About this site

Hello, fellow wanderer. I’m Bryan and this is my blog about land use and transportation issues. This site is mostly a creative outlet for my musings about urban planning and development and do not reflect the thoughts, opinions or policies of my employer or any other affiliation.

I live in Portland and grew up in Michigan, so my writings will no doubt have a Pacific Northwest and Midwest flavor/bias. I live a busy life and this might not be updated very frequently.

By day, I’m a planner working with space and place, interested in how the built environment impacts our daily lives. The way I think is framed by deep interest in the fields of environmental psychology, urban design, landscape architecture and transportation planning. I am fascinated by maps and data.

My worldview has been shaped in a significant way by growing up in poverty. As a result, I spend a lot of time thinking about housing, healthcare, and environmental justice. I volunteer for causes that align with my beliefs.

At my core, I enjoy creating. Whether that be writing, making music, practicing photography, gardening, cooking, learning web development, or making home improvements, I like to express myself through making things. I consider myself a hobbyist in most of these areas.

Originally from the Great Lakes Region, I’ve called the Pacific Northwest home for going on 10 years now. I’m fiercely proud of my Midwest roots and sometimes suffer intense pangs of nostalgia and longings to return, especially after doom scrolling Zillow listings for a bit. It’s the cities, the former streetcar suburbs, the cultural institutions, the people, and the lakes that I miss so much. If you know, you know. Still, the geography and recreational opportunity in Oregon are virtually unsurpassed. I’m probably not going anywhere.