What is Transit Oriented Development?

Yes, you heard right--

"In the first 6 months of 2009, 18% of all housing construction permits for the entire state of New Jersey, were in Jersey City."

"People who used to own two cars, now only own one, people who own one care only use it on occasion."

"We don't require parking in most of the development, that your looking at."

There's a maximum parking ratio for much of this development, but there's no minimum.

"A key part of it is changing the zoning."



It's not just something they are doing in New York and New Jersey.



Hopefully, a conversation about this will develop in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and other communities around the region.

Hipsters In Pittsburgh Conversation On Pittsblog

Karen's great post about affordable urban hotels and Hostels brought me back to a nice post and heated debate about "hipsters" in the city that's worth a look.

The thread contains lots of comments by me. Far too often, we classify groups as desirable (wealthy, employer, skilled,) or undesirable, (weirdo, starving artist) when the lines are often a lot more blurred. How does someone like Swoon or Eric Singer fit in ?

More importantly, many of these people have shown that they love and desperately want to live in town in a way that's compatable with the city.

Me

This is what we saw in NYC, with area after area, hand rehabed by artists. It's also the source of a lot of anger as these people, who often were renting are kicked out.

The thing is that what a lot of these people want is customized spaces that are adapted to their work, not marble counter tops.

That's the thing. Pittsburgh has a very low number of real yuppies (or fake hipsters) and a growing number of (sincere) artist types, most of whom don't have a lot of money.

Isn't it wiser to build on the market we know exists for creative people rather than one that really isn't here yet.

Mike Madison

"Why does it need to be an either/or? Resources are scarce, choices need to be made, time is money, etc. etc. But why not set the table as inclusively as possible, be expansive with zoning and other regulation, support different communities with institutions designed to do that (real estate, law, finance, housing, neighborhood development), and see what emerges?"

This is the bottom line. We should just let it be and see what emerges while perhaps putting a lot more effort to make people more aware of all the assets here.

P.S. I would imagine this post is even more relevant in Cleveland. A place that seems to have a lot of awesome potential artist space.

Tour Cleveland's 78TH Street Studio Building Today

Really, no time to give this post the time and love it likely deserves. Sorry Pittsburgh, but this doesn't look like it sucks at all.

Just the kind of really creative mixed use building we need more of here. almost a mini city or town under one roof filling up with galleries, print workshops, art framers, record producers and artists.

An eclectic mix of world-class art galleries, studios and creative businesses anchoring the west end of the Gordon Square Arts District

Open 3-7 today.

1300 W. 78th St to
1305 W. 80th St
Cleveland OH 44102

Sorry for dropping the ball on this. Do you know a lot about this building or are you a tennant, artist or gallery owner in Cleveland?

If you have thoughts or insight you want to share about art, music, film, urban design, architecture, transit or history in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Youngstown, Erie, Morgantown, Akron, Canton region--Cleveburgh, email me diggingpitt@gmail.com

This is not Hyper Local media, but regional media seeking local viewpoints.