tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153985804832811048.post5250747660935163487..comments2024-03-18T16:22:10.302-04:00Comments on Urban kchoze: How to make urban housing more affordable part 4: build more rapid transitsimval84http://www.blogger.com/profile/10615053214354191224noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153985804832811048.post-80539508219618404472014-05-27T18:54:12.186-04:002014-05-27T18:54:12.186-04:00I should point out that the more auto-oriented the...I should point out that the more auto-oriented they get, the more fascist they look…John Hupphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161907433685474890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153985804832811048.post-61813392858921346012014-05-27T18:51:07.775-04:002014-05-27T18:51:07.775-04:00Those are some pretty beautiful diagrams!Those are some pretty beautiful diagrams!John Hupphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161907433685474890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153985804832811048.post-1205174047560640872014-05-22T13:36:28.424-04:002014-05-22T13:36:28.424-04:00Actually, I did mention that building rapid transi...Actually, I did mention that building rapid transit does increase the value of the land nearby in comparison to the prior situation, however, the price of the land is still much below the value of the land downtown and allows for price relief on existing urban areas in the region. Another factor I also mentioned is that rapid transit can make the downtown area more attractive, so these two effects exist side-by-side.simval84https://www.blogger.com/profile/10615053214354191224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4153985804832811048.post-5937223669504793102014-05-22T12:04:01.336-04:002014-05-22T12:04:01.336-04:00You avoided saying it explicitly because I know yo...You avoided saying it explicitly because I know you know it: rapid transit raises the price of land to make it less affordable than before.<br /><br />Low land prices should not be a policy goal.<br /><br />Productive places and a resilient growth pattern should be the policy goal. If land prices rise, then a) you can afford to cut the % taxes, leaving more money with people to cycle around the economy, innovate, travel, create, improve wellbeing etc.; and b) it's a signal to seed a new complete neighbourhood with its centre at least 10 minutes' walk from the next nearest one.<br /><br />The absolute value of land prices is irrelevant. The relative value of land prices to median salaries is very important, and the latter ratio is improved by a) seeding new complete neighborhoods that will be smaller and so have lower land values BUT that follow a resilient growth pattern (a town square, intersection density, use mix, walkable streets, parks, trees etc.) and b) allowing lots and lots of opportunity for money to cycle around the economy, which is also a function of street design (short lots, no parking minima etc.) but also light regulations, like hiring and firing, and food trucks.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10254092267332573495noreply@blogger.com