Learning from Other Places

[15895]

3 hours ago, kayman said:

Sorry, but lack of self-awareness is not one of my own shortcomings. Instead, I'm well aware of myself being observant, assertive, and just plain blunt about things.

Ironically, are you unaware of how your posting style makes you come across as a condescending, passive aggressive individual with several perspective blind spots of one's own personal bias? If you did, you already would know how ironic your quoted post & the prior post in this thread are microaggressions, & truly reveling  about your own posting behavior not mine...

I skimmed over that. 

I saw something about microagressions. I think you’re just going on about WMATA because you think I’m condescending or whatever. That’s lame if so. If you were genuine or came to the game before Randy Clarke, or really at least being genuine. That’d be interesting - there’d be a laundry list of grievances pre Randy. But you’re not being genuine, so. Post away about it if that makes you feel better. The collapsed I-95 bridge in Philadelphia was Re-built within a month and that only carried 160,000 vehicles a day… 

Though I’d recommend talking about DC’s rising crime rate surpassing Baltimore for the first time in 40 years while all other peer cities that had crime spikes have dramatically fallen YoY, DC was the only to actually further increase. The slight majority of city council is against the mayor (& Biden - which is important given congress and the president intervene) on their views of policing, crime penalties etc. They blame it on the federal judicial system for not prosecuting but a lot of people think it’s their penchant to decriminalize everything. Some of those laws were already reversed or tampered like the decriminalization of metro fare evasion that was absolutely insane the disrespect of people - it was hard to think it was a first world country. Finally law and order has returned on fare evaders.

That’s applicable to Charlotte. And it’s a much easier line of attack because it’s a real issue. Just saving yourself some trouble and putting this back on topic of learning from other places (though it’s more enjoyable when it skews towards positivity). It’s not really “urban development” related but. 

Edited October 22, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[kayman]

Regional leaders have been working for months on how to help close Metro’s budget hole for next year and in subsequent years, but no specific plans have emerged. Metro also faced a funding shortage in 2020 and developed similar draconian service plans, but the federal government ultimately provided Metro and transit systems across the country with billions of dollars in pandemic-related financial aid.

COVID-19 relief funds (CARES, CRSSA, & ARP) are nearly depleted. 

Metro leaders said that next year, they want to move even more of that cost — $345 million, or almost half of what Metro spends annually on preventive maintenance — into the capital budget. The capital budget funds construction projects, major repairs and replacement vehicles. It receives separate funding, including contributions from the federal government. But such a shift could force Metro to cut back on some long-term projects, including the purchase of electric buses and new rail cars to replace those about 40 years old.

Service cuts could help Metro save up to $20 million. Cuts could include reducing peak rail service to every 20 minutes and every 30 minutes the rest of the day.

The Metrobus system could cut all routes except the busiest 37. It could shorten routes, remove routes near Metrorail lines and ask other bus agencies to pick up far-reaching routes — all of which could save up to $10 million annually.

Rail stations could close full-time or during weekends. Rail yards could be shuttered and Metro could consider closing two of its nine Metrobus garages. The agency could switch to running mostly four- or six-car trains instead of eight-car sets, which would decrease maintenance and energy costs, saving up to $8 million.

Metrorail could close an hour earlier on Friday and Saturday nights, netting $3 million in savings, budget officials said. Cutting the time Metro runs peak service during rush hour from four or five hours to two or three hours could result in up to $5 million in savings. Between $2 million and $7 million could be saved by reducing the number of trains leaving the downtown core, while lines could also be shortened.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/10/24/metro-budget-service-stations/

Although the next fiscal year budget isn't to be finalized until April, WMATA oversight board has until January per union agreement to confirm if there will be worker layoffs related to possible service reductions. 

This is all around bad. I don't want to see such a large regional service being  severely cut, but it is looking likely. The likely solution would be for the states of Maryland and Virginia along with the US Government and the District government itself will have to funnel more funding to close this budget funding gap.

https://transitcenter.org/on-the-brink-will-wmatas-progress-be-erased-by-2024/

Basically, the progress with service reliability for transit-dependent users and federally-mandated maintenance to prevent additional derailments would be stalled or reversed.

Edited October 26, 2023 by kayman

[15895]

16 hours ago, kayman said:

Regional leaders have been working for months on how to help close Metro’s budget hole for next year and in subsequent years, but no specific plans have emerged. Metro also faced a funding shortage in 2020 and developed similar draconian service plans, but the federal government ultimately provided Metro and transit systems across the country with billions of dollars in pandemic-related financial aid.

COVID-19 relief funds (CARES, CRSSA, & ARP) are nearly depleted. 

Metro leaders said that next year, they want to move even more of that cost — $345 million, or almost half of what Metro spends annually on preventive maintenance — into the capital budget. The capital budget funds construction projects, major repairs and replacement vehicles. It receives separate funding, including contributions from the federal government. But such a shift could force Metro to cut back on some long-term projects, including the purchase of electric buses and new rail cars to replace those about 40 years old.

Service cuts could help Metro save up to $20 million. Cuts could include reducing peak rail service to every 20 minutes and every 30 minutes the rest of the day.

The Metrobus system could cut all routes except the busiest 37. It could shorten routes, remove routes near Metrorail lines and ask other bus agencies to pick up far-reaching routes — all of which could save up to $10 million annually.

Rail stations could close full-time or during weekends. Rail yards could be shuttered and Metro could consider closing two of its nine Metrobus garages. The agency could switch to running mostly four- or six-car trains instead of eight-car sets, which would decrease maintenance and energy costs, saving up to $8 million.

Metrorail could close an hour earlier on Friday and Saturday nights, netting $3 million in savings, budget officials said. Cutting the time Metro runs peak service during rush hour from four or five hours to two or three hours could result in up to $5 million in savings. Between $2 million and $7 million could be saved by reducing the number of trains leaving the downtown core, while lines could also be shortened.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/10/24/metro-budget-service-stations/

Although the next fiscal year budget isn't to be finalized until April, WMATA oversight board has until January per union agreement to confirm if there will be worker layoffs related to possible service reductions. 

This is all around bad. I don't want to see such a large regional service being  severely cut, but it is looking likely. The likely solution would be for the states of Maryland and Virginia along with the US Government and the District government itself will have to funnel more funding to close this budget funding gap.

https://transitcenter.org/on-the-brink-will-wmatas-progress-be-erased-by-2024/

Basically, the progress with service reliability for transit-dependent users and federally-mandated maintenance to prevent additional derailments would be stalled or reversed.

You know there’s a DC section if you want to talk about it so much?  Not many contributors in that section so maybe you can make it popular. There’s so much development it’s a shame there’s no contributors other than the constant posting in the Charlotte section. 

Edited October 27, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[KJHburg]

Houston the 5th largest metro in the country.  Lots of various good things Charlotte can learn from or replicate.  

first a new office tower even with a vacancy rate of 25% used to be the highest office vacancy in the land now San Fran is higher.   They still have a flight to quality this is a big law firm that anchored this tower. 

Ice rink (despite it being near 85 degrees this day) in their main downtown park Discovery Green which is operated by a non profit set up to do so.  (maybe we should do this in Charlotte for marquee parks?)  Plus a downtown dog park.  Making Main St through the heart of downtown less car friendly only 2 lanes  with the Metro rail running through it.   Most streets in downtown are 3-4 lanes.  And in some places they closed the street off for more on street dining. 

Historical renovations abound in downtown with old hotels into apartments, new hotels in older office buildings.   Despite the fact you can build anything everywhere they have a lot of historical buildings downtown.  

Take a look at their transit plans heavy on the Bus Rapid Transit but more rail lines too including a line to Hobby Airport.

METRONext Moving Forward Plan | ADA Accessible Public Transit | Houston, Texas (ridemetro.org)   check out their extensive plans.  Lots of BRT lots of HOV express lanes even more rail.  Voted approved for Harris County.  More park and ride.  More enhanced bus service on heavily used routes.  BRT to GW Bush Intercontinental Airport.    Connected the largest employment clusters.  

Conversion of old main post office downtown to Post Houston with food hall, offices and rooftop skygarden that includes a huge real food growing garden  (top floor of Legacy mega deck?) One of the largest rooftop farms in the country. 

Came across one of Houston's New Hope Housing affordable apartment developments in EaDo or east of downtown.    Lots of infill in this neighborhood very high density SF homes like detached townhomes plus apartments going up everywhere intown.  

Parks Houston has an extensive greenway system from downtown to east of downtown all the way west along Buffalo Bayou.  (not pictured is a huge skatepark with skyline views too very close to downtown)  Trails & Destinations – Buffalo Bayou Partnership   The greenway along the BB run for about 20-25 miles east to west.  

Wildlife tunnels at Memorial Park the largest urban park in the city and restoration of a coastal plain prairie.  

Of course Houston has multiple clusters of high rises and last photo in the distance is the Texas Medical Center area that is intensely dense and is served by their Metrorail. 

all those photos were taken on the same day it went from sunny to rainy to cloudy to sunny multiple times that day.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Windsurfer]

So empty. Looks like a ghost town.

[15895]

Baltimore making waves in the urban development rounds.

The redevelopment of Inner Harbor has been talked about for a while and new renderings dropped today. Lots of place making and Wes Moore is a huge champion of efforts to revitalize the harbor. This looks unique and great. 

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/growth-development/harborplace-developer-design-plans-E2XBQBIQX5FGXPUHHO5P2OKVPU/?utm_campaign=TheBaltimoreBanner

 

Other exciting large developments are happening in Baltimore.  One of the more hopeful is the Baltimore Redline (light rail with large parts of it being underground) 

IMG_2131.avi

Edited October 30, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[TheMightyBK]

4 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

Baltimore making waves in the urban development rounds.

The redevelopment of Inner Harbor has been talked about for a while and new renderings dropped today. Lots of place making and Wes Moore is a huge champion of efforts to revitalize the harbor. This looks unique and great. 

https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/growth-development/harborplace-developer-design-plans-E2XBQBIQX5FGXPUHHO5P2OKVPU/?utm_campaign=TheBaltimoreBanner

 

Other exciting large developments are happening in Baltimore.  One of the more hopeful is the Baltimore Redline (light rail with large parts of it being underground) 

IMG_2131.avi 136.83 kB · 2 downloads

Judging by the social media reactions, most Baltimorons hate it.

[KJHburg]

Learning from other places Small Town Edition.  what can Charlotte learn from much smaller towns and cities?   Things like historical preservation and conversion of older buildings to new uses instead of flattening them.  Even a new small town like Trilith south of Atlanta has plenty of ideas for our newer communities on the edge of the city.  How to attract retailers and small businesses to downtowns.

From Trilith GA a new planned community with a huge movie studio as anchor (Trilith Studios former Pinewood) This is a must see when south of Atlanta and they have a mix of small and large homes and duplexes and townhomes all in a compact format.     Trilith Studios     Trilith

From Auburn AL a fantastic college town.  They have an urban Target which would be great in Southend or uptown even with the full size store in Metropolitan.    (starts at Go Tigers mural)  ends with large Auburn Univ. building. 

From Vicksburg MS how to invigorate a downtown with lots of residential conversions.  This is in a town of only 20,000 in a county of 50,000 people along the Mississippi River.     Some of their projects.   Photos start at the cannon! 

The Ware House apartments    Warehouse Vicksburg | Modern Furnished Apartments | Extended Stay

Sears Quarters  home - Sears Quarters

the Lofts at First National  The LOFTS- Lofts at First National

and yes Vicksburg beat Charlotte to it and already has a social district or whatever they call them there.  (see the sign photo) 

 

It is good to see urban development and redevelopment in small towns in their downtowns.  Auburn obviously has the huge Auburn University and Vicksburg is more tourism driven and its status as historical town.    We do need to promote our gold mining heritage more as someone just posted.  

[15895]

Austin joins one of a couple/few major cities that eliminated parking minimums 

Off the top of my head, Minneapolis, Alexandria VA, and I think NYC are Noteworthy ones so far (or at least NYC is close)
 

“An affordability impact statement conducted by the City of Austin’s Housing and Planning Department said the removal of parking minimums will help lower the costs of building housing, in turn allowing for developers to hit desired profit levels more readily while also yielding lower market rent prices.”

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-city-council-to-consider-eliminating-minimum-parking-requirements-thursday/amp/

Edited November 2, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[KJHburg]

Just back from Austin and what I would say is wow.  6 buildings under construction over 600 feet downtown including the state's and city's new tallest building Waterline Austin.

Growing faster than just about any metro area over 1 M in the country.  Plenty of job growth in the pipeline to keep it growing too.  However it is not immune from national trends.  Many of the tech companies are giving up their office space and shrinking their space.   For example Facebook leased all the office space in the new 6th and Guadalupe tower but now is not moving into any of it and put it on the sublease market.  One of their 60 plus apartment towers was halved to 30 stories.  A planned 65 story Conrad Hilton Hotel and Residences is cancelled all together,   But a tremendous amount of construction is ongoing including the new tallest building in the state and city the 1000 ft plus high rise Waterline.  

Unfortunately it is was cloudy the whole time I was there but here you.  

The Texas State Capitol is worth a visit it is 1 Million sq feet with 350,000 sq ft above ground and a stunning 6 level 650,000 sq ft underground building (did not want to ruin the views of the Capitol when they expanded it in the 1990s) 

Their transit plan has changed since passed in Nov. 2020 now heavier on Bus Rapid Transit but still 2 rail lines (this of course an area Nashville needs to address asap)

A New Transit Plan for Austin - Project Connect by CapMetro

Notable new buildings

66 story 865 feet Sixth  and Guadalupe Tower finishing up Sixth and Guadalupe | LPC Austin  apartments and office space that was going to be for Facebook

Waterline, Austin TX - Work, Live & Stay (waterlineaustin.com)   the new tallest in Texas is rising now  73 stories 1022 feet taller than Houston's Chase Tower by about 20 feet.  

The ATX 58 stories 675 feet.  Modern Downtown Austin Office Space | ATX Tower (325west6th.com)

Truly the transformation of this skyline is in the last decade is unmatched in the USA maybe Miami but it truly astounding.   The mixture of styles of their towers is great too.   6 buildings under construction over 600 feet right now.  

Lesson for Charlotte:  We need to make our uptown area more residential.  Almost every new building in downtown Austin has a residential component in it or is mixed use.  (That is another thing we need to do more of in the future to get height is mixed uses) We have a MAJOR  part of uptown that is not developed and yes I will say it being held hostage almost by Mr DL.  All those blocks in First Ward could have been developed like Southend with high density housing but nothing.  One block sold off and another block with a hulking not open for some reason mega garage. But the city county are to blame too with their long agreement with a master developer of Brooklyn Village that has left that area underbuilt for years.

I went to Houston, Austin, Nashville, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Raleigh, Birmingham this year and NONE of them have the open land owned by one developer that is unddeveloped in their central city.  Not one city but Charlotte.  This has held uptown Charlotte back by keeping all this land off the market for so long.  Now the economic conditions have changed and I guess we will wait another decade or two before a block is sold off in First Ward.  This vacant empty spot in uptown has increase vagrancy in a large swarth of uptown Charlotte on the north side.  

anyway here is a city with very little open land in its core Austin.   One thing I saw I really liked was little signs on their greenways and in their parks asking if you like this trail support it with a QR code.   That should be done on some of our busiest greenways to build support (to the Partners for Parks group)    Anyway Austin is a great city but not my absolute favorite in Texas.  

[Windsurfer]

Wonderful shots.  Again, where are the people?   

It's so weird to me to be living in London this year, riding the packed rail or busses into Central London and having to watch your step for the crowds, then seeing all these shots of American cities.  So desolate.  The zoning restrictions we put on our cities really did hurt us, don't you think?   Here, you have all kinds of street businesses along with housing.

One other comment. Seems like Dallas is missing an opportunity to use that rive more. Is it navigatable?

[15895]

I think Manhattan & Brooklyn have had the biggest skyline changes in the last decade. Moreso than Austin, tbh. 

Can’t find a Brooklyn one and Manhattan already has built more since 2020.

[KJHburg]

3 hours ago, Windsurfer said:

Wonderful shots.  Again, where are the people?   

It's so weird to me to be living in London this year, riding the packed rail or busses into Central London and having to watch your step for the crowds, then seeing all these shots of American cities.  So desolate.  The zoning restrictions we put on our cities really did hurt us, don't you think?   Here, you have all kinds of street businesses along with housing.

One other comment. Seems like Dallas is missing an opportunity to use that rive more. Is it navigatable?

this was a cold rainy Sunday afternoon and mid day Monday.  HOwever I tried at all cost to not take photos of people so theres that.  This was a really cold day for Austin on Monday wind blowing mid 40s thats winter in Texas.  

[carolinaboy]

How much of the growth in Austin is attributable to the tech industry? Are there other sectors contributing to the job growth in Austin? What would the effects be in Austin if the tech industry had a downturn? I don't know much about Austin but my perception is heavily skewed towards tech. I would guess some governmental as well. Energy? Oil? I know I've heard a lot about Oracle, Dell, Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc. there.

[KJHburg]

8 hours ago, carolinaboy said:

How much of the growth in Austin is attributable to the tech industry? Are there other sectors contributing to the job growth in Austin? What would the effects be in Austin if the tech industry had a downturn? I don't know much about Austin but my perception is heavily skewed towards tech. I would guess some governmental as well. Energy? Oil? I know I've heard a lot about Oracle, Dell, Amazon, Google, Facebook, etc. there.

not much energy at all their only oil and gas firm bought by Houston based company.  Lots of tech, state government, UT employs a lot, but lots of advanced manufacturing like Tesla, Samsung, and lots of smaller chip companies.  Apple has like 10K employees there and is still growing there.  Google Facebook. Homeaway Indeed.com and lots of tech companies have huge operations there.  It is still growing in jobs but lots of manufacturing jobs in the surrounding counties now.   As the most expensive market in Texas it is still a lot cheaper than San Fran, Silicon Valley, Seattle and the quality of life is good. 

Here is their list of major employers but the Federal Govt. employs a lot more there than here in Charlotte.  I send my taxes sometimes to Austin. 

Major Employers | Austin Chamber of Commerce

Edited November 3, 2023 by KJHburg

[Crucial_Infra]

I wish Charlotte could pull off the residential on the same scale as Austin. Having a massive state university within blocks of downtown helps!

[KJHburg]

5 minutes ago, Crucial_Infra said:

I wish Charlotte could pull off the residential on the same scale as Austin. Having a massive state university within blocks of downtown helps!

Yes it does but these high rises south of the Capitol closer to the river are very expensive mainly for the tech people who work downtown or  those who want an urban lifestyle. The college oriented apartments are mostly north of the Capitol closer to campus.  Like I said we need more housing uptown.  And these vast undeveloped tracts we have by a couple of owners are stymieing that effort. I walked all over downtown Austin and there is nearly an apartment or hotel tower on every block.  Their office towers are sprinkled in with them.  Having the mothership of Whole Foods has helped them greatly over the years but there are  apartment towers 10-15 blocks away.  

[KJHburg]

Last set of my photos from a city that has been reborn that being Birmingham.  UAB like UNC Charlotte is fairly young and it is located just blocks from downtown B-ham.  Plus it has a medical school and medical center.  In between downtown B-ham and the UAB campus is an area that looks just like Southend.  Lots of new apartments, Regions Field home of the B-ham Barons team and new park Railroad Park.  From what I saw B-ham kept most of their historical buildings and continues to reuse them.  Lots of apartment conversions, a food hall and apartments in one, hotels in others.  The newer larger towers are separated somewhat by a couple of blocks from the more historic Heaviest Corner on Earth.  This was my first visit in 20 years downtown and I was impressed.   Saw at least 2 current historical renovations and the Alabama Theater is open and in use.  (someday soon our Carolina Theater will be too) 

The Magic City is back and no longer a big steel and iron producing center their largest employer in now UAB Medical center.  Birmingham was about the same size as Charlotte back in the 1960s but then we took off like a rocket.  

If you are interested in seeing other photos from my trip visit the UP sites of Mobile, Houston, Corpus Christi, Austin, VIcksburg, and of course Birmingham.   Liked the historical markers and murals all over downtown too. Birmingham is back! 

[videtur quam contuor]

https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2023-11-04/l-autoroute-bonaventure-deviendra-boulevard.php?oeid=006a9858c170911bf9f7d6227b828ab8e76cfdb72dc79e0fc346224092cf4421

This should open with option to translate to English.

Speaking of river/highway, Montréal will restructure a riverside highway to become a boulevard and then repurpose the land as a riverfront pleasure area, bike paths, pedestrian paths. If I read this correctly the federal government of Canada has responsibility for bridges (most) in Montréal and this will become a renewal portion of that project. Some years in the future as the design is starting now. From LaPresse the major French language paper in the city. (I read 'em all)

edit: typo

Historic perspective: The Victoria Bridge, which is the near bridge in the photo, is from 1859 and was a rail bridge connecting Montréal island for the first time to the south shore and the rest of North America. An immense endeavo(u)r.

A bridge at Québec City was not complete until 1919. Construction on that bridge failed spectacularly twice with many lives lost. QC remained stranded from the rest of North America until that time setting back their development. Bridges are colossally expensive but can change the life and fortunes of a region, for good or ill  (when they are delayed or fail).

Edited November 4, 2023 by videtur quam contuor

[15895]

Saw some before/after pics of some areas in Boston on Twitter: 
 

 

Edited November 6, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[15895]

SLC rail & BRT today. 

 

SLC rail In the future:

Edited November 9, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[KJHburg]

If Savannah can do this why can't Charlotte duplicate something like this?  as for land plenty of underused city and county owned land around town. 

Tiny home project aimed at helping homeless veterans completed (wtoc.com)

older but more in depth story about this tiny home village

It Takes a Village | Savannah Magazine

Edited November 11, 2023 by KJHburg

[rancenc]

For what it's worth, two Carolina cities are listed in this batch!!

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/towns-in-the-united-states-that-will-be-important-cities-by-2050/

[15895]

I just learned how to do the google street view time things today so. I wanted to talk a little about the Union Market district in DC. 
 

It’s pretty much this area:

 

It’s home to the zip code with the most apartment units U/C in the country.
 

Between 2018 & 2022, it added over 7,000 new apartments completions. For context uptown added a little over 2,000 and has 9,000 units in total. The zip code is a bit more inclusive than union market (and bleeds into NoMa which the whole area is referred to as NoMa but a vast bulk is concentrated in this area) 
 

There’s still a ton of buildings in the pipeline and over 2,000 units underway. 

It really, really reminds me of SouthEnd and Sort of optimist park. It’s crazy because when I moved to DC in 2017, Union Market “District” wasn’t even worth being called a District to me. It was… nothing. Literally, I drove through and thought… industrial wasteland as far as the eye could see. Literally, it felt like a mistake to move to DC because it was the first area I had to go to for a uhaul. 

Since then it has crazily blossomed into one of the most impressive urban neighborhoods, bustling, great retail, amazing food scene, tons of entertainment and just a superb, large area.

Literally just reminds me of all the potential SouthEnd has right here:

 

Below are a few before/after from 2017-2023 of parts of Union Market. The street views don’t show a lot of people but pretty much all hours of the day it’s jammed with people

 

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[videtur quam contuor]

Cars park in bike lane there.