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Any economist will tell you the most valuable commodity is people--human resources.
Some humans are valuable economically. Others are a net loss, like the ones who stink up entire subway cars.
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That's where transit is more efficient, it allows for that concentration of human capital in a way that single occupant vehicles simply cannot scale to.
There's no reason to believe the human capital is more valuable when crushed together in an undifferentiated mass. We're not carbon to be crushed into diamonds.
They CAN live that lifestyle, but still their lives are more inconvenient by the fact that when they do want to go downtown, they can't get free parking. Again, free parking is a God-given right. It sounds like you are suggesting that things like commuter rail are working and provide an alternative to the car. That is troublingly anti-car.
Err not quite. The City of Chicago(and it's 1st ring burbs) were already built up by the time the expressway was built. There were no large lots 1 acre to build a new house on. We already had a system of commuter rail that allowed rich executives to go out to the burbs(leaving factory workers in the city near the plant they worked at). With the highway system the factory workers(who worked all over the city--not just in the CBD) could(and still do) drive out to the burbs. With parking lots the CBD worker could drive to the commuter train and use it to get downtown. People who lived in the city used the new freeway system to move about town in cars faster than ever(and the EL itself used the freeways to expand).
Anyway without commuter rail the burbs could not have grown the way they did. From Chicago downtown to Oakpark (a 1st ring burb) by Metra is 15 mins. By El or by car it is 30+ mins(in traffic). Distant burbs like Wheaton were only 1 hour away in rush(it would take close to two hours if you had to drive it in rush).
So your kids can play in a huge back yard and you can get downtown to work in about the same amount of time a person who actually lives in the city and uses public transit all the way would take. And you don't need to live an urban lifestyle or give up your car to do so.(i.e. It takes me longer than 30 mins to get downtown by EL!).
Any economist will tell you the most valuable commodity is people--human resources. That's where transit is more efficient, it allows for that concentration of human capital in a way that single occupant vehicles simply cannot scale to.
Actually people prefer the fastest trip and not everywhere is an concentration of people.
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Land owners have decided to do it this way in every single world class city--and you find very few surface lots and gas stations in their business districts!
Err not quite. It depends on how the business district developed in the first place.
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Regarding emergency services and deliveries, it is interesting to note how little these services are actually prioritized on congested roads when push comes to shove. Every time you see an ambulance stuck in a traffic jam where there are simply too many cars to move out of the way, you should think of this. Or think of the poor delivery truck people who get no break and still have schedules to adhere to.
Emergency services do not have to follow the rules of the road. They often do drive on the shoulder of the expressway during rush hour. They can drive on the wrong side of the road an run lights if need be. If the road is wide enough then the Car can pull to the side of the road to let the Emergency Vehicle through. If it is an cute narrow "walkable" european style street then there might not be enough room for other vehicles to get out the way(say a side street in Chicago or an Alley).
Delivery drivers have a wide schedule to attend to and not all packages have the same priority. They know when and how much traffic is about and plan accordingly.
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We should indeed have roads in cities, and they should ideally be set aside primarily for city services and commercial business services--not primarily for the convenience of single occupancy cars which then need a space to park. There is simply no space for everyone to drive and park when and where they want to--modern day tragedy of the commons. However, I don't think anyone on here will tell you we should have *zero* roads in cities.
The car is usually the best way to get around a city as a whole(not the super congested parts) which is why there is often parking in areas outside of that.
The reason why free parking exists is because the business owner(usually) thinks it is a good idea.
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Originally Posted by hurricaneMan1992
Street parking is in fact the norm in every city I have visited and lived in, and many cities allow monthly parking--sometimes even reserved spots--for residents in municipal garages. Geometrical and land value considerations do make it impossible for a developer to build enough housing units to turn a profit without building a garage to satisfy minimum parking requirements.
As for the rest, just google "millennials" and look up where most of the high paying tech jobs are.
Then look up tragedy of the commons.
On, no, no, no, hurricane! That's not how it works here. Your assertion "Especially since the current trend is young talent wants to be where there are alternatives to driving", you provide the proof.
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Originally Posted by hurricaneMan1992
Any economist will tell you the most valuable commodity is people--human resources. That's where transit is more efficient, it allows for that concentration of human capital in a way that single occupant vehicles simply cannot scale to. High school geometry! I'm not saying you need to concentrate human capital in every situation everywhere or even in a majority of locations, but the fact is all world class cities do this and simply couldn't exist in their current capacity without transit. Land owners have decided to do it this way in every single world class city--and you find very few surface lots and gas stations in their business districts!
Regarding emergency services and deliveries, it is interesting to note how little these services are actually prioritized on congested roads when push comes to shove. Every time you see an ambulance stuck in a traffic jam where there are simply too many cars to move out of the way, you should think of this. Or think of the poor delivery truck people who get no break and still have schedules to adhere to. We should indeed have roads in cities, and they should ideally be set aside primarily for city services and commercial business services--not primarily for the convenience of single occupancy cars which then need a space to park. There is simply no space for everyone to drive and park when and where they want to--modern day tragedy of the commons. However, I don't think anyone on here will tell you we should have *zero* roads in cities.
Now don't get me wrong, the situation is vastly different in suburbs and rural areas, you'd better have parking if you want people to stay in business! However, even then, is the half empty massive Walmart parking lot really necessary? Especially if there is another one right next door?
Denver has a lot of surface parking lots downtown and some gas stations.
I cannot recall ever having seen an ambulance stuck in traffic. The rules of the road require you to move over and let the ambulance pass. I've never seen that not happen. That's one driving rule that has huge compliance.
Most businesses that receive goods have a "no parking" area for deliveries. A lot of them double park, as well. Sometimes deliveries are scheduled for night, when there are no customers around. People have said as much re: the last bold.
Denver has a lot of surface parking lots downtown and some gas stations.
why don't they get developed over? not enough demand downtown?
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I cannot recall ever having seen an ambulance stuck in traffic. The rules of the road require you to move over and let the ambulance pass. I've never seen that not happen. That's one driving rule that has huge compliance.
I have; if the street is completely jammed there's nowhere for cars to move over to. Eventually cars will figure out to slowly squeeze but it takes time.
why don't they get developed over? not enough demand downtown?
I have; if the street is completely jammed there's nowhere for cars to move over to. Eventually cars will figure out to slowly squeeze but it takes time.
why don't they get developed over? not enough demand downtown? ......
Probably not. Either that or that parking is required to meet zoning requirements for the various buildings.
We just spent $2M over the last three years to develop public parking lots for our businesses because they were complaining that the requirement they provide parking was too onerous.
As a result, the property owners in Town are sharing the risk of the business owners. You can call that a subsidy if you like.
We decided the other night to raise our various business license fees 10%. The complaining is already starting. Meanwhile those fees haven't covered the cost of issuing those licenses for 30 years. Yet another subsidy for the business community.
An example would be our fee for a Special Exception hearing is set at $350. Just the state mandated newspaper notices for that are $400. So we're behind the cost curve before we even add in staff time which will often include the Town Attorney at $250/hour.
Oh, the average increase in the business license fee will be between $5 and $10. The increase for a rental license will be $15 spread over three years. The $165 will almost cover the cost of issuance assuming that the property passes its initial inspection.
Probably not. Either that or that parking is required to meet zoning requirements for the various buildings.
We just spent $2M over the last three years to develop public parking lots for our businesses because they were complaining that the requirement they provide parking was too onerous.
As a result, the property owners in Town are sharing the risk of the business owners. You can call that a subsidy if you like.
We decided the other night to raise our various business license fees 10%. The complaining is already starting. Meanwhile those fees haven't covered the cost of issuing those licenses for 30 years. Yet another subsidy for the business community.
An example would be our fee for a Special Exception hearing is set at $350. Just the state mandated newspaper notices for that are $400. So we're behind the cost curve before we even add in staff time which will often include the Town Attorney at $250/hour.
Oh, the average increase in the business license fee will be between $5 and $10. The increase for a rental license will be $15 spread over three years. The $165 will almost cover the cost of issuance assuming that the property passes its initial inspection.
...and how much is your local government extracting from these businesses in the form of taxes?
What exactly does your local government provide for these businesses that is different from what is provided for residential properties?
The "Special Exception hearing" would seem to be necessitated by an ordinance or regulation imposed by the city to begin with. If you got rid of the ordinance/regulation you wouldn't have special exception hearings. Be glad your city wasn't charged money for imposing restrictions that effectively constituted takings from the property owners.
...and how much is your local government extracting from these businesses in the form of taxes?
What exactly does your local government provide for these businesses that is different from what is provided for residential properties?
The "Special Exception hearing" would seem to be necessitated by an ordinance or regulation imposed by the city to begin with. If you got rid of the ordinance/regulation you wouldn't have special exception hearings. Be glad your city wasn't charged money for imposing restrictions that effectively constituted takings from the property owners.
Taxes? Not enough.
Special exception? Yeah, always a good idea to put a tittie bar in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Raises the property values ever so much.
These stupid sons of ******* business people won't even shovel the sidewalk in front their stores so don't talk to me about "extracting" taxes from them.
Not when we ran a $47K Special Events deficit last year holding events to get people to town and the dumbasses close their stores so they can go to the events.
Last edited by North Beach Person; 03-04-2017 at 03:05 PM..
Taxes? Not enough.
Special exception? Yeah, always a good idea to put a tittie bar in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Raises the property values ever so much.
Well that can be decided at the hearing.
Are you also charging other property owners in the "residential neighborhood" $350 for a "special exception" application and hearing?
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Originally Posted by North Beach Person
These stupid sons of ******* business people won't even shovel the sidewalk in front their stores so don't talk to me about "extracting" taxes from them.
Are they public sidewalks?
What do these folks get for their taxes?
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Originally Posted by North Beach Person
Not when we ran a $47K Special Events deficit last year holding events to get people to town and the dumbasses close their stores so they can go to the events.
What kind of deficit do local government employees contribute to the finances?
Are you a local government employee?
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