David Welton
@davidwelton.bsky.social
Computers, startups, bikes, Italy (lived in Padova for about 15 years), Bend YIMBY
A timeless classic when you see someone complaining about the new housing and how it's not perfect. They're probably right in some ways, but none of it ever is! If you stopped all of it we'd have an even worse housing shortage
November 30, 2025 at 12:27 AM
A timeless classic when you see someone complaining about the new housing and how it's not perfect. They're probably right in some ways, but none of it ever is! If you stopped all of it we'd have an even worse housing shortage
I think street grids are "pretty good, most of the time" rather than attempting to be perfect at one point in time of an area's evolution. They can be easily adapted to add modal filters, which may not be as elegant as if the street were built that way originally, but it's quick and cheap
November 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I think street grids are "pretty good, most of the time" rather than attempting to be perfect at one point in time of an area's evolution. They can be easily adapted to add modal filters, which may not be as elegant as if the street were built that way originally, but it's quick and cheap
Flexibility/adaptability is how we got scenes like this on Galveston, or Bruno's vs what we got with rigid zoning rules and HOA's.
The parts of Bend build when people were allowed to build whatever they wanted (before about 1950 I think) are - IMO - some of the nicest parts of the city
The parts of Bend build when people were allowed to build whatever they wanted (before about 1950 I think) are - IMO - some of the nicest parts of the city
November 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Flexibility/adaptability is how we got scenes like this on Galveston, or Bruno's vs what we got with rigid zoning rules and HOA's.
The parts of Bend build when people were allowed to build whatever they wanted (before about 1950 I think) are - IMO - some of the nicest parts of the city
The parts of Bend build when people were allowed to build whatever they wanted (before about 1950 I think) are - IMO - some of the nicest parts of the city
Beautiful sunset yesterday here in Bend
November 27, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Beautiful sunset yesterday here in Bend
In a nice restaurant they're probably going to have the air conditioning set at about this level:
November 24, 2025 at 10:17 PM
In a nice restaurant they're probably going to have the air conditioning set at about this level:
Not the most popular author here, but this chart is undeniable. Some of the solutions discussed seem interesting
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
November 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Not the most popular author here, but this chart is undeniable. Some of the solutions discussed seem interesting
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Those cottages in particular lead to my first local "we believe... / but no to the housing!" sign pairing sighting!
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Those cottages in particular lead to my first local "we believe... / but no to the housing!" sign pairing sighting!
Counterpoint: people should have a lot of options, including these, apartments, townhomes, condos. Also 'any city' is different from central, high-demand areas of 'major cities'
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Counterpoint: people should have a lot of options, including these, apartments, townhomes, condos. Also 'any city' is different from central, high-demand areas of 'major cities'
The last time I saw you guys was last time you were in Bend, Oregon and it was great!
November 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM
The last time I saw you guys was last time you were in Bend, Oregon and it was great!
This is the kind of thing that fuels resentment against Portland in the rest of the state. We played a part in that supermajority here in Bend by flipping a seat and yes, we would like the passes plowed, thank you
November 21, 2025 at 11:53 PM
This is the kind of thing that fuels resentment against Portland in the rest of the state. We played a part in that supermajority here in Bend by flipping a seat and yes, we would like the passes plowed, thank you
I think I would definitely be a bit stressed going here in a driverless car. But then I'd also be stressed there in a car with a driver
November 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
I think I would definitely be a bit stressed going here in a driverless car. But then I'd also be stressed there in a car with a driver
They seem like an alright way of using land more efficiently than what often surrounds them
These are from fairly near where I live in Bend
These are from fairly near where I live in Bend
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
They seem like an alright way of using land more efficiently than what often surrounds them
These are from fairly near where I live in Bend
These are from fairly near where I live in Bend
Does the Oregon-Nevada border actually jig a bit in McDermitt to line up with Stateline road?
From www.openstreetmap.org?mlat=41.9902...
Google Maps doesn't have that - it just follows the 42nd parallel
From www.openstreetmap.org?mlat=41.9902...
Google Maps doesn't have that - it just follows the 42nd parallel
November 20, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Does the Oregon-Nevada border actually jig a bit in McDermitt to line up with Stateline road?
From www.openstreetmap.org?mlat=41.9902...
Google Maps doesn't have that - it just follows the 42nd parallel
From www.openstreetmap.org?mlat=41.9902...
Google Maps doesn't have that - it just follows the 42nd parallel
That has some real potential for fun family discussions
November 20, 2025 at 4:41 AM
That has some real potential for fun family discussions
I feel skeptical that it was close, given how hard they tried in NWX and never got anywhere, and how most grocery stores cluster along 97 and 20.
I wonder what makes smaller grocery stores possible? The one near our house in Padova had pretty much everything we needed
Same scale:
I wonder what makes smaller grocery stores possible? The one near our house in Padova had pretty much everything we needed
Same scale:
November 18, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I feel skeptical that it was close, given how hard they tried in NWX and never got anywhere, and how most grocery stores cluster along 97 and 20.
I wonder what makes smaller grocery stores possible? The one near our house in Padova had pretty much everything we needed
Same scale:
I wonder what makes smaller grocery stores possible? The one near our house in Padova had pretty much everything we needed
Same scale:
The long term answer is to elect people who just want to build housing of all shapes and sizes
November 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The long term answer is to elect people who just want to build housing of all shapes and sizes
I did for my birthday last week and it was pretty nice!
November 16, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I did for my birthday last week and it was pretty nice!
Well, a lot of people are making different choices than you and it's going to be very, very bad. This is not a map of 'the best places to live' - it's a map of where there's enough housing for people to live comfortably
November 16, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Well, a lot of people are making different choices than you and it's going to be very, very bad. This is not a map of 'the best places to live' - it's a map of where there's enough housing for people to live comfortably
It probably has more to do with this chart of housing production:
November 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
It probably has more to do with this chart of housing production:
Helping with a quick shift at my friends ' "Central Oregon Tool Library". It's pretty cool - you should check it out if you're in the area
November 14, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Helping with a quick shift at my friends ' "Central Oregon Tool Library". It's pretty cool - you should check it out if you're in the area
And her buddies there are out there hyping the book
November 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
And her buddies there are out there hyping the book
Small detail, but are these actually the social media buttons you want in the email version of these that goes out?
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Small detail, but are these actually the social media buttons you want in the email version of these that goes out?
And of course there were some nice views of the mountains
November 11, 2025 at 12:56 AM
And of course there were some nice views of the mountains
Went for a bike ride today and was in just shorts/jersey. Pretty incredible for November in Oregon!
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Went for a bike ride today and was in just shorts/jersey. Pretty incredible for November in Oregon!