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Downtown Austin Blog

downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog

Rail Stops Vs. Bus Stops

Jude Galligan | April 7, 2009 |

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.

Filed Under: austin transit, urban planning

Shoppers Prefer Smaller Grocers

Jude Galligan | April 6, 2009 |

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.

Filed Under: austin news, retail, small business

David Buttross and Affordable Housing

Jude Galligan | April 6, 2009 |

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

Filed Under: city council, downtown austin, urban planning

Austin Super Forum – Martinez and Spelman Prepared

Jude Galligan | April 3, 2009 |

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

Place 6:
Cole: response
Osemene: response

Filed Under: city council, urban planning

Austin's McCracken and Leffingwell Rhyme Off At Mohawk

Jude Galligan | April 2, 2009 |

You’ve heard of Lil’ Wayne?  How about Lil’ Leffy?  On April 21st, the Austin Chronicle is sponsoring “The Hustle For Mayor” candidate forum at Mohawk in downtown Austin.  Will we get to witness Lee ‘lil leffy’ Leffingwell and Brewster ‘Micky Crack’ McCracken grab the mic and spit the illest, most hunker-downest, sustainabilitized, verbal gymnastics ever heard in a mayoral election?

DJ Mel will be breakin’ necks from the tables.

This is happening.

Lil' Leffy v MC Crack
Lil' Leffy v Micky Crack

Filed Under: city council, downtown austin, entertainment district, rumors, gossip Tagged With: mohawk austin

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