Comments on: Where’s My TOD? http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/ > so much wonderful packaged in such a mess Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:37:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: London breaks http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-506045 London breaks Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:45:12 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-506045 If you're planning a weekend break to London, you will no doubt be inundated with things to do as well as attractions to see. A must for almost any couple or individual visiting London is a trip to the West End. Tickets for musicals and other Theatre acts may end up being costly, however there are numerous shows in London which offer decent prices, and the cheapest theatre tickets can be found online. If you’re planning a weekend break to London, you will no doubt be inundated with things to do as well as attractions to see. A must for almost any couple or individual visiting London is a trip to the West End. Tickets for musicals and other Theatre acts may end up being costly, however there are numerous shows in London which offer decent prices, and the cheapest theatre tickets can be found online.

]]> By: Parking Policy Pickle | hugeasscity http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-96577 Parking Policy Pickle | hugeasscity Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:16:40 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-96577 [...] transit-oriented communities that many expected to sprout up in advance of light rail have yet to materialize, and alternative modes of station access are underfunded, insufficient, and in some [...] [...] transit-oriented communities that many expected to sprout up in advance of light rail have yet to materialize, and alternative modes of station access are underfunded, insufficient, and in some [...]

]]> By: Trains Are Magic | hugeasscity http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3193 Trains Are Magic | hugeasscity Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:15:54 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3193 [...] have something curmudgeonly to add.  Because as has been noted ad nauseum on this blog—here, here, here, and here—the stations in the southeast Seattle portion of the line completely lack the [...] [...] have something curmudgeonly to add.  Because as has been noted ad nauseum on this blog—here, here, here, and here—the stations in the southeast Seattle portion of the line completely lack the [...]

]]> By: EeePC http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3192 EeePC Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:05:54 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3192 Collingwood Village is exactly the sort of TOD we should be avoiding. Toronto has some of the worst examples of this kind of development. Toronto Subway's 'yellow' line runs in a u-shape, stopping frequently in the loop downtown and about once per mile as the two branches extend north. As a result you can easily tell where the stations are by looking down upon the city - they're all marked by clusters of 20-30 story residential towers roughly a mile apart from each other. Go ahead and visit one of these distant stations. North York, York Mills, Yorkdale: all named similarly, which is appropriate considering their total lack of character. Just because they're dense, transit oriented developments doesn't make them pedestrian friendly or even remotely charming. Vancouver appears to have fallen into this lazy development trap and that's what you want to emulate here in Seattle as well? I'm all for TOD, but not density just for density's sake. The problem is, Vancouver's SkyTrain and Link have long routes with large spaces between stations. This encourages developers to stuff as much housing to service the station as they can. A shorter line with many stations would be a much more intelligent means of creating dense development, see pretty much any European city as an example, but it just costs too much. Collingwood Village is exactly the sort of TOD we should be avoiding. Toronto has some of the worst examples of this kind of development.

Toronto Subway’s ‘yellow’ line runs in a u-shape, stopping frequently in the loop downtown and about once per mile as the two branches extend north. As a result you can easily tell where the stations are by looking down upon the city – they’re all marked by clusters of 20-30 story residential towers roughly a mile apart from each other. Go ahead and visit one of these distant stations. North York, York Mills, Yorkdale: all named similarly, which is appropriate considering their total lack of character. Just because they’re dense, transit oriented developments doesn’t make them pedestrian friendly or even remotely charming.

Vancouver appears to have fallen into this lazy development trap and that’s what you want to emulate here in Seattle as well? I’m all for TOD, but not density just for density’s sake.

The problem is, Vancouver’s SkyTrain and Link have long routes with large spaces between stations. This encourages developers to stuff as much housing to service the station as they can. A shorter line with many stations would be a much more intelligent means of creating dense development, see pretty much any European city as an example, but it just costs too much.

]]> By: dave http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3191 dave Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:17:59 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3191 Given what we know about the real estate/lending biz is it a big suprise? There is no reward for doing what is right, only what is right now. Given what we know about the real estate/lending biz is it a big suprise?

There is no reward for doing what is right, only what is right now.

]]> By: Joshua Daniel Franklin http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3190 Joshua Daniel Franklin Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:31:16 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3190 Dude, I think you answered your own question. The TOD went where there was existing demand (Capitol Hill, Denny Triangle, U-District, etc.) and no developer wanted to built too soon along the new light rail line. There's no first mover advantage in real estate unless you count low land acquisition prices but I heard rumors that everyone was demanding top dollar for obviously choice lots near stations. Dude, I think you answered your own question. The TOD went where there was existing demand (Capitol Hill, Denny Triangle, U-District, etc.) and no developer wanted to built too soon along the new light rail line. There’s no first mover advantage in real estate unless you count low land acquisition prices but I heard rumors that everyone was demanding top dollar for obviously choice lots near stations.

]]> By: kpt http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3189 kpt Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:42:05 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3189 One suspects Dan's point is: Seattle city leaders, you knew 10 years ago where the stations were going to be. Why didn't you do everything you could to encourage TOD while the economy was good? Yes, rents are low in this area, but there's a whole list of things that can be done to incent the development community to do this. And the city, far from doing these things, has seemed intent on getting in their way. One suspects Dan’s point is: Seattle city leaders, you knew 10 years ago where the stations were going to be. Why didn’t you do everything you could to encourage TOD while the economy was good? Yes, rents are low in this area, but there’s a whole list of things that can be done to incent the development community to do this. And the city, far from doing these things, has seemed intent on getting in their way.

]]> By: Spencer http://hugeasscity.com/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/comment-page-1/#comment-3188 Spencer Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:55:06 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/04/08/wheres-my-tod/#comment-3188 Dan, what do you think is really the problem if it is not those stingy lenders and tight pocketed financiers? Across the board, the Times article shows even for profit and non-profit developers are having trouble securing financing. I am hearing the same thing from the people I know developing in other parts of the city as well. The shortage of credit is a nation wide symptom. It's a real problem right now. Dan, what do you think is really the problem if it is not those stingy lenders and tight pocketed financiers?

Across the board, the Times article shows even for profit and non-profit developers are having trouble securing financing. I am hearing the same thing from the people I know developing in other parts of the city as well. The shortage of credit is a nation wide symptom. It’s a real problem right now.

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