Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Downtown
As an observer of urban planning nationwide, I should point out that Portland is really the outlier in trying push a car-free agenda along its new rail lines. Even in the Pearl District, savvy developers might have preferred to include some parking to appeal to folks who have jobs in Lake Oswego or parents in Tigard, or who head to Lincoln City every weekend in summer. Remember that less than 20 percent of trips are journeys to work, which are about the only trips it's reasonable to assume will regularly be made by transit.
Why not underground parking? The water table is only about 10-15 feet below ground, so it gets expensive fast to go down more than a level and a half.
I hope you won't go away with feelings hurt, as we enjoy and need thoughtful discussion of urban design issues.
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Thanks for answering the underground parking question - that's good to know! If that's the case it makes the engineering of Chicago's skyline just that much more impressive.
I agree about your impressions of Portland, though I think other municipalities are also trying to engineer the car-free lifestyle. But living there has colored my world view of how cities ought to plan, I assume. Part of my surprise about development patterns here were things like a McDonalds (or banks)with a drive through in the west loop, big box stores right by the red line, and all these parking off sets near major transit nodes. When I was originally positing about this I mainly wanted to know if it was developers not knowing better or caring, or if it was a broader planning issue by the city. Which I feel like you answered, so thank you.
I'll try not to be but hurt, so thanks. I watched you get your teeth kicked in for months over the FOTP issue. While I didn't necessarily agree with you either, it was appalling to watch everyone gang up on you. If you are still on here then I should grow a thicker skin. I just don't appreciate being "shouted down" over asking a question or validating an impression. Especially over planning, architecture, and development.
I love living here, regardless, and it's great to see all the activity going on.