Ready to hire help to spruce up your property this year?

Before you dig too deeply into hiring a landscaping contractor, take time to do two things:

1. Be clear about what you want to achieve. If you only want yard work, check out companies that specialize in residential lawn services. If you want design or installation services, you’ll need a full service landscaper. These can plan and install patios and walkways, water features, drainage and erosion systems, retaining walls and other services. They can take a job from design to completion, or provide a plan that you carry out.

2. Gather your ideas. Be ready to offer as much detail about your preferences as possible. For inspiration, print, copy or tear out images from landscaping websites, magazines and books.

Now you are ready for initial conversations with several companies that are, hopefully, appropriately licensed, bonded and insured and have earned recommendations from friends or family or users of a trusted online review site. Keep in mind that while some companies offer free consultations, others charge but if hired will deduct the fee from the job price.

Here are questions to ask prospective landscapers, compiled by my Angie’s List team and based on the experience of consumers and highly rated landscapers:

Can I see your plan? A drawing is the best way to be sure you can envision what a landscaper proposes. Ask each bidder to provide a design sketch. They may charge a fee if you want to keep it, but they should at least be able to let you see it. In addition, ask for photos of projects they’ve done that are similar to what you want.

What’s your process? Ask about basic work practices and what materials and equipment would be used. For example, would they dig your patio out by hand or use machinery?

What’s your experience? Make sure the contractor you hire has the experience, manpower and skill to handle your project. How long has the company been in business? Does it have an office in addition to a website?

Ask for references and contact several. Consider visiting completed work. Relying on website photos alone isn’t a good idea, since you can’t be sure they weren’t purchased.

Find out what kind of training the contractor and his or her staff have undergone. Do they belong to local, state or national landscaping associations?

What’s your guarantee? Reputable landscaping contractors should be willing to guarantee their work for at least two years, preferably five. Ask about separate warranties for plants.

How well do you communicate? Ask each bidder for the best way to communicate so you’re likely to get a timely response.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, a resource for local consumer reviews on everything from home repair to health care. Follow her on Twitter at @Angie – Hicks.

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Gardeners, dry those tears — or maybe collect them to water your hydrangeas.

Yes, we’re looking at drought-induced water restrictions in the coming months despite the recent rain, and reality soon will place California home landscapes on a permanent water diet — reducing liquid-loving lawns and moisture-gluttonous plants and instead bulking up on water-wise vegetation that’s fit for the future.

But that doesn’t mean we will be left with rock gardens and cactus — not that there’s anything wrong with that. Experts say we can use this as an opportunity to get creative, think outside the boxwood, reimagine lawn areas and go wild with the abundant beauty of natives, succulents and even, yes, cactus in its many colors and structural shapes.

“We’re going to have to live with our new reality,” says Kathleen Norris Brenzel, garden editor at Sunset magazine and editor of the latest edition of “The Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping.”

“Droughts are gonna keep coming. So we might as well change our mindset and even have some fun with what we can do,” she says. “The key to a beautiful garden is not just the plants you buy, but how you put them together to make them sing.”

At Sunset’s test garden in Menlo Park, Brenzel points out the design elements of grouping lower plants in front, taller farther back and bringing in a spectrum of colors. “You can get a punch of plum with a phormium ‘Black Adder,’ set off with the silvery foliage of some compact astelia,” she says. “Loropetalum is fragrant, with great pink spider-like flowers that bloom in spring.

“Once you get that mindset of wanting drought-tolerant plants, it opens up a whole new world of what you can do,” she says.

Indeed, a drought year “is not the end of the world, and it’s not the end of gardening,” says Chris Woods, this year’s director of the San Francisco Flower Garden Show, coming up March 19-23 at the San Mateo County Event Center. “We are one of the five Mediterranean climate regions in the world, so there are thousands of beautiful, easy-to-grow, low-water plants to choose from.”

Jessica Kolman, of Pinole, made the shift in mindset for her home garden a few years ago. “Once I defined my ‘palette’ as Californian plants only, I felt freed to reimagine the whole landscape,” she says. “The area shaded by existing trees is now under-planted with a green carpet of local woodland perennials. The sunny areas have shrubs and perennials from hot, dry parts of the state, as well as wildflowers that reseed annually.

“Many people think of xeriscaped gardens as sparse, with lots of dry grass, cactus and stone,” Kolman says. “But in springtime, the native garden is pure flower power.”

Jon Gibbens, of San Jose, sheet mulched his languishing lawn, built berms to provide better drainage, then planted the frontyard garden with natives — some manzanita, ceanothus, hummingbird fuchsia, sage and more. His home has been part of the Going Native Garden Tour the past four years.

“Our garden has been giving us lots of enjoyment, opportunities to observe nature — and greatly decreased water bills,” he says.

Nurture patience

Either pick up some new plants right now, or wait until fall.

“After these last days of rain, the ground is moist, there’s enough time for plants to get established before the summer weather sets in,” Woods says. “I’d go grab some up and put them in right away.”

However, some experts say that if you’re going to completely replant, it’s better to wait and plan ahead for fall.

“Fall is actually California’s spring, and is the best time to plant,” says Patrice Hanlon, garden manager at The Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek, where Master Gardeners demonstrate sustainable growing and water conservation practices.

“You can rip out some plants and your lawn, if you want, but don’t go crazy on new plantings,” she says. “Even succulents or natives take more water to get established. The way the climate works here, when summer ends and there’s less daylight, plants are not working as hard to get rooted. The soil is still warm to stimulate root growth.

“If someone is going to be doing a complete makeover, spring and summer are not the times to do it.”

As to vegetable gardens, “If you love edibles, plant them,” Brenzel says. “But do it wisely. Only grow what you’re going to eat. Snake drip irrigation through the beds, and mulch. If you’re not so techie with drip, soaker hoses work just fine.

“Spring is not the time to plant in California, but it’s a great time to get ideas of what you want to plant going forward,” she adds. “Take advantage of the many garden tours out there, look at the native vegetation where you live and see what thrives.”

Lose that lawn?

Not necessarily.

“Everybody’s targeting the lawn, but there’s so much more to consider when it comes to garden water use,” Brenzel says. “Are your sprinklers working as they should? Are you taking the hose and just letting it run? Cover your swimming pool. Mulch.”

While a brown lawn may become a badge of civic responsibility, completely replacing it isn’t always the answer. For children, for instance, very few plants are as good as grass on which to play. “The key is to keep the lawn small, only for what you need,” Brenzel says. “Keep it geometric, so it’s easy to water and not overshoot onto sidewalks.”

Woods, who now lives in Fairfield but hails from England, where lawns are expansive and lush, says he wouldn’t spend money watering a lawn in California. However, he stops short of telling people to rip theirs out.

“There’s a psychological history to lawns,” he says. “They make people feel safe, prosperous, comfortable. But here, I’d go for alternatives like a chamomile or thyme lawn.”

Or consider a meadow instead. Brenzel suggests carex and creeping fescues or a dymondia “lawn,” which provides a visual silver-hued carpet.

Garden artistically

Leanne Grossman planted a native garden among spheres of multicolored Talaveras tiles at her home in Oakland. “It feels like an urban retreat,” she says. With help from Walking Tree Essentials, she dug out the tough, thirsty grass and planted colorful natives such as Douglas Iris, heuchera, Western columbine and California fuchsia. “The purple and white baby five-spots have been blooming for months, finally dying back just as the bright yellow coreopsis emerges,” she says.

Some gardeners have added graphic elements such as sculptures, benches and paths. At the Sunset test garden, a pathway of decomposed granite surrounds a recirculating fountain, which provides the cooling effect of water with no waste.

“If you do let your lawn go over the summer, keep it mowed and neat, and maybe throw in some artistic elements,” Brenzel says. “And celebrate what you can grow. Maybe use big containers of beautiful succulents, artistically placed on the brown lawn. Whatever you do, get creative.”

Follow Angela Hill at Twitter.com/GiveEmHill.

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) – Anyone who’s been thinking of sprucing up the home as spring approaches should head to a long-running event in White County the weekend of March 8 and 9.

The 14th Annual Lakes Area Home and Garden Show will be held at the Best Western Plus Brandywine Inn Suites in Monticello. The event is free and open to the public.

More than 90 businesses will be on hand to help homeowners with ideas ranging from landscaping to construction.

When appearing on News 18 This Morning, Ashley Baker of Best Western Plus Brandywine said attendees can enter to win a grand prize of a fire pit and patio set.

The home and garden show is sponsored by WMRS Radio. WMRS spokeswoman Brandi Page said visitors may be surprised at how elaborate some of the vendors’ booths are.

The event is Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can find more information here.

The City of Hutto recently announced a new event in Hutto this spring: the Central Texas Home and Garden Show. Mark your calendars for May 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. when downtown Hutto will have vendors offering products and services as well as new ideas and general information related to home, gardening, remodeling, and home décor.

Hutto Downtown Manager Kim McAuliffe said the event was planned to benefit new homeowners with features to enhance their new homes. Existing homeowners will also get new ideas for landscaping with native plants and new decorating items.

“The city thought with so many new homeowners in our region, they might enjoy a show with features to enhance their new homes. Plus, with the rich agricultural background of Hutto and the many groups in the area that have knowledge on how to improve the landscape of a home, we thought it would be nice to give them and other businesses a chance to share what they know with the public,” McAuliffe said.

Master Gardener Patsy Bredahl has been arranging speakers. Trained volunteers from the Texas Master Gardeners association of Williamson County, Williamson County Native Plant Society and Williamson County’s Good Water Chapter Master Naturalists will present educational sessions and demonstrations.

Possible topics include “From the Ground Up” by a Native Plant Society member about starting a garden beginning with the soil. “Butterfly Talk,” “Attracting Birds to your Backyard,” and “Wildlife habitats” will emphasize how landscaping and feeders can attract interesting birds and butterflies to your yard.

Speakers will also tackle rainwater harvesting, composting, home safety and home management.

All educational programs are free and inside one of the buildings on East Street. There are also plans for a children’s activity area with hands-on activities.

“It is our hope that they will enjoy learning about different techniques and recommendations for improving their home or garden. Plus, with the farmers market kicking off on the same day, it makes for an excellent change to get fresh produce, plants and foods grown locally in our region,” McAuliffe added.

The weekly farmers market will also kick off its season at 9 a.m. on May 10. Local farmers and gardeners will bring fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and plants to sell. It is an opportunity for people to market the bounty of their gardening efforts or to buy nutritious and fresh grown produce.

“The event is free and open to the public. With the generous support of our sponsors and the vendors that participate we are able to keep admission and the educational sessions free. The vendors and shops will be selling merchandise which provides the perfect time to find some of the unique items you want for your home and garden,” McAuliffe continued.

Applications for arts and crafts, and food vendors, are available online at http://www.huttotx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4989

This is a juried show for products related to home and garden only. It will be an ideal place to shop for home décor, kitchen and bath, birdhouses and gardening items. In addition, stores in Hutto will be open with their home décor and antiques.

Mother’s Day is May 11, providing event attendees the chance to shop local and support Hutto’s business community. This event is expected to attract visitors and shoppers to downtown Hutto.

If the event is successful it could become an annual event.

“We would like to invite the entire community to come enjoy the day in beautiful downtown Hutto. We hope you learn a lot, shop to support our local small businesses and enjoy the day. Stay up-to-date with day-to-day details by ‘liking’ the Downtown Hutto Facebook page,” she said.

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ADVANCED DOOR SYSTEMS

Advanced Door Systems specializes in the installation and service of residential, commercial and industrial overhead doors. The company is an authorized distributor for Raynor, C.H.I. Linear and Liftmaster.

To better serve North West Iowa, Advances Door Systems has offices in Forest City, Fort Dodge and Spencer. Whether you need a new door or service for your current door, the company has a professional staff eager to assist you. It also carries Val6 Heater and Dakota Grills.

Advanced Door Systems offers “The right door the right way.”

Visit the Forest City location at 605 East J Street, Suite 100, call 641-585-1900 or toll-free 866-590-1592. For more information visit www.ads-doors.com.

BERGLAND CRAM

Bergland Cram’s commitment to custom home design stems from the company’s long-standing dedication to generate creative yet practical solutions that best suit the needs of you and your family. The team is made up of devoted professionals including licensed architects, interior designers and LEED AP’s.

BC has built its practice on the importance of client relationships and takes pride in the way in which it celebrates every step of the design process.

Working both locally and regionally, BC has custom homes under construction across Iowa and in several surrounding states.

Stop by and visit the company at the Home Show to see the most recent projects. Craftsman, contemporary, Cape Cod and Prairie Style homes are currently underway or recently completed.

THE COUNTRY STORE

Rick Titus of Clarion started his business, The Country Store, in 1975, and even though he has now moved into town, he has no intention of retiring any time soon.

Titus sells and installs Fuego Flame fireplace inserts, which he believes are the most efficient inserts on the market for the money. The company makes four different-sized inserts, but when Titus found a fireplace with an unusual shape he decided to make the inserts from scratch.

The Fuego Flame fireplace inserts can make any fireplace burn up to 70 percent efficient and need no electricity, while keeping 99 percent of the heat in the home. Once the insert is installed, the average fireplace can heat 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of a well-insulated home.

For those who can’t or don’t wish to burn wood, Titus offers super-efficient gas logs as an option. He started selling these in 1991. They offer the same nice flame effect, but without the work and cleanup from real wood.

Titus has built and installed units in fireplaces from Minneapolis to Kansas City and all over Iowa and does all the work himself. He doesn’t charge for estimates and feels an in-home visit is the only way to know exactly what the customer needs.

Titus has even thought of people who like to cook over a wood fire and has developed a barbeque grill that will fit.

Contact Rick at The Country Store for more information. Calls can be made to either 515-532-3881 or 515-293-2455. The website is www.fireplacesatthecountrystore.com.

CUSTOM SEAMLESS GUTTERING

Custom Seamless Guttering is the longest-running gutter company in North Iowa. Since 1982 the company has provided service and quality second to none.

Owner Keith Main and his crew strive to use the latest and best products available, such as Leaf Proof brand gutter covers. Leaf Proof is guaranteed to make gutters maintenance-free.

The company runs two residential and one commercial gutter trucks. Their specialties are metal and commercial buildings.

Call Keith at 641-357-5959 for a free estimate.

THE DUCT DOCTOR

The Duct Doctor wants Home Show attendees to know that he does make house calls.

Operator Dan Versteeg said his company does residential and light commercial heating and cooling air duct cleaning as well as dryer vent cleaning.

The method used by the Duct Doctor is known as the source removal method, which is considered the most thorough. Every inch of your ductwork is washed and swept with high pressure air. Just as you would sweep your kitchen floor, source removal physically sweeps your air ducts from one end to the other, depositing dirt, dust and debris in the triple-filtered (including HEPA) vacuum.

Versteeg has added carpet cleaning to his company for an effective cleaning combination for a healthier and cleaner home.

Versteeg will have literature as well as a video demonstration in his booth at the Home Show. Stop by and learn what a difference the two services can make in the air quality of your home or office.

Attendees who schedule their air duct or carpet cleaning at the Duct Doctor booth will receive a Home Show special discount.

FIRST CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK

First Citizens National Bank understands the importance of finding the best financing option to make your dream home a reality.

Choosing a home is one of the biggest investment decisions your family may make during your lifetime. First Citizens has a variety of real estate loan solutions to fit your needs, from first-time home buyers, fixed-rate and variable-rate loans to VA or USDA loans.

The bank’s real estate loan experts will be glad to work one-on-one to help determine which financing program suits your needs.

New this year is the ability to apply online for home loans. Borrowers can also check rates and terms and apply at their own convenience.

The application can be found at First Citizens’ website, www.firstcitizensnb.com. Click on “Home Loan Center” in the Quick Links section, and click on ”Apply Now” to begin the process.

Now may be an excellent time to consider refinancing. Apply online or stop in to see one of the home loan experts for more information.

First Citizens National Bank has locations in Mason City, Charles City, New Hampton, Alta Vista, Osage, Clarion, Kanawha and Latimer. Hours and locations can be found online at www.firstcitizensnb.com.

First Citizens National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender, and is Member FDIC insured.

HANSON’S COUNTERTOPS AND FLOORING

Hanson’s Countertops and Flooring owner Kurt Hanson has been in the countertop business for seven years.

After building laminate countertops for three years, people started asking him about concrete resurfacing of existing countertops. Hanson became a certified Granicrete installer four years ago and started his own business.

In the tri-state area he has provided many kitchen and bathroom countertops along with resurfacing home and garage floors. The weight of Granicrete countertops is comparable to laminate, which is much lighter than real marble and granite.

Customers achieve an elegant look at an affordable cost for interior and exterior remodeling or updating. Flooring, driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, patios and garage floors can look like tile, wood, slate, travertine or flagstone. Showers and baths look like tile, travertine or stone.

All countertops are custom made and the decorative color and texture are one of a kind. There are more than 60 colors and multiple edge designs to choose from for your home or business project, and colors can be mixed to meet special project needs. They can also be made to glow in the dark for safety.

Countertops are resurfaced with a 1/8-inch concrete overlay and epoxy. They are bacteria resistant, take indirect heat up to 500 degrees F, are seamless, do not need to be sealed and are stain-resistant. The color will never fade and they are Radon-free.

Call for a free estimate or visit Hanson at the Home Show. Visit the website for pictures and testimonials at www.hansoncountertops.com. Phone is 641-424-5354 or 641-903-9366. Email is info@hansoncountertops.com.

HOME LUMBER BUILDERS

Home Lumber Builders Inc., a family owned business started by Ken Bothwell in 1965, is still going strong today. Ken passed ownership onto his two sons, Scott and Steve Bothwell, who ran the business for 20 years. Cousins Carl Bothwell and Matt Anderson are now third-generation owners and have had ownership since 2007.

Running the business is now second nature for the cousins. Carl started full time in 1999 and Matt followed in 2001. “We started at a young age and had some great mentors over the years,” said Carl.

“We take a lot of pride in continuing the family business” said Matt. Their uncle, Steve Bothwell, is recently retired and Scott is still doing the accounting for the business.

Home Lumber Builders is a retail lumber yard, selling lumber, windows, doors, siding, cabinets, gas fireplaces and a variety of miscellaneous building materials. Some of the major brands include Marvin Windows and Doors, Andersen Windows, Hayfield Window and Door, Taylor Doors, Certainteed Siding, James Hardie Siding, Starmark Cabinetry, Heat-N-Glo Fireplaces, Boulder Creek Stone and Owens Corning Insulation.

What the firm offers today is high quality building materials at a competitive price and a very high level of customer service. The services offered include plan drawing, material estimating and prompt delivery.

Home Lumber Builders Inc. is located at 716 S. Jefferson in Mason City. Call 641-424-4001 for any of your building needs.

IOWA WALL SAWING

Iowa Wall Sawing offers a service that many people probably know little about until the service is needed.

The company’s primary service is sawing and cutting concrete. From egress windows in basements to doorways for home additions, Iowa Wall Sawing is the company to contact.

Owner Denny Sprague said his company also does commercial work with hydraulic and electric equipment.

On new lots when a home is built, Iowa Wall Sawing can cut curbs and do bevels.

A homeowner favorite is the start-to-finish egress installations in basement foundations (basement escape windows). These windows not only give access out of your basement if there is a fire, they also let in a lot of light, making the basement a much more livable, enjoyable area.

Adding a window to the basement for a bedroom can add significantly to the resale value of your home. Sprague said, “We look at it as adding safety and value to your home in a day.”

A new feature Iowa Wall Sawing has to offer homeowners is Poly Lift, Polyurethane Concrete Lifting, raising sunken driveways, porches, patios and foundations.

Iowa Wall Sawing has been in business for more than 30 years, with more than 100 years combined work experience. The phone number is 800-717-4577. Visit the web site www.iowawallsawing.com for more valuable detailed information.

JOHNSON HEATING AIR CONDITIONING

Johnson Heating Air Conditioning LLC invites you to the North Iowa Home Show to see what it can do about high L.P. and utilities costs.

The company handles everything from 97 percent gas furnaces, air-to-air heat pumps and or geothermal heat pumps.

Johnson also installs boilers,standard tank style water heaters, tankless water heaters and infloor heating for new homes or remodeling.

Maybe your home has some indoor air quality needs like a simple upgraded air filtration, UV light or a humidifier to keep your home feeling warmer and comfortable.

Don’t forget that warm weather is just around the corner. If you have any questions on air conditioning go see them at Booth A72 A73.

KRAMER ACE HARDWARE

Established in 1989 in Clear Lake, Kramer Ace Hardware is a family-owned and operated business.

Kramer Ace Hardware will be featuring Snapper and Country Clipper mowers. Weber grills and accessories will also be on display.

Hot new styles of outdoor living furniture will also be featured. For the ultimate in relaxation, come and check out the all-new Banana Swing!

Kramer Ace Hardware is a full-service hardware store with locations in Clear Lake at 580 Highway 18 E, in Garner at 150 Highway 18 W and in Mason City at 440 S. Illinois Ave.

MARQUART CONCRETE PRODUCTS

Marquart Concrete Products, 1714 Fourth Ave. S. (on old Hwy. 106), Clear Lake, manufactures both solid and blended colors of Rock Face Block units for commercial and residential use. Marquart Concrete also manufactures solid and blended colors of landscaping products for retaining walls, court yards, patios and edging.

Lighting is an exciting addition to your outdoor projects, accenting the features of your home, trees, bushes, landscaping and water features with amazing effects.

Homeowners are invited to visit the booth and build ideas for outdoor living space and also obtain ideas for the facing of your new home or addition with brick, natural stone or manufactured stone for both interior and exterior use.

Visit Marquart Concrete Products outdoor displays any time and check the website for idea starters at www.marquartconcreteproducts.com.

MASON CITY ROOFING

Mason City Roofing is third-generation family owned since 1933. Ernie Edmond, Minon Hank, Derrick Marina, Sandy Dese and Wendy Noah say they are proud of their workmanship and quality materials used in roofing, siding, windows and gutters.

The company is a GAF Master-Elite contractor for shingles in which the Timberline HD Series and up are lifetime shingles. There are several styles to choose from including shakes-like, tile, diamond point and slate look.

The company uses top-of-the-line accessories and makes sure maximum ventilation is achieved.

In the commercial and industrial roofing Mason City Roofing is an applicator of Duro-Last Roofing, a custom prefabricated single-ply. There are many colors and designs to choose from, and the entire system includes metal detail and has a 15-year total system warranty.

The company is also an applicator of Neogard Coating and urethane foam for metal, concrete, BUR and single-ply roof systems. There is a 10-year renewable total system warranty, and in most cases it is considered maintenance, not re-roofing.

Mason City Roofing is a master contractor with mastic siding, with various profiles and accessories to choose. Other products include Quality Edge Soffit and Fascia products; Tamko Envisions bonded composite decking and railing; Westbury aluminum railing; TRX and Polyrail products; and Quality Edge inside/outside for underneath exposed porches.

The company also installs commercial gutters with open-face downspouts, seamless gutters with larger downspouts and hinged flip-up extensions where needed. There will be a display this year of the company’s gutter protection cover.

MIDWEST CONSTRUCTION

Midwest Construction, 1601 S. Taft Ave., Mason City, is a family-owned and operated company specializing in exterior home improvements.

Founded in Mason City by Alex P. Despenas in 1958, the home improvement company now has showrooms and warehouses in Mason City and Grimes. Training for working in the business includes learning how to make an accurate estimate in the first visit.

The company offers Uni-Frame Custom Built replacement windows that are energy-efficient and maintenance-free. Also offered are American Classic insulated vinyl siding, Oasis all-season and three-season sunrooms, seamless gutter system and eaves and overhang products and installation.

An addition to the siding product line, Apex has the absolute lowest cost of ownership for any exterior siding product. Apex delivers performance that beats wood, steel, fiber cement and polymeric cladding.

Paul Despenas, VP of marketing, explains that quality products and quality installation are what the company focuses on and that will be the focus for generations to come.

Over the years, Midwest Construction has been able to build relationships with national manufacturers that concentrate on building products with thermal performance and longevity to ensure homeowners a product that will last the life of the home.

If you have home improvement plans in the future, the Home Show is a great place to get started. Stop by and visit the booth and “See the Midwest Construction difference for yourselves.” If you can’t make the Home Show, visit the showroom or online at www.mwcinc.com.

MIDWEST ORGANICS

Midwest Organics is a local manufacturer of worm castings, a high quality fertilizer made by worms that is able to be applied to almost anything with a root.

According to company owner Jay Burgardt, worm casting fertilizer is known to rejuvenate worn-out soil and increases both plant growth and yield.

The world’s “finest natural fertilizer,” or “black gold,” as some experts on soil will tell you, out-performs most other fertilizers because it is made by earthworms. Worm castings are a living fertilizer containing many beneficial microorganisms.

Nutrients include nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous and many beneficial enzymes and bacteria.

Along with the worm castings, Midwest Organics will be showcasing Potting Soil Plus, a high-end potting soil consisting of organic peat moss enhanced with earthworm castings.

To learn more visit the wbesite at www.midwestorganics.net.

MYSTIC WONDERS

Since 1997 Mystic Wonders Inc. from Holstein has been introducing Wonder Laundry Balls to consumers all across the nation. Consumers who purchase one, even though they might be a bit hesitant, say they love them and all the benefits of using them.

Farmers and acreage owners like the idea of not adding any more detergents that clog up the septic tank field, and the fact that using the Wonder Ball takes away all organic odors from their clothing. Imagine soft, fluffy absorbent bath towels naturally soft with no chemicals.

Imagine no more itch from your undergarments. Imagine a better water table. The average laundry room puts 100 pounds of chemicals a year in the water table.

The Laundry Ball has years of use and really saves you money. It saves on the wear and tear of your washing machine, too. Your washer and dryer will last years longer.

This company has many products that are good for the home and your body. The Goat Milk soap with Pascalite clay is one of the products that consumers rave about.

Stop by the booth and see the products and perhaps pick up a trial size of the Goat Milk soap — 200 will be given away. Laundry Balls are specially priced for this Home Show. The company will have many products this year along with wooden frogs and pigs.

More information is available on the website, mysticwondersinc.com. Phone is 712-368-2760. Order line is 888-452-4968.

NORTH CENTRAL MECHANICAL SERVICES

North Central Mechanical Services was founded in 2010 by Nathan Bartels, a graduate of Mason City High School.

Bartels graduated from the North Iowa Area Community College in 1998 from the climate control technology program. He has 18 years experience in the field.

North Central Mechanical Services works with both commercial and residential customers. In addition to commercial refrigeration, heating, cooling and ventilation, the company also does duct cleaning, backflow installation and inspection, preventive maintenance, plumbing and custom sheet metal work.

The company has purchased a new building in Mason City at 2601 15th St. S.W. and is currently moving in. The shop has already moved and the office will move next month. In the meantime, the office is still located at 1411 S. Taft Avenue.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but the experienced 10-member staff is available anytime.

Telephone is 641-424-4828; email is ncms.mech@gmail.com; fax is 641-201-1502.

NORTH IOWA LAWN SERVICE

North Iowa Lawn Service is a small locally-owned company that offers a more personalized approach to your lawn care.

Quality of work is the company’s top priority. It is the goal of North Iowa Lawn Service that your lawn looks great and that you are a satisfied customer.

NORTHERN SIDING CONSTRUCTION

NSC has many products and services for siding, windows, roofing and doors.

“At NSC we value and respect our clients and their properties,” said owner Jason Adams. The locally-owned business prides itself on working clean and fast without compromising quality, and on helping homeowners reach their home improvement goals.

NSC offers vinyl siding, hardy board, window and door wrap, window and door installation and decks. All size jobs are welcome for new or old construction at very competitive rates, said Adams, who has 15 years experience in the trade.

Phone number is 641-210-0556. Email is jamasoncity@aol.com.

NORTHLAND BUILDINGS

Northland Buildings is a post-frame construction company specializing in garages, agricultural storage and commercial buildings. Whether it’s for the home, farm or business, Northland has the answer to your building needs, offering beautiful and affordable solutions for any building.

Established in 1994 in Eau Claire, Wis., Northland Buildings is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Northland’s 20 years of quality materials and construction experience have resulted in many satisfied customers all over the Midwest. The business has expanded to cover all of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Northern Illinois, Upper Michigan and North and South Dakota. The corporate office and distribution center is located in Eau Claire, Wis.

Northland’s goal is to provide the best quality building at a fair price to customers. Experienced sales staff, building crews, engineering, purchasing, office support and transportation department are all committed to the building project from start to finish. Staff and crews go that extra mile to make sure buildings are designed and built with superior workmanship at a price within budget.

Whether it’s a simple machine shed or workshop to a large ag building, horse barn, garage, or other storage building, Northland’s experienced sales consultants work with you to design and build exactly what you need within your budget.

For more information or a free estimate call 800-736-4510 or visit the new website at www.northlandbuildings.com.

PELLA CORPORATION

Pella Corporation is a leader in designing, testing, manufacturing and installing quality windows and doors for new construction, remodeling and replacement applications.

As a family-owned and professionally managed privately held company, Pella is known for its 87-year history of making innovative products, providing quality service and delivering on customer satisfaction. Headquartered in Pella, the company is committed to incorporating new technologies, increasing productivity and practicing environmental stewardship to create satisfied customers.

Pella manufactures quality windows, patio doors and entry door systems sold through a direct sales network operating Pella Window Door Showrooms across the United States.

For more information call 888-847-3552 or visit pella.com. Follow Pella on Twitter.com @ Pella News, on Facebook at facebook.com/pellawindowsanddoors and on You Tube at youtube.com/pellawindowsanddoors.

RESTORE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Habitat’s ReStore is North Iowa’s premier home improvement discount outlet. The ReStore is open to the public and provides area homeowners and businesses with new and gently used products at affordable prices.

All inventory sold at the ReStore is donated by contractors, businesses and the public to support the work of Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa. Merchandise includes furniture, sinks, cabinets, toilets, countertops, carpet, tile, vanities, light fixtures, home décor, appliances, hardware, paint, windows, doors and more. There is also a consignment section of new crown molding of various woods and quantities.

The ReStore also helps the environment by diverting reusable building materials from area landfills. Donors may benefit by avoiding landfill fees and by receiving a tax deduction on contributions.

The ReStore is located at 517 First St. N.W. in Mason City. Store hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works with local families in need to provide them with simple, decent and affordable housing. Habitat raises the money needed to build the homes, and then sells them to families through zero percent interest loans. Mortgage payments are then used to help other families.

To find out how to become a donor or volunteer with Habitat, or to apply for a current home opportunity in Mason City, Clear Lake or Hampton, visit www.habitatnci.org or call 641-424-8978. Questions for the ReStore can be directed to 641-423-1688.

Items from the ReStore will be displayed at the Home Show.

RIVER CITY SOCIETY FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

For the past few years the River City Society For Historic Preservation’s booth has promoted the production of locally produced stone, cement and quarried stone.

This year the focus will be on the creative architects who used these materials to construct memorable residential and commercial buildings.

One of Mason City’s more famous early creative architects was E.R. Bogardus. He designed many of Mason City’s early residential and commercial structures as well as buildings for nearby communities. His work will be the primary focus of the society’s booth this year.

Many of the homes located on Mason City’s East State Street are Bogardus creations, as are many of the homes that border the downtown area. Historic photos on his work will be on display, as well as elevations of the homes and commercial buildings he designed. Some of his blueprints will also be available. Like most architects, he designed structures that were never built. Maps of early Mason City will also be featured.

Much of this material is being provided by the Mason City Archive Department of the Mason City Public Library.

The River City Society for Historic Preservation is dedicated to the study and preservation of all aspects of Mason City’s historic architecture.

The greatest achievement to date is the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Stockman House and its operation as a tourist attraction and the building of the Mason City Architectural Interpretive Center, a gateway to the varied architectural wonders of Mason City.

Memberships in the Society will be available at the Home Show. Make a visit to the RCSHP booth this year.

ST. ANSGAR PLUMBING HEATING

St. Ansgar Plumbing Heating Inc. offers the Central Boiler outdoor wood furnace. Eliminate your LP bill by installing a Central Boiler.

The Central Boiler comes in several sizes depending on the size of the unit you need. One unit can heat more than one building. The Central Boiler can also heat your domestic water and hot tub. Central Boiler is made in Minnesota.

Dan and Wanda Warrington want you to stop by the Home Show to take a look at the Central Boiler outdoor wood furnace at Booth A35-A36.

SILVER CREEK HARDWOOD FLOORS

Silver Creek Hardwood Floors in Spillville, Iowa, provides custom work on wood floors in several states, including Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.

The family-owned business was started 10 years ago by Shawn Leppert, who said he has a background from “being a farm boy” and working with hardwood. The company has a show room in Spillville with a wide variety of hardwood species to choose from.

Silver Creek Hardwood Floors offers both pre-finished and site-finished floors. The company does the sales, installation, sanding and finishing of new hardwood floors and also refinishes old hardwood floors.

Phone numbers for the company are 563-562-1058 and 563-380-1593.

THRONE LANDSCAPE YARDCARE SERVICES

Throne Landscape Yardcare Services Inc. was founded in 2010 by Brian and Deb Throne and their son, Jeremi Throne, after Jeremi moved back to his home area to venture out on his own in a landscape business.

Jeremi studied landscape design and installation at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids and worked for a landscape company in Cedar Rapids for two seasons before moving back.

The business office is located outside of Lake Mills and the operations based just outside Thompson.

The company services a wide range of North Iowa and southern Minnesota and has three employees. Jeremi Throne works out of Thompson as the operations manager, while Brad Midlang, installation specialist, and Kathy Christianson, sales and design manager, work out of Lake Mills. Christianson majored in horticulture at Iowa State University, Ames.

Throne Landscape specializes in hardscape installation which includes retaining walls, foundations, patios, fire pits, walkways, water features, accent lighting and plantings. Commercial and residential snow removal is available in the Thompson, Lake Mills and Forest City areas.

Email is thronelandscape@wctatel.net

THE TUB GUY

The Tub Guy offers a higher quality, lower cost alternative to tearing out your old tub and walls, according to owner Bob Walker.

The Tub Guy can transform your bath in as little as one day with a new bath liner, shower conversion, walk-through conversions, walk-in tub and/or wall surrounds. It’s less expensive, faster and less mess than a stud-up remodeling.

The standard packages include extras like soap dishes and corner shelves or caddies. Single piece custom-fit panels eliminate seams and protect against future leaks.

Bathtub liners are available in five colors, with six skirt options, and are custom molded to perfectly fit your tub. The liners fit most cast iron or steel tubs, and will not crack, chip or peel. They are easy to clean and include a new pop-up drain and overflow cover.

Choose an updated look, with easy-to-clean sleek walls and fixtures. Or change to the convenience of a walk-in shower or even a walk-in tub and shower combination.

Non-porous acrylic choices cover a range of colors and textures, including convincing faux stone and tile options. Add options like grab bars. The company can also install matching wainscoting in the entire bathroom.

The Tub Guy uses the heaviest, highest quality acrylic liners and wall panels in the industry, with a modern range of color and pattern offerings. Acrylic won’t rust like old enamel-coated steel and is easier to clean and more durable than fiberglass.

A Tub Guy bathroom update is a wise and enjoyable investment. Financing is available.

The Tub Guy is locally owned and all products used are made in the USA. Stop by booth A-24 and take a look.

Phone is 641-423-3983 and website at www.bobthetubguy.com.

WINDOW ACCENTS

Window Accents is located in Algona and the owners, Steve and Kathy Nelson, have been in business since 1978.

They sell window fashions, soft treatments, drapes and shutters. They not only can sell you the blinds for your windows but they can clean them right on the window.

Steve said they are certified with on-site fabric cleaning to clean all your window treatments. They sell throughout the Midwest and enjoy traveling together to new and old locations.

Steve and Kathy sell Hunter Douglas products exclusively as they believe the warranty is the best in the business. All Hunter Douglas products are fabricated in the United States and the company is continually creating new window fashions products.

Some products that their customers are interested in include Pirouette, Silhouette, Luminette, Duette, Vignette and designer screen shades and shutters. Solera is brand new this year. Steve is a certified professional installer. Hunter Douglas has three lines of shutters: Heritance Hardwood, New Style Shutters and Palm Beach Shutters.

Steve and Kathy are qualified to help you in any designing and decorating needs. They have been in business for 35 years and get a lot of referrals from past customers. You can find them on the internet at Hunter Douglas dealer locator or their own website www.windowaccentsonline.com.

Steve and Kathy really enjoy coming to mason City, meeting new people and seeing their past customers stop by the booth. They are located at Booth A007-A008.

YOUNG CONSTRUCTION

Young Construction specializes in roofing, siding, painting and insulation and this year is announcing “great things for the future.”

“We continue to grow in all areas,” said owner Dan Young. “I consider us to be a leader in residential roofing in North Iowa. I enjoy meeting homeowners and helping them choose the roof that best fits their home.”

Getting a new roof can be stressful for any homeowner, so Young focuses on doing the job using quality products, while completing the job professionally and in a timely manner. Young Construction is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, and Young stays educated and up-to-date on the latest in the roofing industry.

Young Construction also does farm and agricultural metal roofs.

The company showroom in Nora Springs at 14 South Iowa Ave. opens Saturdays starting March 15 and by appointment. The showroom allows customers an opportunity to view shingle colors and other features, along with siding choices.

On siding projects, material choices range from vinyl to cement board, in addition to metal.

Young Construction receives many calls and does a lot of exterior painting jobs on Victorian homes. The company welcomes the opportunity to work on unique and challenging homes.

“Our goal at Young Construction is to provide quality and trustworthy, professional work at a price that fits our customers’ budgets,” Young said.

His relationship with customers doesn’t end when the job ends, as he is part of the North Iowa community.

For a free consultation and estimate, contact Young at 641-430-0655 or online at youngconstructionnorthiowa.com.

• Related story: Ann Arbor council member proposes hiring broker to sell city-owned Library Lot

As the Ann Arbor City Council discussed the possibility of a future downtown park on the Library Lot, Mayor John Hieftje laid out his own vision Monday night.

Hieftje gave a 10-minute slideshow presentation, showing rough sketches and ideas for a string of connected plazas in the downtown core.

The drawings were done by city park planner Amy Kuras based on general ideas Hieftje has been talking about since September 2012.

Starting from Liberty Plaza, an existing park at the southwest corner of Liberty and Division, the images show a colored walkway leading south on Division Street to Library Lane, then extending west to a new plaza envisioned on the Library Lot.

Hieftje noted the drawings don’t show a walkway crossing through First Martin Corp.’s property to directly connect Liberty Plaza with the contemplated Library Lot plaza, because the city doesn’t yet have an agreement to do that.

“But we do use decorative inlaid pavement in the sidewalk to create something like the ‘yellow brick road’ that would go from a re-imagined and re-done Liberty Plaza down Library Lane to a park on top of the library parking structure,” he said. “I guess it’s kind of a ‘rose brick road’ with decorative features along the way.”

From there, the colored walkway continues across Fifth Avenue and down to William Street to another corner plaza with a grand fountain on the Y Lot, which Dennis Dahlmann is planning to develop after buying it from the city.

The colored walkway then continues west along William Street, across Fourth Avenue, down to the northeast corner of Main and William where Hieftje said another plaza could be developed on the Palio Lot, the parking lot next to the Palio restaurant.

Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje gives a presentation before the City Council, laying out his vision for a string of downtown public plazas connected by colored walkways.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Hieftje said the colored walkway also could keep going west of Main Street, down to the city-owned Kline Lot at the northeast corner of Ashley and William, where he said there could be another fountain and green space.

From there, he said, it could connect to the future Allen Creek Greenway, starting with an anchor park at First and William and then two more greenway parks on city properties at 415 W. Washington and 721 N. Main.

Hieftje indicated city staff is working on a proposal to take to the city’s Historic District Commission to get approval to demolish the dilapidated building that stands at 415 W. Washington. He said it would cost about $6 million to reuse the building, so the city is looking toward demolition to pave the way for a greenway park.

He said a graduate class at the University of Michigan has agreed to take on a project next fall to develop a master plan for the overall vision.

“If we want to do all these things — and the greenway has been on our to-do list for a very long time, and now we have downtown parks on our to-do list — we have to find a way to pay for it, and then we have to find a way to maintain it,” Hieftje said.

Hieftje suggested the city could look for partners to help bring the vision for more downtown parks to life, and try to convince developers to take on the costs of constructing and maintaining public spaces as they redevelop city-owned sites.

“We have an opportunity both at the top of the Library Lot and at 415 and at the Palio Lot to find a partner,” he said, noting First Martin maintains Liberty Plaza.

Hieftje said he’s very happy to hear Council Member Stephen Kunselman say he wants to see the buildable section of the Library Lot sold for redevelopment.

“We have the opportunity here to incorporate a park into the development, so that we use the developer’s funds to build a park, we use the developer’s funds to maintain the park,” he said, suggesting the city could do the same at 415 W. Washington.

Hieftje acknowledged the city was unsuccessful in fielding a suitable proposal for 415 W. Washington when it issued a request for proposals back in 2008, but he said it wasn’t a good time and the economic climate has changed greatly.

“We have nothing to lose trying to sell that and trying to incorporate the construction and maintenance of a greenway park in the development agreement,” he said.

Hieftje also suggested the Main Street Area Association could be a potential partner in creating a plaza or park space on the Palio Lot, and he said the Downtown Development Authority could help fund the colored walkways.

The images Hieftje showed during his presentation included examples of urban parks in other cities with children’s play areas, water features, creative pavement patterns, green landscaping and public art sculptures.

“I don’t think we’ll have Ray Charles on a piano on top of a fountain as they do (in Albany, Ga.), but we might have Mr. B — who knows,” Hieftje said, referring to the popular pianist who plays at the Ann Arbor Art Fair every year.

Hieftje said the shadow of Liberty Plaza, known for attracting drug users and homeless people, hangs over the idea of any new downtown park.

“I don’t know very many citizens in our neighborhoods who aren’t downtown every day who would tell you they want to go down and visit Liberty Plaza,” he said, suggesting the city needs to focus on how to make Liberty Plaza work.

“Liberty Plaza probably needs to be brought up level,” he said, referring to its sunken nature. “It needs considerable work. We need to figure out a way to make Liberty Plaza a place where all of our citizens would like to go.”

Ryan Stanton covers Ann Arbor city hall for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com or 734-623-2529 or follow him on Twitter.

Catering to cats and dogs could put you out of house and home. Or not. If you don’t have thousands to spend or unlimited space, consider these relatively low-cost pet treats:

Jeld-Wen has a vinyl sliding patio door ($900) with an integrated panel (additional $450) for medium, large and extra large pets (see pet size and weight chart recommendations at www.JELD-WEN.com, 800-535-3936). A magnetic pull prevents the clear flap from being blown open by strong winds.

Max Marvin of Portland was inspired by his dog’s down moods in the gray days of winter to shine a light on pets suffering from seasonal affective disorder. He came up with Pawsitive Lighting Sol Box ($129.99, 503-395-7299, www.pawsitivelighting.com)‎, a free-standing, portable light that emits 10,000 lux of full spectrum white light, equivalent to a sunny day.

Dogs who chow down too quickly at the expense of their gut can go on a slow-speed food hunt with Dog Games Slo-Bowl ($25, 800-477-5735, www.slo-bowls.com), a plastic feeder with a maze of ridges and valleys. A non-slip rubber base holds the in bowls – available in purple, orange, gray and other colors – in place, even during exuberant eating. The bowls hold up to 2 cups of dry dog food and are safe to clean in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Larry and Claudia Clark of Tualatin-based Critter Beds (503-625-5844, critterbeds.com) make plush dog beds and loungers from American-made washable, reversible fabric. The covers have Berber lining and Thermo-bonded batting. The beds come in a range of prints, sizes, shapes and start at $33.

Gone Doggin has 80 breeds depicted in tiles ($25, 530-477-5925, www.gonedoggin.com) and Susan Osher’s customers install them in kitchen back splashs, bathrooms or use them as trivets. “Dog people are a little crazy,” she says. “They come up with all kinds of ideas.”

Matt Warford (503-253-8035, www.bigdogart.com) creates frameable, original oil paintings on canvas (starting at $475) that bring out the character and personality of his subjects: from tiny pugs to frisky golden retrievers. He works from photos or personal meetings, treating the work as he would a human portrait, still life or landscape.

When cats and dogs shed, clothing, furniture and car interiors get shaggy. The new Rowenta Ultrasteam Steambrush ($40, at discount and department stores) has a fabric brush, lint pad and travel brush for removing threads, hair and pet fur.

Sure Fit‘s waterproof pet covers for sofas, loveseats, chairs, beds or car seats come in styles to match your decor or your dog’s pedigree, from Ballad Bouquet to Bright Suede. The wrinkle-resistant covers ($49.99) and mats are also being used in homes with sticky-fingered toddlers and in dorm rooms with drink-spilling coeds. Coordinating pieces include dining room chair covers, furniture throws and pillows.

Cats who love to play in plain old boxes can move up to stylishly modern Catty Stacks condos ($14.99, www.cattystacks.com), stackable modules with round holes for a 20-pound cat or smaller to crawl into and peek out of. The boxes are made of recycled, industrial-strength, corrugated Ultraboard and colorized with vegetable-based ink.

Lakeside Products has MagnaBox whelping boxes (starting at $320, 877-362-7980, www.lakesideproducts.com) made of kitchen cutting board-grade plastic that will not rust, stain or discolor. Nook and slot connectors make it easy to disassemble and clean these cribs, and rails are self supporting so there are no legs to trap puppies. A playpen can be attached to the front to double the running around area.

Organic and gluten-free dog treats can be homemade with the Bake A Bone The Original Electric Dog Treat Maker ($39.99, www.kohls.com). Nonstick stainless steel plates can make four bones at a time. A cookbook with 30 organic and gluten-free recipes is include.

Cats can take their rightful watchful position with this leopard-print window perch with bolster by KH Pet ($54.99, www.kohls.com). The soft orthopedic foam and micro fleece cover is removable for machine washing.

Sharpen your kitties’ natural predatory behaviors or just tease and please them with Pioneer Pet SmartCat Peek-A-Prize Toy Box ($29.99, www.kohls.com). Partially hide toys or treats in the wooden box and then watch cats fish them out.

— Janet Eastman

• 91 comments

As Cristina mentioned in Leading Off, Steve Blow weighed in on the I-345 teardown over the weekend in a Dallas Morning News column that succinctly summed up the attitudes and opinions of those inclined to dismiss the idea out of hand. It’s worth digging into it a bit.

Of course most of Blow’s column is rhetorical hot air. Blow says the idea of tearing down highways is not serious (“It’s about the silliest notion to come along in years”), and masquerades as a champion of common sense truth (“Talk of tearing down freeways has gained a kind of urban hipster cache that makes it hard for people to speak the plain truth”). He slathers on false humility (“Some really smart people have praised this really dumb idea”) and then simplifies his opposition by feigning sympathy (“I’m all in favor of the sentiment behind the proposal — less concrete, a more walkable city”). He disguises a scoffing refusal to explore the issue in any depth with false realism (“I also like living in the real world”), and then dates himself by equating “The Dallas Way” with a love of highways (“Pigs will fly before Dallas rips out one of its most important freeway links”). Blow also reduces those who oppose him into false caricature (“urban hipster”) and then demonizes the idea in order to dismiss its legitimacy (“You can usually count on crazy-town proposals to quickly die on their own… It’s a time-waster and nothing more”).

The fact is, after peeling away the blather, Blow really only has a few simple objections.

1. Where does the traffic go?

Blow: “We all know what happens with just one rush-hour fender-bender on any downtown freeway. It bottles up traffic in nine directions. So imagine the impact of permanently closing one side of the downtown freeway loop.”

Blow doesn’t understand how traffic works. Traffic behaves like a gas, not like a liquid, which is to say, traffic doesn’t exist independently of the roads it travels on, but rather it fills volumes that it is allowed to fill. There isn’t a stream of 160,000 cars (Blow uses the exaggerated 200,000 number, but whatever) trying to flow through the east side of downtown every day. I-345 isn’t an artificial riverbed that captures the already flowing stream of traffic. Rather, the road provides capacity — a line of least resistance — and so car trips become concentrated on that available road. If you remove the road, the traffic won’t bottle up, it will dissipate and flow across a variety of alternative routes in, through, and around the city.

This may be difficult to grasp because it is a somewhat paradoxical concept. Removing capacity quells traffic; building additional capacity increases traffic. This is what baffled traffic engineers when roads literally fell down in San Francisco (due to an earthquake) and New York (due to neglect) and the traffic simply went away. It is what happened when Seoul reclaimed its central city by tearing down its own 160,000 car per day highway. It is why Milwaukee knew they could tear out a connector route that functioned similarly to I-345 and not create “Carmageddon” in the central core.

Traffic analysis of I-345 can’t rely on crude traffic count numbers. Any analysis needs to drill-down into more detail: Where did those cars come from? Where are they going? In traffic engineering terms, this means that roads like I-345 force both short and long trips onto the same piece of transportation infrastructure. Remove that road and the short trips will find more direct ways through and around the city, while longer haul trips will follow the least line of line of resistance around the city on highways like I-635 and Loop 12. It’s important to remember that the real argument here is not that highways are bad, but rather that highways are best suited for moving cars in between municipalities. Urban cores are best served by a diversity of transportation arteries — from smaller side streets to multi-lane boulevards — which are suited to disperse traffic more efficiently through an urban environment.

2. We need to trust in the wisdom of TxDOT.

Blow: “Traffic is already so bad through the Dallas mixmaster that the Texas Department of Transportation is doing an $800 million overhaul. And you really think we’re going to demolish an adjoining freeway segment at the same time? . . . TxDOT needs to start a $100 million rehab project on the elevated freeway. That work can’t wait, but doing just the federally required studies for a tear-down could take up to 10 years.”

First off, this isn’t true. TxDOT could buy five years by making some immediate repairs, but regardless. The real issue here is Blow’s insistence on TxDOT’s needs. The reason most American cities look like they do is because for the last 60 years transportation policy has been dictated by a state and regional organizations whose priority is to move traffic between municipalities, with little regard to how those municipalities function in themselves. TxDOT is essentially a highway building company, and its decision-making matrix doesn’t take into account Dallas’ needs as a city. They will always say that they “need” to build more roads to relieve congestion. TxDOT’s “needs” in Houston created a highway that’s half-a-mile wide. TxDOT said it needed to turn North Central Expressway into double-decker highway like Austin’s I-35. Dallas leaders better understood its city’s needs and fought for a better design of that road.

Dallas needs to look out for its own needs, and what Dallas needs is to invest in its urban core in way that allows it to develop into a more livable and sustainable environment. This isn’t about “hipsters” or “urban lifestyles.” This is about figuring how to attract economic investment, expand with that growth, and do so in a way that remains efficient and sustainable. The most efficient cities in the world are those that are the densest. Cities characterized by the kinds of dense urban environments that facilitate greater social and economic interaction attract both businesses and younger generations of skilled workers. And as growing populations strain existing resources and car-dependent communities take their toll on the environment, Dallas will need to grow a denser urban core just to compete and remain feasible for future growth.

The legacy of post-war highway development is an exportation of the value of urban cores out to speculatively-developed communities on the ever-receding fringes of urban sprawl. The only way to substantially reverse this trend is to remove the infrastructure that led to that syphoning-off of value in the first place. TxDOT’s insistence on sustaining this highway-centric development model only perpetuates an economic model that turns city centers into a mix of blight and high-end development, while low and lower-middle income brackets are pushed further out on the freeway.

3. The development is already there. Tearing down the roads is not that important.

Blow: “No, it’s not ideal. But it’s not the Berlin Wall either. Good development has already been taking place along both sides of the freeway. With more landscaping, lighting and pocket parks beneath it, the freeway doesn’t have to be a pedestrian barrier at all.”

Before writing his column, Blow probably got in his car at the Dallas Morning News headquarters and drove up Ross Ave., taking note of the new developments that are going up on vacant lots just outside of the loop I-345. Of course he didn’t ask himself why these developments are happening 30 years after the connector highway was built, nor did he consider that the existence of the empty lots themselves are reflective of the disintegration of the urban core facilitated by the construction of the highways. This, along with Blow’s truly silly reference to the shade the highways provide, is a disingenuous argument at best, and willfully ignorant at worst. It’s like saying that because a man whose leg was torn off in a car accident can walk with a prosthetic, he wouldn’t want his actual leg back.

I-345 is a delineation that creates two distinct real estate submarkets on either side of the highway. That’s why you may see development on Ross, or pushing up against the highway north of Deep Ellum, but you then see troughs of undeveloped land on the western, downtown side of the highway. Without the highway, the two submarkets would become one, and the market equilibrium created would push development back into the center of downtown. Developments north of Deep Ellum would essentially flow into the Arts District, and the Farmers Market would flow into Deep Ellum.

And I’m not sure how often Blow has walked around under I-345, but his suggestion that we simply dress-up the underside of the highway to promote “walkability” — a catch-all phrase that doesn’t just mean the ability to walk under the highway — is misguided. The urban planner Kevin Lynch, who was involved with early designs of the Dallas Arts District, used a better term: “place legibility.” Lynch argued when we walk around a city we move not only through a physical environment but through a mental representation, a cognitive map made up of our memories. This map consists of a network of paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. The density of features, of memorable pedestrian encounters, makes a vivid city; the lack of such features leads to an urban space lacking in distinctness and identity.

The fly-over highway is too dominant a feature in the “mental maps” of pedestrians, and it dilutes the pedestrian inter-connectivity between the neighborhoods on both sides of the highway. It is too broad, dark, dominating, and frightening. It is a dead zone, and as previous efforts to dress up the area have demonstrated, bells and whistles can’t overcome the fact that pedestrians read it as an edge.

4. It’s not going to happen. It’s impossible to tear down a highway.

Blow: “Let’s not waste another moment talking about tearing down a freeway in downtown Dallas. It’s never, ever, not-in-a-million-years going to happen.”

I urge Blow to go to this website to read about the many highways that have been torn down in other cities, as well as the roads slated for future demolition. Again, this entire conversation is about the need for cities to wrestle control of transportation planning in their urban communities away from regional-minded planning organizations. It has been done, and it has been done in a many types of cities, from already dense coastal cities to cities which suffered similar problems as Dallas, ravaged by post-war transportation policy.

But what is really sad about Blow’s argument here is its tone. Dallas pretends to be “Big D,” to have bold ideas and grand ambition for building a great world city. But too often when it comes to our big ticket projects, our vision reflects Blow’s defeatist, petrified, small-minded, head-in-the-sand, risk-adverse, have-it-both-ways, provincial attitude. I could go down Blow’s rhetorical route, substituting his dismissive “hipster” label and accuse him of a solipsistic suburban mindset — a way of viewing the world which prizes the ability to run from the driveway to Wal-Mart and back again in under 15 minutes as the ultimate expression of individual freedom. But it’s not that simple. Blow’s grit-less resignation is indicative of why so many of Dallas’ big projects end up failures, and why our conversations around so many issues of urbanity — from transportation to culture — can sometimes seem like they lag 20 years behind the rest of the country. It’s part of this city’s penchant for making foolish civic compromises, for mistaking conventional thinking — no matter how wrong-headed — for common sense.

It hasn’t always been that way. In the 1870s, city leaders knew that the city’s future lay in convincing railroad developers to crisscross their new routes through downtown. In the 1960s, J. Erik Jonsson knew Dallas needed an airport to sustain its viable role as a center of economic exchange in a rapidly globalizing economy. Jonsson also knew that the highways that were being built through his city would destroy it. He tried to stop I-30 from being built through downtown, but it was too late. The federal dollars had already flowed to the state highway builders who were dead set on trudging through. And just as Jonsson was right about the value of the airport, he was right about the highways killing downtown.

Now, thanks to the example set by cities around the country, Dallas has an opportunity to revisit its highways and do what Jonsson couldn’t do. If this city still shares his ambition to be a great city, it should start by tearing down I-345.