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National
Urban Expert Outlines Path to Better Development in the 21st Century
As the nation grows from 300 billion to 400 billion people, new transit is a must to save us from massive road congestion, endless commutes and a degraded environment, but it also is ''only half the solution,'' writes syndicated columnist and urban expert Neal R. Pierce, convinced that the other half depends on ''the will to reshape urban America'' and make development more compact, energy efficient, and environmentally conscious.
''That means organizing regionally -- across our citystate regions -- on multiple fronts,'' he points out, outlining six key tasks for political, business and civic leaders.
''Champion transit-oriented development -- new or expanded town centers and housing near transit stops, aggressively planned and zoned for high densities,'' he writes, backing the Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology's recommendation to redevelop station parking lots -- 23 million square feet in its area alone -- into dense mixed-use complexes, with multistory garages or scattered parking.
''Make transit stops beacons of living for America's new millions'' -- station areas already show greater race and income diversity than other urban and suburban neighborhoods, but they need more moderately priced housing.
''Inventory our millions of acres of 'fallow' sites'' -- brownfields, abandoned railyards, failed shopping centers -- offer redevelopment incentives, and have the political courage to rebuff NIMBY groups opposing reasonably denser projects nearby.
''Do away with mandatory parking slots for new buildings -- let the market decide,'' and encourage rail or bus rapid transit at development nodes, construction along streetcar lines, and conversion of car-dependent retail strips into tree-lined boulevards with transit.
''Focus on reducing auto trips for errands -- they are much more numerous than commute trips'' -- by making them easier on foot or bike, while adding pockets of stores or services in sprawling older suburbs without transit.
''Encourage employers to broaden telecommuting and flexible hours'' -- a huge but insufficiently used Internet-age opportunity.
And last, but not least, ''we need fresh vision to associate compactness with lively and resilient towns, combating climate change and making us less dependent on foreign oil,'' the columnist stresses. ''We owe it to ourselves and our children -- a new, highly relevant 21st century patriotism.'' 12/3/2006
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