Greg Allen argues that Kansas City's light rail plan, influenced by "trendy" ideas such as "Smart Growth" and "New Urbanism" won't work.
"In isolation, light rail may sound like a great idea. The plan is based on all the trendiest ideas in urban development -- 'smart growth,' 'the New Urbanism' and so on -- and it's supposed to improve air pollution, traffic congestion and other urban problems...our city is not densely populated, and we prefer it that way... Light rail is the castor oil of urban development: They say it's good for you, but almost no one ever takes it if they have a choice."
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: Light rail would create $1 billion boondoggle
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
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