Development
Streetsblog Basics
New Astoria Mega-Developments: In the Floodplain, Far From the Train
Development plans for a stretch of the Queens waterfront would add new retail and more than 4,300 new residences a mile and a half from the nearest subway station. So far, the only transportation plan for these new residents consists of more than 2,300 parking spaces and suggestions for expanded bus and ferry service.
June 6, 2013
How Better Traffic Models Can Lead to More Mixed-Use Development
Here's another obscure but significant obstacle to building walkable places in America: the Institute of Transportation Engineers' shoddy traffic generation models for mixed-use development.
June 4, 2013
Study: Walkable Infill Development a Goldmine for City Governments
A study out of Nashville by Smart Growth America provides more evidence that building walkable development in existing communities is best for a city's bottom line.
May 8, 2013
How Many Parking Spots Will Developers Build at Transit-Rich EDC Site?
Since being cleared for redevelopment in 1967, several city blocks at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge on the Lower East Side -- known as the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area, or SPURA -- have lain fallow. For decades, the largest undeveloped, city-owned land below 96th Street was used only for surface parking lots. After years of planning work, this afternoon marked the deadline for developers to submit bids for the site to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.
May 6, 2013
$450 Billion in Federal Subsidies Tilt U.S. Real Estate Market Toward Sprawl
Real estate in the United States, it turns out, isn't really guided by "the invisible hand" of the free market.
January 9, 2013
Massachusetts’ Smart Plan to Promote Housing That Works for Young People
Eschewing the faddish steps local governments sometimes take to retain and attract young professionals, Massachusetts has cut to the chase with a common-sense plan. Governor Deval Patrick is catalyzing walkable residential development as an official state policy in hopes of retaining young people by appealing to their needs and preferences.
November 14, 2012
In Philly, Housing in Walkable Places Held Up Better Than Suburban Housing
It's been a bad few years for homeowners around the country, and those in greater Philadelphia are no different. But people who owned houses in Philadelphia's center city or suburban areas near a walkable town center fared better than others.
November 9, 2012
Why It Can Be More Affordable to Live in an “Expensive” City
So, how did Washington, D.C. -- widely perceived as one of the most expensive cities in the country -- end up topping a “most affordable” housing list?
October 19, 2012
Federal Housing Administration Clears Way for More Walkable Development
Over the last five years America has seen an historic housing downturn, but the prevailing trend hasn't sapped demand for walkable, urban development, especially in many larger metros.
October 15, 2012
Coming Soon: “Nice, Cool and Chic” Ground Floor Parking in Boerum Hill
An 85-unit residential building proposed for the corner of Bergen Street and Third Avenue in Boerum Hill sits just blocks from Atlantic Terminal, with access to nine subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road. But the city's zoning requirements mandate at least 43 parking spaces for its 85 units, and the entire first floor of the building will be a giant parking garage, facing both the street and the avenue. According to a report in the Observer, the project's developer says construction is scheduled begin within 10 days and take approximately 18 months.
September 14, 2012