(A Measure S sign in Los Angeles calling to “save our neighborhoods” gets a strong response from a local blogger / photo by ChainLetterCollective.com)
1. This week at Market Urbanism:
Four Warnings For Los Angeles On Measures S
I’m not going to rehash arguments for or against the measure. Instead, I’m going to offer several warnings based on the experience of Davis, CA, which passed its own Ballot Box Zoning Measure in 2000.
World City Profiles: Ancient Rome Really Knew How To City by Matt Gangemi
Now imagine a modern implementation of a Roman city. The narrow streets would be well-lit and safe, the apartments would be ranging from affordable to extravagant, the tiny shops would provide jobs to many that live above, and dense office buildings would provide jobs for many more. Well-planned parks and amenities would provide endless entertainment and chances for social interaction, while the pub on your block may connect you with your nearby neighbors.
2. Announcement
Gangemi’s post above on Rome gave us an idea for what could be an ongoing and sporadic MU series—“World City Profiles”. That is, readers who live in or visit international cities could write photo blog posts about the brilliant urbanism in those places, peppering them with historical context, and commentary on how America’s design codes make such development illegal here. Given our disperse audience–and your frequent traveling–this could make for an illustrative series. PM me or Scott Beyer if you have a submission
3. Where’s Scott?
Scott will spend his final weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area visiting its many notable suburbs, including Berkeley, Napa, Palo Alto and more. Then he’s heading to Portland, stop #12 on his 30-city tour. His Forbes article this week explains how Measure S Would Grip Los Angeles In A Housing Shortage
The city is the nation’s homeless capital, and just passed a ballot measure that would dedicate $1.2 billion in bond revenue to fund 13,000 supportive units. But it will be difficult to build these if Measure S passes, because developers often need regulatory waivers to make their projects viable.
4. At the Market Urbanism Facebook Group
Adam Hengels on how to talk to your Nimby friends about zoning
Franco Martin Lopez published his Spanish-language dissertation on market urbanist solutions for Rosario, Argentina
Bob McGrew advocates for special economic zones designed especially for immigrants
Adam Cahnman wrote about the tax exemption that must end to reduce housing costs
Matt Palm wants to know if we think Local governments can create blueprints for more housing
Acacio Dorta speculates on the idea of building cities in space
Todd Littman wrote Unaffordability is a Problem but Sprawl is a Terrible Solution
via Marcos Paulo Schlickmann The idiocy of traffic studies
via Rocco Fama 35-Year-Old Downloads The Sims to Play Out Home Ownership Fantasy
via Len Conly Why Falling Home Prices Could Be a Good Thing
via John Morris: Micro-housing fears drive Denver council members’ calls for stricter changes to parking exemptions
via John Morris, “Taxpayers now on the hook for Taxi Medallion buyback schemes.“
via Jake Thomas, “Fort Worth will be the largest city in Texas to get out of the public housing business entirely.“
5. Elsewhere
A Los Angeles blogger asks “What the shit is Measure S?”
David Brooks on the merits of Houston’s pro-housing, pro-immigrant urban model
National Review discusses the need for people to relocate to better job markets
City Journal contributing editor Kay Hymowitz has written a book about Brooklyn’s revival
6. Stephen Smith‘s tweet of the week:
If you don’t let cities grow, they will shrink https://t.co/kpfgqtJak1
— Market Urbanism (@MarketUrbanism) February 13, 2017
