Erik Bjornson is a Tacoma lawyer and the writer behind the Tacoma Urbanist blog. It's an interesting mix of insight, and it's hosted at FeedTacoma. I particularly enjoyed his recent reviews of several local coffee joints and their preparation of a particular cappuccino.

I asked Erik via email a little about the blog to share here:

OSS: What compelled you to start a blog?

EB: I wanted to start a blog that would focus on urban design issues in downtown Tacoma.

Right now, Tacoma residents have been pretty (justifiably) reactionary when faced with bad designs such as blank walls being constructed or surface level parking lots where there should be buildings.

There is an emerging desire to have Tacoma be developed better and it often takes some analysis to determine what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately, there are no special interest groups in the city who advocate better urban design. Most groups are simply concerned about one or two projects going through.

OSS: What do you like most / least about having a blog?

EB: It allows some quicker response to some issues that arise in Tacoma. I have written a number of opinion pieces for the various newspapers in Tacoma. A blog allows a quicker exchange of information. However, each has its place. Sometimes a thorough analysis is better.

OSS: Tacoma is fortunate to have several good blogs. What kind of blog do you think is missing from the mix?

EB: I believe Feed Tacoma now has a 32 blogs "feeding" into it as well as the TNT blogs. There is alot of territory covered with a number of different categories. People write what they care about. If there was one blog I would add it could be comprised of independent professional designers and architects who would analyze different issues the city is facing and render their opinion. There are certainly professionals who post on blogs but none that I know of you have their own blog. Perhaps this is because blogging can take up alot of time.