Southeast corner. 43rd floor. 3bd/2ba. 2571/ft. Two stories. Call or email me for information and to arrange a showing.
Jude Galligan
judegalligan [@] gmail.com
512-226-3414
360 Penthouse Is Back On Market
Archives for April 2009
Rail Stops Vs. Bus Stops
Great quote via the Overhead Wire…
“Rail transit drives walkable urban places. I’ve never seen one dollar of real estate investment invested because of a bus stop. But if you have [rail] transit, it’s a different story altogether.” – Chris Leinberger
Permanence yields investment. Bus stops come and go. I would take it a step further and suggest that in several cases the presence of a bus stop could actually inhibit real estate investment.
Shoppers Prefer Smaller Grocers
Consumer Reports [via Reuters] confirms our suspicion that mega-box grocers underwhelm, and it’s preferable to pay a little more for a pleasant experience.
“The few chains that were spotless, offered standout meat and produce, and had helpful and friendly staff and quick checkout” according to Consumer Reports.
David Buttross and Affordable Housing
I met David Buttross for the first time this past Saturday at the Urban is Core candidate forum. At the dais, David’s responses were refreshingly crisp and practical. Now, those won’t win him an Austin mayoral election, but the benefit of ‘underdog’ candidates, especially those who are as successful as David is, is to reality check the front running candidates.
For example, an issue that local politicians love to pander to but can’t quite solve is affordable housing. Realizing the difficult reality of placing affordable housing where land is expensive, David’s message is clear:
You can’t have affordable housing:
1) Without density to increase housing stock
2) Without mass transit to connect people
I’ve always been frustrated by local politicians that call for more affordable housing and simultaneously denigrate density in their own neighborhood. I’ve always held that you can achieve affordable housing by fixing onerous SF-3/McMansion zoning, mitigating NIMBY-ism by spreading affordable housing everywhere, then organically grow mass-transit to connect people to where they want to go.
-Jude
Austin Super Forum – Martinez and Spelman Prepared
The Austinist has published Councilmember Mike Martinez’s and candidate Bill Spelman’s written responses to 22 questions in preparation for the Urban Is Core Super Forum this Saturday.
Generally, I find their responses encouraging. Progressive on land use and transportation issues. Realistic on social service issues.
Bill Spelman responds
Mike Martinez responds
UPDATE: complete list of responses below
Mayor:
McCracken: response
Leffingwell: response
Ingalls: response
Buttross: response
Strayhorn: No response
Place 1:
Riley: response
Cavazos: response
Place 2:
Martinez: response
Quintero: No response
Place 5:
Spellman: response