A view of the city

There's WOW ... and then there's BOW-WOW

A very timely post from the incisive John Montague Massengale.

Gratuitous dooryard picture

City Council update -- from Councilor Russ Stephenson

News from Councilor Russ Stephenson - Summer 2008 Contents (click item to view) Keeping Taxes Low Improving Transportation Choices Conserving Water & Pricing It Fairly Expanding Services Strengthening Neighborhoods Working Together for Success First of all, THANK YOU for the opportunity to serve you on the Council since 2005.  In that time, I've heard your concerns and worked hard to bring about positive change.  As we head into the summer, I want to take a moment to look back on the events of the past few months and describe some of my efforts to serve your needs today, as well as to plan for Raleigh's health and prosperity in the years ahead.   Sincerely,.   call me at 828-3699, or email  Info@RussForRaleigh.com Keeping Taxes Low I voted against raising property taxes and utility fees.  After listening to the concerns of many citizens who are being hit hard by the recent property revaluation, rising gas and food prices, and are struggling to make ends meet, I recommended delaying major city projects until the economy improves.  Ultimately, I could not support the proposed property tax increase or utility fee increase and voted against both. I voted for raising developer impact fees.  For many years I have argued that the best growth is growth that pays its own way, and does not need millions of taxpayer dollars every year to subsidize new roads and parks serving newcomers.  This year we finally had the votes to make new growth pay about 1/3 of the cost of new roads and parks.  I also lobbied successfully to make developer impact fees graduated, so that larger homes pay more, while modest homes pay less. Improving Transportation Choices Providing a 21st century transit system in Raleigh and the Triangle is the single most important investment we can make to improve the quality of life for all Raleigh citizens.  Benefits include: spending less on gas and the high costs of maintaining an automobile spending less time in congested traffic having better mobility choices, especially for younger and older citizens attracting quality companies that expect a 21st century transit system having more compact, walkable growth that reduces environmental impacts, depends less on our existing roads, and reduces infrastructure costs of new development At times it has been an uphill battle, and I have been on the front line since 2003.  Here are some examples: The Big Picture: Regional Transit Planning --- I share duties with Mayor Meeker in representing Raleigh at our regional transportation planning organization, made up of elected leaders from Wake and surrounding counties.  This group is in the midst of reviewing an important new regional transit plan for Wake, Durham and Orange Counties for the next 20 years.  There are many challenges ahead in funding and implementing our plan, but Charlotte's successful transit system is a good model. Charlotte's Lesson --- Last fall, I asked Councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin to help me enlist the Chamber of Commerce and other transit advocates in planning a trip to study Charlotte's success.  More than 50 civic leaders including City Councilors and County Commissioners made a one-day bus trip to Charlotte to learn how they planned and implemented their countywide transit system.  Everyone came away impressed with the 70% voter approval of their one-half cent sales tax for high quality bus service and the first leg of their light rail line, which has already sparked almost $2 billion in nearby private investments and new tax base. Our success will depend upon how well we balance funding sources, service benefits  and new private investments throughout the system. New Transit-Oriented Zoning --- As former Chair of the Planning Commission's Transit & Land Use Committee, I helped draft Raleigh's new transit zoning rules to promote the kind of high-tax-value redevelopment around transit stations that have been so successful in Charlotte. Conserving Water & Pricing It Fairly Learning From The Drought. The drought of 2007-08 was the worst on record and overturned the conventional wisdom that safe drinking water is a cheap and inexhaustible commodity.  Over the past 6 months, I have worked with fellow Councilors, water conservation experts and Raleigh citizens to outline a new, more sustainable approach to conserving water and pricing it fairly: Tiered Water Rates --- Our current flat-rate pricing charges all water users the same rate, no matter how much they consume (or waste).  I've been a leader in advocating for tiered rates that encourage conservation by starting with a low basic rate, then set progressively higher rates for higher consumption.  The Council recently voted to establish a tiered water rate system, which will go into effect in the spring of 2009. Conservation Incentives --- Tiered pricing will encourage larger users to conserve, but will also challenge some users who have not had to conserve in the past.  I've  led the effort for Raleigh to offer conservation incentives such as rebates on low-water-use toilets and appliances, rain barrels, cisterns and high-efficiency irrigation systems.  The Council recently voted to have its water experts panel create a list of conservation incentives to go along with the new tiered pricing plan. Developer Capacity Fees --- Most citizens know that developer impact fees pay for new roads and parks, but who pays for new water and sewer plants needed to serve new growth?  The answer is you, the existing utility customer pays over 95% of these costs, amounting to millions of dollars a year.  Surprisingly, Raleigh and Fuquay-Varina are the only two municipalities in Wake County that do not charge developers a capacity fee to help pay for new water and sewer plants.  As chair of the Public Works Committee I have been studying this issue and plan to bring forward a proposal to reduce citizen's utility bills by making growth pay its fair share of the cost of new water and sewer treatment plants. Expanding Services New Parks and Greenways.  Thanks to your support of last October's Parks Bond, plans for about fifteen new and upgraded parks and greenways are moving forward in every part of the city.  As Chair of the Public Works Committee, I led efforts on Council to make sure the natural beauty of Horseshoe Farm Park will be preserved for our enjoyment and for future generations.  Next, the Public Works Committee turned its attention siting much-needed active recreation facilities in high growth areas.  As a result, Council voted to begin planning two new parks: One located on Durant Road in conjunction with a new elementary school, and another one off Capital Blvd, near the Neuse River crossing. New Senior Center.  The Public Works Committee again took the lead in working with seniors across the city to find the best location for a new senior center.  Committee members Mary-Ann Baldwin and Rodger Koopman reached out to the community and came up with a plan that stretched our resources to serve seniors at two locations, with a main facility on Whitaker Mill Road and a satellite facility at Millbrook Exchange Park.  Both facilities are scheduled to open in early 2011. Strengthening Neighborhoods Making city streets safer for everyone.  One of the most common requests I get as Chair of the Public Works Committee is to calm traffic and make streets safer for pedestrians.  This spring I brought nationally-recognized experts to meet in Raleigh with Councilors, city staff and the public to describe how we could change our street planning policies from focusing on moving cars, to making sure streets are safer and shared more equally by everyone, including cars, bikes and pedestrians of all ages.  As a result, the Council voted to incorporate these ideas into new street planning policies so that future street projects are designed to be safe and efficient for cars and all other users. Putting more police in more neighborhoods.  Another common citizen request is to improve police presence in neighborhoods, both to reduce response times and to help deter crimes before they happen.  In my first meeting with new Police Chief Harry Dolan, I asked about stretching our public safety dollars by developing a police auxiliary force.  These would be retired officers who would improve police presence, while freeing up regular officers to focus on the most important service calls.  Council was supportive and now Chief Dolan is developing a Reserve Officer Program that is scheduled to go into effect before the end of this year. Expanding after-school and recreational programs.  I recently attended a community celebration where neighbors talked about the need to make better use of the city's existing community facilities.  I asked the Parks Department to bring forward a proposal to hire additional staff at two Community Centers that are only staffed part time.  This proposal was approved by Council and will provide extended hours of operation with expanded after-school and recreational programs for Raleigh residents.    Getting control over liquor sales.  Stores that sell mostly alcoholic beverages can be a blight on neighborhoods, but local governments have never had control over state ABC permits.  As a committee vice-chair at the NC League of Municipalities, I introduced a new advocacy agenda item this spring, to lobby the Legislature for more local control over ABC permits.  I will be looking for your support in lobbying our state representatives on this issue. Working Together For Success Keeping Our Public School System Strong. This past spring, there was an effort to change the way Wake County School Board members are elected, changing from the current elections by district, to county-wide races.  Many citizens were concerned that county-wide races would be too expensive for qualified candidates, too susceptible to the influence of special interests, and would diminish district representation. I worked with School Board members, Wake Legislators and Raleigh Councilors to draft a resolution reaffirming Raleigh's support for electing School Board members by districts.  The resolution passed unanimously, reaffirming that a strong and diverse public school system is the foundation of our children's future and the prosperity of our city. How can we do better?  My door is always open, so please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-3699 to talk about working together for success.  You can also email me at Info@RussForRaleigh.com  As always, thanks for the opportunity to serve you and the City of Raleigh.

How many geniuses did it take to think this up?

Another bright idea from the geniuses at the State Property Office. 

We have long been outraged and appalled at the corn-pone approach that the State takes with its property holdings in the City of Raleigh.   The peckerwoodism of the State Property Office, we have determined, merits a new category of posts on this blog, wherein we will attempt to document just a few of the innumerable acts of idiocy that the State commits with its real estate holdings in the Capital City.   

Bonus city planning and urban design tip:  Whatever the State Property Office proposes for a site, do the exact opposite, and you will probably be OK. 

Reclaiming D.C. streets

A story in the Washington Post tells how D.C. is reclaiming city streets from suburban commuters and giving them back to residents.  How?  The city is converting one-way routes back to normal, two-way streets.  And on wider streets, reclaiming an extra travel lane from speeding cars, transforming it into a median refuge so that pedestrians can get across the street safely. 

Downtown Raleigh has a similar problem:  one-way high-speed thoroughfares designed for just one purpose -- to speed drivers into and out of the center city as quickly as possible.  

This approach treats the road as if it were only for motion, and never for access; as if people desired only to be on the move through downtown, and never actually lighting anywhere at a destination.

The effect of this approach?  Here's an example: One of our best parks is severed from the surrounding area by four-lane speedways; no sidewalk dining opportunity or retail shopfront will prosper, as long as the adjacent street functions like the Cross-Bronx Expressway. 

Traffic roaring through at high speeds isn't just bad for people walking.  It also inhibits economic activity and prevents new businesses from capitalizing on a great downtown setting. 

Maybe, just as D.C. is doing, it's time to give Raleigh streets back to residents and businesses, instead of favoring commuters and speeding cars from outlying areas.

Oh, no -- not this again!

Another Wake County Task Force on Growth will convene on Thursday. 

This the 2008 Task Force.

We had one in 2005-2006, the "Blue Ribbon" task force on growth.

There was also a Wake Growth Management Strategies task force in 2000-2003.

It's a good thing we keep talking about doing something! 

We are friends with Charles Krauthammer now

So now we know: The price point is $4.

At $3 a gallon, Americans just grin and bear it, suck it up and, while complaining profusely, keep driving like crazy.

At $4, it is a world transformed.  (read more)

Raleigh in 1920

With apologies to other blogs -- here's Old Raleigh, way Before the Beltline:

Note the large institutional uses located at the edge of town -- penitentiary, "hospital" (Dix Asylum), St. Mary's School, and the Methodist Orphanage.  The early suburb, Cameron Park, is labeled "Park."

From the 1920 Automobile Blue Book.  The ABB guides provided early motoring maps and directions for most American states.

Quote of the day

One of the reasons that Americans are so anxious to get away on a holiday weekend from the places where they live is because we did such a perfect job the past fifty years turning our home-places into utterly unrewarding, graceless nowheres, where the private realm of the beige houses is saturated in monotony, and the public realm has been reduced to the berm between the WalMart and the strip mall. Now, we barely have the gasoline to run all this stuff, let alone escape from it for a weekend.  [emphasis added]

-- James Howard Kunstler, author and urbanist, at kunstler.com

What's wrong with this picture?

Let's play a game from The Mini Page:  How many things can you find wrong with this picture?

(UPDATE:  See possible answers below)

1. First of all, the building has no windows.  How weird is that.

2. At street level, there is only one opening to the building, and it has been surrounded by a fortress-like security enclosure.  The darkened security glass and concrete stanchions give off the atmosphere of a military checkpoint and are unnerving to pedestrians.

3.  Part of Nash Square Park was lopped off to give more room to motor vehicles.  At the left side of the picture, note the mismatch between the curb edge in the foreground and the continuation of the street in the background.  The sidewalks do not line up.  The street has been widened, taking about an 11-foot strip off the east side of Nash Square (just to the left of the foreground). 

The aerial view reveals that all four sides of the park were lopped off at some point to make more room for motor vehicles.  (See the visible evidence at each corner:  the misalignment of the curb edge with adjacent blocks, and the white crosswalk stripes that are cattywompus instead of perpendicular.)

4.   The city street has been transformed into a high-speed throughway for heavy traffic. This part of McDowell Street has four lanes of through-traffic and two lanes of parking.  The one-way designation and multiple lanes are traffic-engineering methods to allow higher volumes to pass through at higher speeds.  This approach treats downtown as if it were the background territory around an expressway.

This list will be continued.  In the meantime, can you spot more problems?