[PRCo] Re: P-G on the role of transit in growing neighborhoods

[Edward H. Lybarger]

I read this article at breakfast today.  In order for the concept to work,
you need city government that cares to make it work.  Without some
encouragement, neighborhoods will change over time and that's not always a
good thing.  But where's the leadership, like you have in, say, Mount
Lebanon?  If nobody cares, a neighborhood is just another place left to
decay as the oldsters die off (the youngsters have already left town because
of these same politicians who wait for the mills and mines to reopen).

I am fearful that what will happen will involve building high-end condos and
the like, not dwellings that the average guy can afford.  And the
politicians want it this way.  But it doesn't produce success in the other
neighborhood-building areas, because these people will still have cars and
will still go to the shopping centers.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of Derrick
J Brashear
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 10:48 AM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] P-G on the role of transit in growing neighborhoods

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09012/941226-147.stm?cmpid=news.xml

It's obvious from their examples that "build it and they will come" isn't
true.

Now, if I worked downtown I'd have been in Beechview or Dormont when I
bought a house; Dormont has fared better. Is it because West Liberty is
right there, instead of being isolated? Probably. It may be that
solely-transit-served areas are better suited for bedroom communities, and
that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean, for instance, you
either need to travel to shop or attract e.g. a small grocery/food store.

I have no answers but I wish I'd known they were here last week.