Plan as "Project 2025." I wonder what kind of community they are interested in helping build. #A2Council

submitted 70 days ago • 5 comments

Our latest report asks a simple question: What if, instead of spending billions replacing aging gas pipes, utilities helped nearby homes switch to electric heating? The data shows this would often cost less, lower utility bills, AND cut pollution.Full report: switch.box/lpp Let's break it down: 1/6

submitted 73 days ago • 5 comments

I was 95% sure using Mapbox satellite for feature extraction is against the TOS? Oh! It turns out there's a carve-out for non-commercial and OSM, that's cool! blog.mozilla.ai/map-features...

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Soundtracks for your GIS workday 👇

submitted 83 days ago • 1 comment

You know what this town needs? MoRe ArTiCuLaTiOn Design by committee always results in worse outcomes, and yet #a2council looks ready to double down on it.

submitted 85 days ago • 1 comment

Only in Ann Arbor is a 4-story building a skyscraper that will kill sunshine and create wind tunnels 🧐 #a2council

submitted 85 days ago • 3 comments

If you can park and walk to the milk section at costco, you can park two blocks from your destination downtown. #a2council

submitted 113 days ago • 0 comments

But it’s so hard to get to downtown Ann Arbor! There’s no parking!! 🙄

submitted 88 days ago • 1 comment

Bleep, blorp...blop...There are currently 2,597 free spaces available in A2 parking structures, which means they are about 48% empty. Let's give more space to people and less to cars.

submitted 88 days ago • 0 comments

it really strengthens movements to have ways for people who have limited and unpredictable time to meaningfully participate beyond writing letters, making calls, and sending money.

submitted 88 days ago • 1 comment

With Michigan road-funding debates heating up, I decided to go line-by-line through the projects funded by @biggretchenwhitmer.bsky.social's $3.5B Rebuilding Michigan bonds. My conclusion? OVER 1/4 OF THE BOND FUNDS WERE SPENT ON FREEWAY-EXPANSION PROJECTS. docs.google.com/spreadsheets... (🧵)

submitted 91 days ago • 2 comments