Weekend links: Whither the suburbs?
Suburbs dying?
Sales of new single-family homes are extremely slow—outside Chicago, down 90% from the peak—while townhouse sales are strong as people choose smaller and closer to work over large and distant. (NYT) … If the future isn’t in suburbs, why are policymakers cutting transit rather than investing in it? (Boston Globe)
City vs. suburb is outdated
Let’s stop talking city versus suburb; since most cities have little unbuilt land but many inner suburbs are becoming more walkable and urban, the real comparison is walkable urban places versus drivable suburban ones. (TNR)
What to do about Route 1?
What should be the future of the Route 1 area of southern Fairfax, often considered “the stepchild of Northern Virginia?” Should massive freeways bypass it to get to Fort Belvoir, or should its strip malls become a walkable mixed-use corridor with a streetcar? (Connection)
SF performance parking launches, works
San Francisco’s new, real performance parking system SFPark launched yesterday, with four different rates over the day and real-time apps to see parking occupancy. It’s working well so far: A reporter was able to easily park near City Hall. (Streetsblog SF, Transportation Nation)
Instant Then and Nows
An iPhone “augmented reality” app, LookBack Maps, shows you historic photos of the very spot where you are standing, and lets you snap a picture overlaying the two. (The Click Heard Round the World, Stephen Miller)
Activists want both TDM and parking for Walmart
A coalition pushing for Walmart to sign a community benefits agreement released a list of demands. It includes shuttle service to Metro, transit subsidies for employees and bike sharing, but also minimums of “free or low-priced parking spaces.” (WBJ, WRD)
Promoting bikes across race
People of color stand to benefit the most from bike transportation infrastructure, yet, for a number of reasons, the advocacy community has trouble engaging with minority communities to promote cycling. (Plurale Tantum)
Roof garden for the city
For Earth Day, Bread for the City is building a rooftop garden with vegetables and even beehives. Donations will help make it great. (Beyond Bread)