Austin Contrarian
February 25, 2010
City Council is scheduled to vote today on the East Riverside Corridor Master Plan. Let's hope Council ignores the Planning Commission.
The Plan envisions the redevelopment of East Riverside as a New Urbanist corridor, built around four major transit hubs. The hope, of course, is that the "transit" will someday be a light rail line connecting downtown and the airport. But East Riverside is a natural place for redevelopment of this kind, with or without rail. East Riverside is close to downtown. It is already fairly dense yet (paradoxically) has many low-density or undeveloped tracts suitable for redevelopment. There is proven market demand, as demonstrated by the redevelopment underway on the western end. While there are single family neighborhoods along the route, there are fewer than along, say, Burnett or Lamar. And, finally, the existing development consists largely of decaying strip malls; everyone (including area residents) would like to see a better use of the land.
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Showing posts with label TOD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TOD. Show all posts
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Suburban Poverty and the Transit Connection
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Sarah Goodyear // January 22, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic looks at the new Brookings Institution report on suburban poverty levels and the connection to future transportation planning in those regions. Freemark, who recently wrote about how the city of Paris is extending its transit infrastructure to its traditionally lower-income suburbs, points out that the challenges to transit in American suburbs are greater. The infrastructure of American suburbs, as well as the governmental planning mechanisms, present significant challenges to reducing automobile dependence -- a dependence that weighs especially heavily on people with low incomes.
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Sarah Goodyear // January 22, 2010
Today on the Streetsblog Network, Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic looks at the new Brookings Institution report on suburban poverty levels and the connection to future transportation planning in those regions. Freemark, who recently wrote about how the city of Paris is extending its transit infrastructure to its traditionally lower-income suburbs, points out that the challenges to transit in American suburbs are greater. The infrastructure of American suburbs, as well as the governmental planning mechanisms, present significant challenges to reducing automobile dependence -- a dependence that weighs especially heavily on people with low incomes.
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U.S. DOT Previews How New Transit Rules Could Define ‘Livability’
DC.StreetsBlog.org
Elana Schor // January 21, 2010
Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, assistant transport secretary for policy Polly Trottenberg was asked by the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, to outline how the agency might "quantify livability" in its upcoming rulemaking.
Trottenberg said U.S. DOT learned decision-making lessons from the TIGER grants, a $1.5 billion competitive program in the stimulus law that she said called for extra sets of hands from the EPA and HUD.
Though Trottenberg was careful not to predict the content of still-unwritten regulations, she described some livability questions that came into play last year and could be a factor as the agency writes its new transit funding rules.
"Is this project going to include all modes?" she said. "[Will the project] help boost businesses on Main Street?"
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Elana Schor // January 21, 2010
Addressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, assistant transport secretary for policy Polly Trottenberg was asked by the mayor of Clearwater, Florida, to outline how the agency might "quantify livability" in its upcoming rulemaking.
Trottenberg said U.S. DOT learned decision-making lessons from the TIGER grants, a $1.5 billion competitive program in the stimulus law that she said called for extra sets of hands from the EPA and HUD.
Though Trottenberg was careful not to predict the content of still-unwritten regulations, she described some livability questions that came into play last year and could be a factor as the agency writes its new transit funding rules.
"Is this project going to include all modes?" she said. "[Will the project] help boost businesses on Main Street?"
MORE
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Downtown Dallas Plan Hinges on Public Space & Transportation
Dallas Morning News
Rudolph Bush // February 1, 2010
Theresa O'Donnell, director of Dallas' development department, said there's also focus on really capitalizing on Union Station, which she said could be a catalyst project for redevelopment.
The trick will be developing around rail stations and building up public spaces and public amenities or 'animating the public realm.'
The transportation element is major. DART's new lines are expected to work in concert with an as yet unfunded streetcar system.
In the long run, the most important transportation element, though, will be feet and how downtown accommodates them.
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Rudolph Bush // February 1, 2010
Theresa O'Donnell, director of Dallas' development department, said there's also focus on really capitalizing on Union Station, which she said could be a catalyst project for redevelopment.
The trick will be developing around rail stations and building up public spaces and public amenities or 'animating the public realm.'
The transportation element is major. DART's new lines are expected to work in concert with an as yet unfunded streetcar system.
In the long run, the most important transportation element, though, will be feet and how downtown accommodates them.
MORE
Transit-oriented development requires more than transit and development
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield // January 25, 2010
Mr. Benfield makes the argument that that we have really defined only transit-served development locations. The design process of orienting the development to transit requires more. For instance, there must be adequate density and a walkable environment; the densest, most walkable portions of the development should be placed closest to the transit stop; commercial and mixed-use buildings should also be close to the stop, with their primary entrances highly accessible to transit passengers, to facilitate multi-purpose trips; buildings and public spaces should be designed to make the area around the transit station or stop feel inviting, comfortable, and secure; design should make it easy for transit and bicycle transfers and vehicle drop-offs; single-family residences may be placed a bit farther away; and so forth
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Kaid Benfield // January 25, 2010
Mr. Benfield makes the argument that that we have really defined only transit-served development locations. The design process of orienting the development to transit requires more. For instance, there must be adequate density and a walkable environment; the densest, most walkable portions of the development should be placed closest to the transit stop; commercial and mixed-use buildings should also be close to the stop, with their primary entrances highly accessible to transit passengers, to facilitate multi-purpose trips; buildings and public spaces should be designed to make the area around the transit station or stop feel inviting, comfortable, and secure; design should make it easy for transit and bicycle transfers and vehicle drop-offs; single-family residences may be placed a bit farther away; and so forth
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The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
Not really a Texas mixed use deal, but I worked two years on this project -- so have to share news of the Grand Opening!!!
15-story, $600-million development combines on a single L-shaped site the W's hotel and condominium towers with a 375-unit apartment block called 1600 Vine.
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
15-story, $600-million development combines on a single L-shaped site the W's hotel and condominium towers with a 375-unit apartment block called 1600 Vine.
The W Hollywood Hotel & Residences: An urban complexity
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Lessons from the Development Boom
Seattle City Brights
Chuck Wolfe
Chuck Wolfe
Infill development, or redevelopment of existing development, is among the key land use focal points in Washington State's urbanized areas. As entrenched land use and environmental professionals, we have long advised clients on the broad range of due diligence, compliance and related issues which arise as infill development proceeds from planning to implementation. This advice has been practical by nature, not the stuff of daily dialogue. But suddenly, our entrenched professional dialogue is mainstream.
But have we lost a practical, implementation-based perspective?
"Green", "sustainable" and "shovel ready"--and their older cousin, "smart growth"--have arrived with a vengeance, albeit often more as separate silos of ideas and inspiration than as interrelated elements of societal change. Even in a now slow real estate market, we now hear often from their advocates and thoughtful critics. How and where should we grow? Will the new residents of our region live, work and travel in a more sustainable way?
MOREhelp with learning more about TOD Part 2
myurbanist
November 8, 2009
Here is an additional resource, a Powerpoint summary presented in Olympia about a month ago, which outlines findings after investigation of top barriers to vibrant urban centers and TOD in the University of Washington/Quality Growth Alliance “From Barriers to Solutions and Best Practices” report.
As also noted in the post, the recently released Futurewise/GGLO “Transit Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State”, provides an applied analysis of what makes for successful development around transit stations and general guidance for future legislation.
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November 8, 2009
Here is an additional resource, a Powerpoint summary presented in Olympia about a month ago, which outlines findings after investigation of top barriers to vibrant urban centers and TOD in the University of Washington/Quality Growth Alliance “From Barriers to Solutions and Best Practices” report.
As also noted in the post, the recently released Futurewise/GGLO “Transit Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State”, provides an applied analysis of what makes for successful development around transit stations and general guidance for future legislation.
MORE
help with learning more about TOD
myurbanist
November 2, 2009
Moving forward, our region will benefit from two recently released research reports, both of which document the pitfalls and potential for transit oriented development. The first, of which I was the lead author, is entitled “TOD and Urban Centers: From Barriers to Solutions and Best Practices”, and was prepared by the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies in collaboration with the Quality Growth Alliance (QGA). The report and companion bibliography are available on the QGA website. The report was recently summarized in a seattlepi.comarticle. The second, the recently released Futurewise/GGLO “Transit Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State.
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November 2, 2009
Moving forward, our region will benefit from two recently released research reports, both of which document the pitfalls and potential for transit oriented development. The first, of which I was the lead author, is entitled “TOD and Urban Centers: From Barriers to Solutions and Best Practices”, and was prepared by the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies in collaboration with the Quality Growth Alliance (QGA). The report and companion bibliography are available on the QGA website. The report was recently summarized in a seattlepi.comarticle. The second, the recently released Futurewise/GGLO “Transit Oriented Communities: A Blueprint for Washington State.
MORE
U.S. to unleash millions for streetcar, bus projects to reduce pollution
The Oregonian
Dylan Rivera // December 1, 2009
The Obama administration today announced it wants to spend $280 million on urban neighborhood mass transit projects, such as streetcars and bus facilities, in an effort to make more livable communities that reduce pollution.
The news marks the first batch of money for a new Livability Initiative, which U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has characterized as a way to make cities more like the Portland area, where the streetcars, light rail lines and local land use policies promote walkable urban neighborhoods.
The money amounts to pocket change in the context of the billions of federal spending on transportation each year. It makes use of money Congress designated for mass transit projects, but which the Bush administration did not spend. It could help Portland's efforts to grow with streetcar lines beyond the downtown area and grow business for Clackamas-based United Streetcar, the only U.S.-based maker of modern streetcars.
"This represents a significant effort to promote livable communities, improve the quality of life for more Americans and create more transportation choices that serve the needs of individual communities," LaHood said. "Fostering the concept of livability in transportation projects will stimulate America's neighborhoods to become safer, healthier and more vibrant."
MORE
Dylan Rivera // December 1, 2009
The Obama administration today announced it wants to spend $280 million on urban neighborhood mass transit projects, such as streetcars and bus facilities, in an effort to make more livable communities that reduce pollution.
The news marks the first batch of money for a new Livability Initiative, which U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has characterized as a way to make cities more like the Portland area, where the streetcars, light rail lines and local land use policies promote walkable urban neighborhoods.
The money amounts to pocket change in the context of the billions of federal spending on transportation each year. It makes use of money Congress designated for mass transit projects, but which the Bush administration did not spend. It could help Portland's efforts to grow with streetcar lines beyond the downtown area and grow business for Clackamas-based United Streetcar, the only U.S.-based maker of modern streetcars.
"This represents a significant effort to promote livable communities, improve the quality of life for more Americans and create more transportation choices that serve the needs of individual communities," LaHood said. "Fostering the concept of livability in transportation projects will stimulate America's neighborhoods to become safer, healthier and more vibrant."
MORE
New Year’s Resolutions for Cities: 10 Keys to Sustainability Planning Success
The City Fix
Don Knapp // December 30, 2009
Any serious New Year’s resolution requires a plan. But a mayor’s pledge to make his city more sustainable takes a lot more planning effort than your vow to drop 10 pounds. Crafting a comprehensive sustainability plan, even without procrastination, can take a full year for a city, and involve close coordination among dozens of individuals.
Trailblazers like New York City and Minneapolis have already shown that the end product is worth the effort: a detailed blueprint to combat climate change, save energy and taxpayer dollars, nurture solid economic development, renew infrastructure, and improve public health and education for all.
The planning lessons from these leaders were distilled in a Sustainability Planning Toolkit, released last month by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA to its 600 U.S. local government members. Boil down those lessons even further and you get 10 keys to sustainability planning success, listed below. They’re worth a read for urban planners, plumbers, lawyers—anyone who lives in a community that values sustainability and is beginning its sustainability planning process.
It may encourage you to know that such communities are becoming more common. A 2009 Living Cities survey found that four in five of the 40 largest U.S. cities consider sustainability among their top five priorities. Approximately one-half are either currently creating sustainability plans or have finished one within the past year, and another one-quarter finished their plans earlier. For cities, towns, and counties, the keys to sustainability planning success are the same.
Year's Top Smart Growth Stories
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield // December 29, 2009
(10) Despite robust ridership, transit service and quality continued to decline.
(9) Smart growth and sustainable communities were largely missing from the federal stimulus.
(8) Exciting developments in GIS- and web-based technology advanced walkability and smart communities
(7) Local agriculture emerged as a component of green development.
(6) Congress, nonprofits and other parties geared up for reauthorization of federal transportation law.
(5) Land use solutions continued to get short shrift in climate discussions that matter. ties geared up for reauthorization of federal transportation law.
(4) The Obama administration stepped up for sustainable communities.
(3) Street design became a major smart-growth issue.
(2) LEED-ND was completed and approved for implementation.
(1) The recession hurt smart development somewhat, but sent sprawl into a virtual coma.
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Kaid Benfield // December 29, 2009
(10) Despite robust ridership, transit service and quality continued to decline.
(9) Smart growth and sustainable communities were largely missing from the federal stimulus.
(8) Exciting developments in GIS- and web-based technology advanced walkability and smart communities
(7) Local agriculture emerged as a component of green development.
(6) Congress, nonprofits and other parties geared up for reauthorization of federal transportation law.
(5) Land use solutions continued to get short shrift in climate discussions that matter. ties geared up for reauthorization of federal transportation law.
(4) The Obama administration stepped up for sustainable communities.
(3) Street design became a major smart-growth issue.
(2) LEED-ND was completed and approved for implementation.
(1) The recession hurt smart development somewhat, but sent sprawl into a virtual coma.
MORE
Favorite New Urbanism Posts for 2009
NRDC Switchboard
Kaid Benfield
Transforming the Market for Development Location
In sustainable communities, architecture and preservation, does beauty matter? Should it?
Virginia adopts innovative smart streets rules
Walmart, McCain forge new alliance to fight sprawl
Considering the role of density in smart growth
Smart growth must become more demanding, more community-oriented, and greener
“If you don’t have safe streets, all the light rail lines in the world aren’t going to save your city”
Kaid Benfield
Transforming the Market for Development Location
In sustainable communities, architecture and preservation, does beauty matter? Should it?
Virginia adopts innovative smart streets rules
Walmart, McCain forge new alliance to fight sprawl
Considering the role of density in smart growth
Smart growth must become more demanding, more community-oriented, and greener
“If you don’t have safe streets, all the light rail lines in the world aren’t going to save your city”
Effect of Suburban Transit Oriented Developments on Residential Property Values
Mineta Transporation Institute Report
The development of Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) is increasingly being used to increase transit ridership. TOD, apart from providing the transit ridership, has also gained popularity as a “smart growth” tool that addresses the problems of traffic congestion, pollution, and other ills of auto-oriented sprawl-like development. TOD’s increasing popularity is evidenced in efforts at all levels of government to promote the coordination of transportation and land use.
MORE OF THIS REPORT
The development of Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) is increasingly being used to increase transit ridership. TOD, apart from providing the transit ridership, has also gained popularity as a “smart growth” tool that addresses the problems of traffic congestion, pollution, and other ills of auto-oriented sprawl-like development. TOD’s increasing popularity is evidenced in efforts at all levels of government to promote the coordination of transportation and land use.
MORE OF THIS REPORT
Monday, December 28, 2009
Irving exemplifies the troubles faced by inner-ring suburbs
Dallas Morning News
Brandon Formby // December 27, 2009
In many ways, Irving is the poster child for the issues typical to inner-ring suburbs over the past decade. Its growing pains come not from population booms, but from shifting demographics and attempts at reinvention.
Irving has served as the backdrop for the national debate on illegal immigration. And it has decided the balance of political power in the Texas House. The Dallas Cowboys are gone, a convention center's going up and a light-rail line is being laid.
"In the last decade, we've actually become a world-class city," said longtime City Council member Lewis Patrick.
Representation
Hispanics remain the largest racial or ethnic group in the city. Their ranks between 2000 and 2008 grew at five times the rate of the city's overall population. Still, Hispanics often criticize the all-white City Council for not representing their needs or dealing with claims that police racially profile residents.
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Brandon Formby // December 27, 2009
In many ways, Irving is the poster child for the issues typical to inner-ring suburbs over the past decade. Its growing pains come not from population booms, but from shifting demographics and attempts at reinvention.
Irving has served as the backdrop for the national debate on illegal immigration. And it has decided the balance of political power in the Texas House. The Dallas Cowboys are gone, a convention center's going up and a light-rail line is being laid.
"In the last decade, we've actually become a world-class city," said longtime City Council member Lewis Patrick.
Representation
Hispanics remain the largest racial or ethnic group in the city. Their ranks between 2000 and 2008 grew at five times the rate of the city's overall population. Still, Hispanics often criticize the all-white City Council for not representing their needs or dealing with claims that police racially profile residents.
MORE
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Realizing the dream in Rowlett
Dallas Morning News
Ron Miller of Rowlett // December 13, 2009
Ron Miller of Rowlett // December 13, 2009
During the settlement years of mid-America, after the Civil War and before 1890, two things almost assured the future of any new town for the first 150 years after its establishment. The first thing needed for a secure future was a railhead. The railroad must come to town. The second thing needed was a cattle trail, which subsequently would become a numbered highway.
Today, development of a prime suburban city takes a little more work.
Rowlett was a sleepy little wide spot in the road 34 years ago. It had 1,500 people. Now it has a population of 55,000. It had no railroad or cattle trail, and any roads were only two lanes without shoulders. There were no stoplights.
Rowlett grew simply because Dallas spilled out over its lip. Mesquite, Garland, Richardson and Plano all grew into major cities. Each of these cities had one feature in common. All had major highways to accommodate them. Rowlett probably should have been gobbled up, since it had few of the required resources. But it wasn't. Somehow, the little town survived and grew modestly.
Then it seemed to grow faster than contemporary civic planning could keep up. Some nice things were missing: nice parks, bike paths, hiking trails, upscale commercial development – and the jobs resulting from commercial development.
Rowlett is only now receiving a railhead and a major highway. A cattle trail was dismissed as unnecessary. DART is busy planning for the construction of the DART Blue Line, and the North Texas Tollway Authority is busy building the extension of the President George BushTurnpike through Rowlett and connecting with Interstate 30.
MOREThursday, December 24, 2009
Dallas Streetcars Could Become Reality
From: NBCDFW.com
By: Ken Kal Thoff and Elvira Shakmari // October 12, 2009
Dallas City Leaders says it's time to find a way to help people to get from points of interest easily, and street cars may be the answer.
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By: Ken Kal Thoff and Elvira Shakmari // October 12, 2009
Dallas City Leaders says it's time to find a way to help people to get from points of interest easily, and street cars may be the answer.
MORE
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Compact, Climate-Friendly, Competitive
To restart the economy while saving the planet, the Congress for the New Urbanism advocates traditional neighborhoods for all
BY KATHERINE GREGOR The Austin Chronicle June 26, 2009
"This is one of those moments to step up and articulate what urbanism is worth to America."
That's how Scott Bernstein, president of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, summed up the call-to-service at CNU 17, the 2009 Congress for the New Urbanism, June 10-14 in Denver. The planning organization has stepped up its no-sprawl message, lobbying in D.C. for new federal law that promotes sustainable development patterns through urban reinvestment. The Obama administration reportedly is listening: "The biggest urbanist in the White House is Barack Obama," observed John Norquist, CEO of CNU and a former mayor of Milwaukee.
New Urbanists are a frankly evangelical bunch; for nearly two decades they've preached that compact urban form can help correct everything from poverty to obesity. Increasingly, their anti-sprawl message appeals to both policy-makers and next-gen lifestylers (the one-third of Americans who now say they'd like to live near a coffee shop and a streetcar stop in a cool city neighborhood). At CNU 17, two overarching themes of national import emerged. One was the economy, stupid: how smart city-shaping, supported by the right federal transportation policy and funding, offers a powerful tool for communities across the U.S. to create value, wealth, and jobs now. The second was climate action: how U.S. policy that promotes compact (re)development is essential to the fight against global warming.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
DART board approves plans for Orange Line to D/FW Airport
11:27 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News bformby@dallasnews.com
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit board unanimously approved a plan Tuesday night for how North Texans probably will use two future passenger rail lines to reach the region's largest economic engine, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
"Start packing your bags, we're going to get you to D/FW soon," board chairman Randall Chrisman said moments before the vote.
The board's decision solidified plans for the Orange Line, which will connect downtown Dallas to the airport by 2013. The line will run through Irving, whose officials have spent years putting together what is probably the country's largest collection of transit-oriented development projects.
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By BRANDON FORMBY / The Dallas Morning News bformby@dallasnews.com
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit board unanimously approved a plan Tuesday night for how North Texans probably will use two future passenger rail lines to reach the region's largest economic engine, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
"Start packing your bags, we're going to get you to D/FW soon," board chairman Randall Chrisman said moments before the vote.
The board's decision solidified plans for the Orange Line, which will connect downtown Dallas to the airport by 2013. The line will run through Irving, whose officials have spent years putting together what is probably the country's largest collection of transit-oriented development projects.
MORE
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