I followed some leads to this story printed in the June 10, 2007 edition of U.S.A Today. Here are some excerpts:
Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is typical of dozens of developments sprouting along the nation's light-rail lines and near subway stations: stores, theaters, restaurants, offices and housing connected by sidewalks to mimic a walkable urban neighborhood.
Just one thing is missing: transit.
There is no light rail or subway in Rancho Cucamonga, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. Victoria Gardens is typical of most Southern California developments: It's on one freeway and next to another.
Transit-oriented developments are so popular with residents who crave the opportunity to live in a walkable community that at least a dozen cities and suburbs across the USA are embracing the concept — even if they don't have rail.
"The market is changing much more quickly than our policymakers are responding," says Shelley Poticha, CEO of Reconnecting America, a national non-profit group that works to spur development around transit stops. "There is a real pent-up demand for transit all over the country, but these communities are getting built by the private sector."
Wizard: Actually, there is practically no pent up market demand for mass transit according to the latest American Community Survey. There is a pent up demand in political markets for mass transit. Always pay attention to what people actually do, not what they say.
Resuming:
Building housing near shops and restaurants is "very successful in and of itself," says Randall Lewis, executive vice president of Lewis Retail, an Upland, Calif., company that was one of Victoria Gardens' developers. "It's not transit that makes them successful. If you had transit, it would be the cherry on top of the whipped cream."
The funny thing about all of this is that much of this is happening in the suburbs. Also, do keep in mind that many such developments are built with tax breaks, TIRZ involvement, handouts and so forth.
Wizard
Posted by The Mighty Wizard at June 14, 2007 11:37 PM