April 1, 2000
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GULF COAST GROWTH NEWS
Regional News
Startling Announcements Announced
April 1: The U.S. EPA announced today that it was "only kidding" when it threatened early last year to bring economic sanctions down on the region if clean air standards aren't met. In related news, TxDOT announced it will cancel all pending highway expansion projects and build high-speed monorail service instead. In other events, the Greater Houston Home Builders Association and Associated General Contractors held a joint press conference to announce a moratorium on profits for the next ten years, during which time all member builders will focus entirely on affordable housing and mixed-use "town centers" built around transit stops. Also, City of Houston Planning & Development Director Robert Litke announced that all the tax delinquent properties the city is preparing to acquire will be devoted to parks and nature habitat, and that his department will now be guided entirely by Sustainable Development principles. Commenting on all these events, Greater Houston Partnership President Jim Kollaer said "The business community will lead these new efforts to stop growth in its tracks and help convert our community into a kind of Disneyland where everyone will share the money equally." A Houston Automobile Dealers Association representative noted that "We really have too many cars in the region, and people are getting too fat. We should all just walk instead."
And in the actual news:
Area competitiveness declining
The competitiveness of the Houston Gulf Coast region is a major concern of the Greater Houston Partnership, according to Chamber of Commerce President George Beatty. Addressing air quality before City Council Member Annise Parker's Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee, Beatty said two things are causing worry: Houston is "no longer on the list" that site consultants use to help companies relocate, and area high-tech companies are saying graduates of top colleges are declining to move to Houston because of air quality issues. He also said some high-tech firms are actually losing employees because of health concerns. Beatty said air quality is the number one problem in the region.
Smart Growth Initiative news
At the March 22 meeting of the Houston Gulf Coast Smart Growth Initiative, participants agreed to form several task forces to focus on critical areas. The four groups will discuss Transportation, Neighborhoods, Land Use, and State of Condition. The Transportation Task Force will meet at 5 on Wednesday, April 5, at the Gulf Coast Institute office. Dates for other groups are still unresolved, but will be announced. All area citizens are welcome to participate. Let the Institute know if you plan to attend: crossley@gulfcoastideas.org.
The Initiative also tentatively agreed to a "Vision for the Houston Region" document. The goal is to produce a simple shared vision that many organizations can sign on to in anticipation of a fall conference to explore avenues to realization of the vision. The document is attached and comments are encouraged before the next Initiative meeting, which is Wednesday, April 26. Sent comments to crossley@gulfcoastideas.org.
Town Hall meeting for Main Street
The Main Street Coalition will hold a Town Hall Meeting for the Main Street Corridor Master Plan on Wednesday, April 12, from 7-8:30 pm. The event will be at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in the Jones Youth Building at 5501 South Main. The plan will focus on pedestrian areas, streetscapes, open spaces, new development, and transportation systems. For more information call 713-837-7871.
Grand Parkway under parks scrutiny
The State Parks & Wildlife Commission has asked local state park employees to give a presentation on the impact of the proposed Grand Parkway on Brazos Bend State Park at the next commissioner's meeting this week. Later in the month, the Grand Parkway Association will submit a Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) on Segment C. The DEIS should be downloadable from TxDOT's web site at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/. In August, Fort Bend County will have a special bond election asking voters to approve funds for both Segment C of the Grand Parkway and the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road. The Grand Parkway is under increasing scrutiny as some communities along the route object to the development of their rural areas and environmentalists object to the lost of wetlands and habitat that will ensue.
Texas
Dallas rules
At the Texas Transit Conference this week, the focus was on Dallas and its success in combining successful light rail service with transit-oriented development. Texas Transit Association President Dave Marsh said "It's no accident that we are here in Dallas today. Dallas is the city that is showing all the state that it can be done. We are here to bask in their glory." More notes from the conference are attached. Also, for more on keynote speaker Paul Weyrich's views on rail, go to http://www.freecongress.org/fcf/trolleycar/index.htm.
Report: Texas lags in transit
According to a report released by the Surface Transportation Policy Project, Texas commits well above the national average on new road construction but falls far short of other states in spending for alternative transportation projects such as buses, light rail, and bike paths. According the study, Texas commits 58 percent more than the national average on new road construction and spends less than 60 percent of the national average on transit alternatives. TxDOT spokesman Randall Dillard said the agency's four-year $11.3 billion transportation project for 2000-2003 calls for about $2.8 billion to be spent on new roads or expanding others and about $167 million for public transit projects. "Certainly we cannot just build our way out of a congestion problem, we totally agree with that," Dillard said. "There has to be modes of alternative transportation." But state law prohibits the agency from spending money on public transit projects in large cities that already dedicate local tax revenues for transportation, said Margot Massey of TxDOT. "They do not think in terms of anything other than laying concrete and asphalt,'' said Rep. Lon Burnham, D-Fort Worth. "They're still in the farm-to-market road mindset." Burnham said it will be up to the Legislature to spend more money on public transit projects. "This is an urban state," Burnham said. "I think you'll see a number of legislators moving in that direction." The STPP report is at http://www.transact.org. Source: Associated Press
Notes From Other Places
Ridge plans challenged
The Pennsylvania Builders Association is fighting Governor Tom Ridge's plan for strengthening local land-use plans, according to the San Antonio Sustainable Building Coalition's March newsletter. The newsletter says Gov. Ridge wants to restrict the ease with which certain developers can circumvent a community's desire to exclude certain types of development. Ridge is often mentioned as being at the top of the list of possible running mates for Gov. Bush.
Small city rail service
On July 4, Kenosha, Wisconsin, a city of less than 100,000 people will begin operating a streetcar line linking a new waterfront development with the METRA station and commuter trains seven days a week to and from Chicago. Kenosha will use refurbished cars bought from Toronto. The line will also feed a fleet of non-polluting buses. Kenosha's system operates with no diesel buses. http://www.freecongress.org/fcf/trolleycar/observations/wey000318.htm.
Atlanta area eyes monorail
The Central Perimeter Community Improvement District in the Atlanta region is starting work on a "futuristic" monorail system that could be in place as early as 2010, according to the Atlanta Constitution (Feb 28). Located outside the Atlanta city limits in DeKalb county, the district is the largest corporate office market in the Southeast and employs about 100,000 people. The project would enable shoppers and business people to move around restaurants, stores, and offices by rail.
Electric bus passes tests
For the first time, an electric bus has completed the rigorous testing required for buses purchased with federal funds. The bus is 22-foot shuttle manufactured by Advanced Vehicle Systems (AVS) of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The market for electric and hybrid-electric buses has grown dramatically in recent months with large purchases of AVS buses by the cities of Los Angeles, Miami Beach, Tampa, Tempe, and Norfolk. http://www.avsbus.com
President calls for energy efficiency and renewable energy
President Clinton called for enactment of a tax package to promote greater energy efficiency and renewable energy. "These steps will enhance America’s energy security, create jobs, protect the environment, and produce long-term savings for consumers," Clinton said. Clinton wants tax credits for electric, fuel cell and hybrid vehicles through an extension of the current tax credit for these vehicles. Current legislation provides a 10 percent credit which will phase out by 2005. Clinton's proposal would extend the tax credit at its $4,000 maximum level through 2006, and provide a credit of up to $3,000 for hybrid vehicles. The President is asking Congress to pass tax incentives to promote the use of energy efficient practices and technologies. This would mean a tax credit for new energy efficient homes of up to $2,000 and tax credits of up to 20 percent for equipment such as electric heat pump water heaters, natural gas heat pumps and fuel cells.
Big City News
CHICAGO
The city of Chicago is currently undergoing a transformation in its housing market, and the trend should continue for years and have a profound effect on the city. Thousands of new families have relocated to the area in the last few years, many of them wealthy empty-nesters attracted to Chicago's cultural image. This influx of homebuyers, coupled with a recent boom in residential development, has also strengthened Chicago's employment market. According to figures from Tracy Cross & Associates Inc., almost 12,000 new housing units were built between 1992 and 1999; about 15,000 permits were issued between 1995 and 1999; and downtown population has increased by 28,000 in the last 10 years. These figures are higher than any other U.S. city except New York City. Since many of the new residents have higher incomes, local businesses are thriving; and private school enrollment has skyrocketed. These positive trends have helped Chicago improve its overall image. "Now, the city no longer is a place that people flee or [where they] stay temporarily" said Wim Wiewel of the University of Illinois at Chicago. "The fact that it's living and attractive—and that lots of opinion makers live there—is an incredibly positive development." Local city planners have also credited developers with their ability to provide several types of housing within the city itself, without reducing to suburban sprawl. There have been, however, a few ill effects from the city's transformation. For example, rising home prices have forced some low-income families out of certain areas; and many of these same families also require assistance in keeping up with property taxes. But overall, city planners say the recent housing boom has been positive and beneficial; and it is unlikely to end any time soon. Crain's Chicago Business (www.crainschicagobusiness.com) (03/06/00) Vol. 23, No. 10; P. 1; Hinz, Greg
Events
Next Houston Gulf Coast Smart Growth Initiative meeting: Apr 26, 11:30 am, Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmins, 2nd Floor. http://www.gulfcoastideas.org
Collaborative Urbanisms: Downtown Cultural Sector: April 8, 2-4 pm Rice University Sewall Hall, Room 309. Entrance 1 or 2 from Main Street. Moderator: Rafael Longoria, Professor of Architecture at University of Houston. Panelists: John Runnels and Charlie Sartwelle, Mother Dog Studios; Sharon Zukin, Broeklundian Professor of Sociology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Last in a in a series of four workshops pairing urban scholars and key practitioners actively engaged in Houston's downtown revitalization and economic development. Free. Phone: 713-348-2055, E-mail: ndeckha@hotmail.com URL: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~culture/urbanisms.html
Urban Approaches to Smart Growth: Building New Homes in Cities and Older Suburbs: Mar 30, Chicago, sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. Hotel special price cut-off date Feb 28. 800-368-5242 x324.
National Green Builders Conference: Apr 5-8, Denver. Adam's Mark Hotel. Sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. http://www.nahbrc.org/gbcon/gb2000schedule.htm
Light Rail in Texas: The Dallas Success Story: Tuesday, Apr 11. Dallas Area Rapid Transit's Jack Wierzenski, AICP, Sr. Manager, Planning Studies and Economic Development will relate the story of light rail in Dallas, and future expansion plans. The event is organized by Houston Sierra Club and will be at the Houston Environmental Center, 3015 Richmond. 6 pm reception, 7 pm presentation/Forum. For more info call 713-528-5959m or write to frankblake@msn.com.
Developing New Urbanist Communities: Apr 10-12, Orlando, Florida. Urban Land Institute and the Congress for the New Urbanism offer this three-day course in town building using new urbanist principles. 800-321-5011.
Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Urban Sprawl: a two-day conference in New York City, April 13-14 at the American Museum of Natural History. Those interested in land-use planning, conservation, and how sprawl is affecting the natural world are encouraged to attend this symposium to explore in more detail how to integrate biodiversity conservation with all levels of our decision-making. For info call 212-769-5200 and refer to program code SPRAWL2K.
CNU 200 - The Politics of Place: Jun 15-18, Portland, Oregon. Congress for the New Urbanism. http://www.cnu.org
The Practice of Environmentally Sensitive Development: June 22-23, San Francisco. An Urban Land Institute workshop on balancing environmental protection with economic return. 800-321-5011.
Rail~Volution 2000 - The Livable Metropolis: Prospects and Profits: Oct 4-8, Denver Colorado. http.railvolution.com
Note to readers: If you have news to share or have reports from events, please let us know at issues@gulfcoastideas.org
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