Malcolm McCracken’s Post

Downtown Foot Traffic ++ [improving communities] To make the downtown area more welcoming for foot traffic, we need to make some changes both now and in the future. A big part of this is slowing down cars to 25 mph or less. Other cities have successfully upgraded their streets by planning these changes together with their scheduled road repaving. We should focus on repaving the roads while also making improvements like widening sidewalks, adding bike lanes with parking protection, and providing better lighting and seating for foot traffic.

Streets and roads represent some of the highest percentage of public assets in our cities and yet, we continue to design them to move only vehicles and forget about improving access and safety for everyone else. There is still too much lip service being put towards those critical design elements. The net result is a “stroad” - the worst of everything and a public asset that only gets worse once it's completed. Kudos to Charles Marohn and Strong Towns for their tireless advocacy of doing the right thing, often against powerful industry interests. #stroad #mobility #urbanism

Walkability drives desirability in San Francisco's rental market, with higher Walk Scores linked to higher rents. Areas with improving pedestrian infrastructure could become hotspots, attracting renters and offering investment opportunities. Search by zip code to examine the impact of walkability on rental rates in San Francisco: https://bit.ly/3yQps5m #MarketRent #SanFranciscoRealEstate #WalkableNeighborhoods #UrbanInvesting #SanFrancisco #WalkableCities

Should cities mark on-street parking spaces or leave them unmarked? Individual cities and towns have the freedom to decide. 🤔 There are many reasons to mark parking spots and also many reasons not to. 🚗 Here are some of the reasons cities choose NOT to mark spaces: 🛠️ Maintenance. Where spots are marked, lines must be kept in good condition through regular restriping, which carries significant time and cost. 📏 Sizing. If parking spaces are marked, the length of those spaces needs to be determined, and that decision gets complicated quickly. The larger you make each space, the fewer cars you can fit along the block. 🔍 Lack of clear need. If you’re going to mark parking spaces, you should be able to articulate why. If on-street parking is not paid, and you’re not concerned with collecting data, the decision to leave it unmarked could simply be because you don’t need marking—a common rationale in residential areas.

Bundling parking with rent may be doing your #occupancyrates more harm than good. The main reason: It increases base rent. Research has found that bundled parking increases the price of a unit by 17%. That means on average, your residents are paying $1,700 per year for parking, whether they need it or not. On top of the other benefits unbundled parking offers (like better management and more parking options), both residents and property managers can reap the rewards of lowered base rent. Take it from Eunice Lee at Fedora x Trilby, who was able to increase her property's tours by 30%.

'#Infillstations are an increasingly popular solution in #UScities whose #railtransit systems were originally designed to shuttle #suburban #commuters to and from #downtown. At a time when laying new tracks can be prohibitively expensive, they’re an affordable way to make the most of #infrastructure that’s already in place. Transit systems in #Washington, DC, the #BayArea, #Boston and #Chicago have all opened infill stations in recent years, and more are in planning. It’s a pattern that can be seen in the Bay Area, where #BART trains skip over much of #EastOakland, a #lowincome area with one of the highest population densities in the region. Activists there have launched a campaign to construct a new station in the San Antonio neighborhood, in the middle of a 2.7-mile stretch of tracks without access to the system. At a time when suburbs were largely #White and central cities were mostly #Black, it was clear whom these systems prioritized as they skipped past potential riders in transit-dependent neighborhoods.' #publictransport #urbanmobility #inovation #class #race

Over the past few decades, Bellingham has shifted its policy framework to manage parking more effectively and reduce the oversupply of underutilized surface parking lots. Parking reform supports environmental goals by reducing dependence on vehicles, minimizing impervious surfaces, and mitigating the heat island effect. Bellingham is aiming for a 20% reduction in single-occupancy vehicle use by 2036, but it is not on track to meet this goal. The 2019 Climate Action Plan Task Force recommended policies like creating parking maximums, unbundling parking from rentals and charging separately, increasing the costs to park and increasing parking enforcement— encouraging the City to make alternative transportation modes more convenient and single-occupant vehicle use less convenient. Key initiatives include: 🚗 Fairhaven Parking District, which eliminated on-site parking requirements and introduced paid parking, increasing turnover and availability 🚗 Downtown Plan, which focuses on efficient use of existing parking with public parking structures and metered on-street parking, promoting a walkable urban core 🚗 Old Town Sub Area Plan, which eliminated parking requirements in 2023, sparking renewed development interest . . . #ParkingReform #BellinghamFuture #UrbanPlanning #HousingForBellingham

This weekend, get out and explore! Check out a pocket park and complete street near you. 🌳🚶♀️🚴♂️ These aren't just buzzwords, here's what they mean for your community: Pocket Parks: Tiny green spaces tucked into surprising places, creating spots for relaxation, connection, and a touch of nature. Complete Streets: Reimagined streets with wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and safer crossings – designed for everyone, not just cars. The Proof is Out There: Walkability Boost: Studies show increased foot traffic, encouraging active lifestyles. Safety Matters: Data points to fewer accidents for pedestrians and cyclists. Economic Edge: Can drive up property values and support local businesses. It's Not Just Talk: Across the region, communities are seeing and noticing the benefits. Visit this one this weekend – walk, bike, relax, and experience the change firsthand. Search "pocket parks near me" or "complete streets near me". Share the experience! Show how these spaces improve your community. Eastern States Construction knows how to make it happen. Our expertise in earthwork and land use ensures we maximize the potential of every project. Let's create more livable communities, together. #pocketparks #completestreets #livable #walkablecommunities #urbanplanning #EasternStates #weekendplans #futureuse