A Republican who understands the importance of cities...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If that is how it is done with market-level pricing model, you're going to keep rents low. Nobody wants to live next door to someone on Section 8 housing.

My next door neighbor pays her rent with an affordable housing grant. The unit itself was originally market-rate, but the owner went into foreclosure recently and it got snapped up by an investor who has since registered the unit with the county affordable housing board. They hand out grants for units like those based on your position in the waiting list. My neighbor is a single mom with a kid, very nice. You'd never know they were on any kind of housing assistance, she's way better than I am at keeping the front clean. I'll let a newspaper lie on my driveway for a day before I go out and get it. She snaps it up within minutes. All meticulous and ѕhit.

Rents/prices in my neighborhood are down, but by no more than the state average. If affordable units and individuals on housing assistance are literally in every neighborhood (except for the mcmansion ones), then the effect on price is ameliorated.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Also the awesome thing in comparison to other cities, is there's FREE parking downtown after 6p every weeknight and on the weekends. You got to most other cities, you're going to pay a hefty fee to park in garages, etc. - There again, due to it being privately owned and not a city that's just trying to make money in every way possible, they care about a thriving downtown versus one that people will think twice about going.

LoL, If the type of nightlife in a city that you are trying to attract would ultimately be swayed by $5 or $10 parking, I think your city might have other, more pressing and underlying issues to contend with.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

LoL, If the type of nightlife in a city that you are trying to attract would ultimately be swayed by $5 or $10 parking, I think your city might have other, more pressing and underlying issues to contend with.

Yeah, NYC has a thriving nightlife and paying $20 or more per hour for parking is pretty normal. That's why you'll see cars that God intended to carry 4 people carrying 10 across the bridges from Jersey....

[Heracles 417]

Pointing the finger at people doesn't solve the underlying problems.

The idea AJ suggested is at least a positive way forward. You just want to stigmatise people.

No, its called catching out their BS. Unfortunately they can't fool a convict as well as they fool pilgrims.

It's also called holding them accountable for their actions or lack of. Yeah I don't buy the racist BS in 2010. As I said a few weeks back, it all made sense to me when I had to stop for gas in the ghetto. The store was owned and run for immigrants from third world countries.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

LoL, If the type of nightlife in a city that you are trying to attract would ultimately be swayed by $5 or $10 parking, I think your city might have other, more pressing and underlying issues to contend with.

A lot of people don't want to waste money on parking and it is a perk. There's also validated parking during the day where you can go down there and eat for free/shop, etc.

Anytime I go over to Dallas, I'll park in Fort Worth or drive to somewhere closer and take the short train ride over, so I don't have to pay for parking. It's not a matter of being able to afford it, it's a matter of principle.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

...I had to stop for gas in the ghetto. The store was owned and run for immigrants from third world countries.

Around here, that's true for gas stations in the hood and in the suburbs.

[The_Dude 1,142]

My next door neighbor pays her rent with an affordable housing grant. The unit itself was originally market-rate, but the owner went into foreclosure recently and it got snapped up by an investor who has since registered the unit with the county affordable housing board. They hand out grants for units like those based on your position in the waiting list. My neighbor is a single mom with a kid, very nice. You'd never know they were on any kind of housing assistance, she's way better than I am at keeping the front clean. I'll let a newspaper lie on my driveway for a day before I go out and get it. She snaps it up within minutes. All meticulous and ѕhit.

Rents/prices in my neighborhood are down, but by no more than the state average. If affordable units and individuals on housing assistance are literally in every neighborhood (except for the mcmansion ones), then the effect on price is ameliorated.

I guess it all comes down to relativism. I had a vastly worse experience with my (now former) government assistance neighbor.

[Heracles 417]

Fort Worth's re-urbanization over the past decade is actually a great thing and we've been doing things right for awhile.

That's because people want to invest in the downtown/surrounding area due to the freedom provided by it being mostly privately owned. It's very attractive to residents and businesses alike.

Also the awesome thing in comparison to other cities, is there's FREE parking downtown after 6p every weeknight and on the weekends. You got to most other cities, you're going to pay a hefty fee to park in garages, etc. - There again, due to it being privately owned and not a city that's just trying to make money in every way possible, they care about a thriving downtown versus one that people will think twice about going.

That's not evening mentioning how well lit everything is, and on top of the Fort Worth police having a Presence, the Sundance Square Association always has bike security riding around at all hours.

Take a flight to Melbourne, Sydney or Vancouver and then come tell me where Dallas or any so-called city down there stands in comparison. American cities have a long long long way to go. After all, they have been neglected for over 40 years, whereas the rest of the industrialized world has been building up for that time.

Think of American cities as Iran with military technology. Beating off about their first nuke - in 2010.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Booyah!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I guess it all comes down to relativism. I had a vastly worse experience with my (now former) government assistance neighbor.

My wife does ask me sometimes, what happens when she moves and the next neighbor is a gangbanger? I say, we sell our unit to the same investor

[The_Dude 1,142]

A lot of people don't want to waste money on parking and it is a perk. There's also validated parking during the day where you can go down there and eat for free/shop, etc.

Anytime I go over to Dallas, I'll park in Fort Worth or drive to somewhere closer and take the short train ride over, so I don't have to pay for parking. It's not a matter of being able to afford it, it's a matter of principle.

I absolutely detest paying for parking. My wife will complain that I will park 8 blocks away instead of paying $10 for parking at Staples Center. But, in the end, if that is my only option I will do it. I don't think paying for parking would stop me from going to some event downtown, or going to an interview downtown.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I absolutely detest paying for parking. My wife will complain that I will park 8 blocks away instead of paying $10 for parking at Staples Center. But, in the end, if that is my only option I will do it. I don't think paying for parking would stop me from going to some event downtown, or going to an interview downtown.

I have friends who will drive around for up to an hour, looking for free street parking. I don't have the patience for that, I'd rather just pay a deck and be done with it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

They had a very similar problem here in L.A.. There was plenty of commerce in Downtown L.A., but without a viable residential population, they weren't going to be able to bring a wider range of business and revitalize it. It was as if the clock would strike 7 p.m. and everyone would GTFO out. It was a ghost town with only homeless people it seemed. There were no bars, no places to hang out, or have meals.

So, they began handing out permits left and right and the apartments started going up. It went from a very bohemian loft type of area to overpriced luxury apartments. It worked though, enough people bought them, and now there is a night life and you see a lot more diversity in business.

There's been a change in mindset with how downtowns should function after many years of urban sprawl.

[Heracles 417]

Around here, that's true for gas stations in the hood and in the suburbs.

So someone from the third world can make it but those in ghettos who have $13k rather than $9k spent on them per student cannot. As I said, I don't buy the bullshit and I certainly refuse to enable a culture that endorses thuggery, chilling or playing the victim. That is, rather than legitimate work, starting your own business or acquiring an education. Something normal people do in every other civilized country.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Booyah!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Take a flight to Melbourne, Sydney or Vancouver and then come tell me where Dallas or any so-called city down there stands in comparison. American cities have a long long long way to go. After all, they have been neglected for over 40 years, whereas the rest of the industrialized world has been building up for that time.

Think of American cities as Iran with military technology. Beating off about their first nuke - in 2010.

The difference in the states, if the urban effect that took place in many cities... Poorest of neighborhoods were right by downtown areas, not the nicest of areas, etc... People moved out of the city and into the suburbs or even further out.

Smart cities are starting to change that and force the poor out of the downtown areas and into other parts.

Luckily in Fort Worth this was never truly an issue other than one housing project that was right by the northwest side of downtown and was right across the street from the police and sheriff's department main stations. - As I said though, they got rid of it still and Radio Shack built a new HQ.

[Heracles 417]

I absolutely detest paying for parking. My wife will complain that I will park 8 blocks away instead of paying $10 for parking at Staples Center. But, in the end, if that is my only option I will do it. I don't think paying for parking would stop me from going to some event downtown, or going to an interview downtown.

$10 is peanuts. I paid $40 to park in Sydney a few weeks back. Interestingly enough the parking at Santa Monica pier we stopped at was relatively cheap. A buck an hour.