tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17359131901144052292024-03-13T10:14:26.686-04:00Pittsboro Parks BlogMusings on Parks & PlacemakingPaul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176039303829608675noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-41318516863225020582018-01-06T01:01:00.002-05:002018-01-06T01:16:26.337-05:00Traffic Calming 101<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This great video was originally hosted <a href="https://reconnectrochester.org/southeast/2015/09/18/what-is-traffic-calming/" target="_blank">here</a> along with an informative article.Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176039303829608675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-77366122902916419832017-06-02T13:19:00.000-04:002017-06-05T09:36:00.830-04:00What makes Pittsboro, NC a Great Place?New polling questions are now available at <a href="http://www.pittsboroparks.org">www.pittsboroparks.org</a>. The central theme is asking "what we want to be when we grow up" as a community. Many of the questions are open-ended and require a bit more thought than simple multiple choice questions.The polling site shows everyone's responses, so it is hoped that a town-wide conversation will take place. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Pittsboro Photographer Chris Whitted. All rights are reserved, but acquired for this use. </td></tr>
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<br />Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-20301513028507494802017-04-06T17:48:00.001-04:002017-04-06T19:51:05.552-04:00April Fools? - Pittsboro Cat Parks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Survey results are in - Pittsboro residents rank Cat Parks as their number one parks and recreational priority. Cat Parks easily outranked other priorities by large margins. Survey respondents claim that for too long cats have been overshadowed by dogs. Items such as a robust greenway network, a thousand acre nature preserve, a downtown park capable of hosting downtown events such as farmers markets, food truck rodeos, and picnicking just couldn't compete. Even playgrounds for kids, sports complexes, neighborhood open spaces, and aquatics centers got far fewer votes than the latest trend in leisure, cat parks.</div>
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Seriously though, <b>if you receive a survey in the mail asking about your parks and recreation priorities, please take a few minutes to fill it out</b>. And if you are a Pittsboro area resident and want to participate in online surveys for the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan, please do so at <a href="http://pittsboroparks.org/">PittsboroParks.org</a>. Or you could let others decide. . . . </div>
<br />Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-57266761758982440772017-04-06T15:47:00.001-04:002017-04-06T16:44:01.983-04:00Breakfast Forum Examines Economic Impact of Place, Parks, and Quality of Life<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, "DejaVu Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em;">
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PITTSBORO – The Town of Pittsboro Parks Department and the Chatham Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will host a forum, <em>The Power of Place, Parks and Quality of Life: An Economic Development Perspective</em>, on <b>Tuesday, April 11, from 9 to 11 a.m.</b> The event will take place at the new Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center at 1192 US 64 W Business in Pittsboro.</div>
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Experts in their respective fields will share their perspectives on how investments in Parks and Recreation and Economic Development go hand in hand. Panelists include: </div>
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<li>Kyle Touchstone – President, Chatham Economic Development Corporation</li>
<li>Jody Leidolf – Manager, Planning and Sustainability, Newland Communities</li>
<li>Sig Hutchinson – Chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners, and open space advocate</li>
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Paul Horne, Parks Planner for the Town of Pittsboro, will moderate the panel discussion.</div>
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The event is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Contact <a href="mailto:info@chathamedc.org" style="color: #d3864f;">info@chathamedc.org</a> to make an individual or group reservation. Light breakfast snacks and beverages will be provided.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light breakfast snacks & coffee will be served so please RSVP.</td></tr>
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The Town of Pittsboro is currently seeking public participation and input for the development of a long-range Parks System Master Plan. To learn more about the project, visit <a href="http://pittsboroparks.org/">pittsboroparks.org</a>.</div>
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For more information about the forum, contact Kyle Touchstone, president of the Chatham Economic Development Corporation, at 919-542-8274 or Paul Horne at 919-542-4621.<br />
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The EDC is a private, non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote job creation and private capital investment in Chatham County.<br />
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The mission of Pittsboro Parks is to enrich the lives of Pittsboro’s residents through the creation of great public spaces, provision of recreational programming and the hosting of special events. In doing so, we foster sustainable economic development, support the arts, encourage healthy lifestyles, and enable deeper connections to nature. </div>
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<strong>Link to RSVP for complimentary tickets:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-pittsboro-parks-forum-the-power-of-place-parks-and-quality-of-life-tickets-32478566266" style="color: #d3864f; outline: 0px;">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-pittsboro-parks-forum-the-power-of-place-parks-and-quality-of-life-tickets-32478566266</a></div>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-41322490927771991222017-04-06T14:35:00.000-04:002017-04-06T14:35:29.469-04:00What is a Parks & Recreation System Master Plan?Great question; one of the best answers that I've come across is below:<br />
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"A parks and open-space plan outlines a systematic approach to providing parks and recreation services to a community. Parks and open-space resources within a community include environmental, recreational, scenic, cultural, historic, and urban design elements.<br />
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Jan Gehl (1987), the Danish urbanist and architect, states,<br />
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<i>'The proper hierarchy of planning is life, space and buildings, not buildings, space, life.' </i></h3>
Therefore communities need to plan for open spaces that provide a multitude of public functions before development occurs. These functions are numerous and may include:<br />
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<li>Protection of natural resources and biodiversity;</li>
<li>Creation of places for recreation;</li>
<li>Support for economic development opportunities;</li>
<li>Development of neighborhood gathering spaces;</li>
<li>Promotion of public health benefits;</li>
<li>Creation of civic and cultural infrastructure; and </li>
<li>Shaping patterns of development through open spaces."</li>
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<i>Source: American Planning Association. (2006). Parks and open-space plans. In planning and urban design standards (p. 38). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Play fort at Rock Ridge Park</td></tr>
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I find the above text to be a pretty elegant synopsis of what parks planning is all about. <br />
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As the Town develops our <a href="http://www.pittsboroparks.org/" target="_blank">Parks & Recreation System Master Plan</a>, look forward to articles here providing insights into the planning process as well as articles highlighting some of the conceptual underpinnings of why we're engaged in this process. So stay tuned. . . .<br />
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-71814855762214499682017-04-04T09:53:00.002-04:002017-04-04T09:53:59.770-04:00Tree ID Walk - April 5, 2017 - National Walking DayThose boots are made for walking, so put them on and join me, your friendly neighborhood Parks Planner, and Margaret Tiano of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Grand-Trees-Of-Chatham-175496565877666/" target="_blank">Grand Trees of Chatham</a> for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/national-walking-day/" target="_blank">National Walking Day</a>. We'll meet in the parking lot of <a href="http://pittsboronc.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D5AFA5A0-6836-4ED3-AA9C-DF9F07D3DC9C}&DE={8C8D5A17-E29B-4391-B227-E8F029A37BCF}" target="_blank">Rock Ridge Park</a> at 4 PM on April 5, 2017. <br />
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Margaret will provide a Tree Identification workshop while we explore the diverse ecology of Rock Ridge Park. We've done this for several years now and it's always been fun and informative. We saw a <a href="http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/trees/hgic1027.html" target="_blank">Fringe Tree</a> in bloom last year and I learned how to identify a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyssa_sylvatica" target="_blank">Black Tupelo or Black Gum Tree</a> (There are several near the mini-amphitheater).<br />
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Unless there's a really heavy rainstorm or thunderstorms we'll still meet, so bring raingear, perhaps a water bottle, and comfortable shoes. We can still do this in a light drizzle. Here's a link to <a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Pittsboro&state=NC&site=RAH&textField1=35.7194&textField2=-79.1745&e=0#.WOOebm8rJaQ" target="_blank">NOAA weather forecast for Pittsboro</a>. All ages are welcome!<br />
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There are other participating sites throughout Chatham County, check <a href="http://www.chathamnc.org/home/showdocument?id=29667" target="_blank">here </a>to see if there is one closer to you. Each site will likely have their own inclement weather policies, so follow up with respective agencies if the weather is looking questionable.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SbyAZQ45uww?list=RDSbyAZQ45uww" width="640"></iframe>Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-53312049146735728342017-04-03T17:43:00.003-04:002017-04-04T08:57:05.360-04:00A Huge Thanks to the Pittsboro Navigators!Thanks to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Navigators133/" target="_blank">Pittsboro Navigators</a> Troop 133, who spent a recent beautiful Saturday cleaning up trash at Town Lake Park! They scoured the park and really made a huge difference. They even got a lesson in ecology and conservation by area naturalist Jennifer Platt DrPH, owner of <a href="http://tickwarriors.com/" target="_blank">TickWarriors</a>. Their work was done in conjunction with the Haw River Assembly's annual <a href="http://hawriver.org/715/" target="_blank">Clean-Up-a-Thon</a> which boasts:<br />
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<li>16 teams</li>
<li>249 volunteers</li>
<li>336 bags of trash</li>
<li>35 tires collected from the Haw River and its feeder streams. </li>
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Town Lake Park, of course, is the empoundment of Robeson Creek, which empties into the Haw River before continuing to Jordan Lake. The work of the Navigators may have impacts well beyond the park, since according to <a href="http://cleanjordanlake.org/" target="_blank">Clean Jordan Lake</a>, 80% of the trash in Jordan Lake comes from the tributaries flowing into it. </div>
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It's always encouraging to see our community demonstrate in action how much they value their parks and natural areas. Yay volunteers! </div>
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0Town Lake Park, 529 NC-902, Pittsboro, NC 27312, USA35.7126806 -79.18692629999998210.190646099999999 -120.49552029999998 61.2347151 -37.878332299999983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-57109489123878406472017-03-14T17:46:00.007-04:002017-03-14T17:46:59.879-04:00Little Library at Town Lake ParkSerendipity strikes! I've been wanting to place a Little Lending Library at one or several of the parks but it's never risen to the top of my priority list. So, I was thrilled when Krista Millard approached me about not only providing a pre-made library, but also offering to stock it with children's books - quite good ones I might add. <br />
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Krista is with <a href="http://www.chathameducationfoundation.org/chatham-reads" target="_blank">Chatham Reads</a>, an organization "dedicated to ensuring that literacy and reading resources are accessible to all Chatham County residents." What a great asset for our community!<br />
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The Library artwork was designed by Bynum Artist <a href="http://www.mattzigler.com/portfolio" target="_blank">Matt Zigler</a>, while the carpentry was provided by one of the County High School's shop class. <br />
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The little library is located near the Park's Picnic Shelter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxWbUdpKwtTGybURtyvKTv1QVgrlba-bNFWEg-dXQSvhk9YAfBjNqz0SbHLwRxXG3tUF6_Kxy7P4aoJYKnD0fjqoI0JDryEztfZlDGF46I_4BSVuUuO4ICoLg1tpFup2ij_mxqImQ_9g/s1600/Picnic+Shelter+Town+Lake+Park+Pittsboro+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxWbUdpKwtTGybURtyvKTv1QVgrlba-bNFWEg-dXQSvhk9YAfBjNqz0SbHLwRxXG3tUF6_Kxy7P4aoJYKnD0fjqoI0JDryEztfZlDGF46I_4BSVuUuO4ICoLg1tpFup2ij_mxqImQ_9g/s1600/Picnic+Shelter+Town+Lake+Park+Pittsboro+500.jpg" /></a></div>
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By the way, the bridge construction on HWY 902 doesn't impact park entry; just access the park from the north. NCDOT has been great about keeping the park entrance open during park hours. Bonus feature: the bridge will have a sidewalk which will allow for the possible development of a circular trail around the park!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzgF9ExfPxqZr1uc6hPJsD8EnG9LA0aCS_oLxoiGakikijoksQej20OvT7RDD4DNKrLdcPs2-jXr2vZLLGLavugRSCytfqFuad3nO_cscKFqKMCCIfnb0mg9CAOGuPO3D46JQDUwUfF4/s1600/Town+Lake+Park+Bridge+Construction+HW902+500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzgF9ExfPxqZr1uc6hPJsD8EnG9LA0aCS_oLxoiGakikijoksQej20OvT7RDD4DNKrLdcPs2-jXr2vZLLGLavugRSCytfqFuad3nO_cscKFqKMCCIfnb0mg9CAOGuPO3D46JQDUwUfF4/s1600/Town+Lake+Park+Bridge+Construction+HW902+500.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-16507849217607317052017-02-16T12:49:00.002-05:002017-02-16T16:37:28.740-05:00Pittsboro Parks & Recreation System Master Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2zpd7oDopuTreUmWVNEAoG0I7qU3OL78TtAV7MfWT5J77bdoFPXn2wRpz49pzSvC_EDMZAG-XngA87K8j8VC1ghfcAs30VVKnuUdPvaC5_ehVPONMrQjXp7FYKGVKvDrIsG4bUf3zW4/s1600/Banner450x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2zpd7oDopuTreUmWVNEAoG0I7qU3OL78TtAV7MfWT5J77bdoFPXn2wRpz49pzSvC_EDMZAG-XngA87K8j8VC1ghfcAs30VVKnuUdPvaC5_ehVPONMrQjXp7FYKGVKvDrIsG4bUf3zW4/s1600/Banner450x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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Pittsboro Parks has just begun work on a Parks and Recreation System Master Plan!<br />
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<h3>
What is a System Master Plan?</h3>
A System Master Plan is a strategic guide that outlines the goals and vision of a community’s parks, recreation and greenway system. It is the broadest public document for parks and recreation planning and typically sets forth a long-range vision and implementation plan after a methodical analysis.<br />
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<h3>
Why does Pittsboro need a System Master Plan?</h3>
In general, planning represents good stewardship. With the ongoing development of the Town’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), new polices and action items are being defined for parks, greenways, open spaces, and natural areas. Updating these ordinances requires a new focused look at how best to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and diversifying population. This plan will provide that focused look via a systematic community-driven planning process.<br />
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<h3>
How long is the planning process?</h3>
The process should take approximately ten months to complete. The project kicked-off in January, 2017 and includes five main phases:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Existing Conditions (Winter, 2017)</li>
<li>Needs & Priorities Assessment (Spring, 2017)</li>
<li>Long-Range Vision (Summer, 2017)</li>
<li>Implementation Plan (Summer, 2017)</li>
<li>Final Plan Development (Fall, 2017)</li>
</ul>
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Adoption or approval of a final, publicly vetted Parks System Master Plan is targeted for the fall of 2017.<br />
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<h3>
Why should I care?</h3>
A well connected, robust parks and recreation system, or lack thereof, can play an instrumental role in shaping the essential character of a community. As a member of this community, whether you’re a newcomer, a longtime resident, a business owner, or a frequent visitor for work or play, your input is vital to help craft the community that you desire. The rapid growth anticipated for our small town underscores the importance of this endeavor as well as the necessity of YOUR input.<br />
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<h3>
Who is guiding this planning process?</h3>
The Town of Pittsboro Parks and Recreation Department is working closely with a team of planning consultants who bring national expertise and local knowledge to the planning process. Public participation will play a key role in the planning effort, with residents and visitors providing input and feedback throughout each phase of the project. A project steering committee, made up of community stakeholders, is also guiding the development of the project. Finally, for extra transparency, each phase of the planning document will be posted online to allow for public input and review.<br />
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<h3>
What is the most important thing I can do to help?</h3>
The most important thing you can do is to participate in the planning process. Participate in as many events as you can and be sure to provide your thoughts online as well at <a href="http://www.pittsboroparks.org/" target="_blank">www. PittsboroParks.org</a>. Help us network this important planning process through emails, Twitter, Facebook, etc., with friends, family and co-workers.<br />
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<h3>
When should I participate?</h3>
Feel free to participate in as many events as you would like and that time permits. Even if you can participate for an hour, please free feel. Be sure to check the project website for upcoming opportunities.<br />
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<h3>
Where can I get more information?</h3>
Be sure to visit <a href="http://www.pittsboroparks.org/">www.PittsboroParks.org</a> to find additional information, discussion topics and ideas. This website will be active throughout the entire planning process. Draft sections of the report will be posted on that website. Bookmark the site and visit often!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEpKKWo32gJU1R17xnsf_3olr9gU63R87Ddqd51a7tFQdzFQ3-sx1uA0WIY-1GSmola48RWnJXSxayJEWTF0Fqg5tgwHFplAZBJmpmVG8gj-CMk7W3aW-9m1qW3KFcm4gznSzm2EckzE/s1600/2016+lockup+500blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEpKKWo32gJU1R17xnsf_3olr9gU63R87Ddqd51a7tFQdzFQ3-sx1uA0WIY-1GSmola48RWnJXSxayJEWTF0Fqg5tgwHFplAZBJmpmVG8gj-CMk7W3aW-9m1qW3KFcm4gznSzm2EckzE/s1600/2016+lockup+500blog.png" /></a></div>
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-91054458254143259942017-02-16T12:36:00.000-05:002017-02-16T12:36:02.232-05:00Friends of the Haw River UpdatesThis group has hit the ground running since their founding as an official Friends of the State Parks chapter focusing on our well loved Lower Haw River State Natural Area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlahDy5x4wyRhSikViBfU38g-WP5B9Ai6W72IfomwwzPSVKek1iWPeQLptepYy1VPwlveuxDLdOLxhLNDV0wmdfANjmx-zIWLaARWFsN4J9FTi4Vi1uWPGJS2vjCMhFvXj29XXRSOfpMI/s1600/trashcans_letterbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlahDy5x4wyRhSikViBfU38g-WP5B9Ai6W72IfomwwzPSVKek1iWPeQLptepYy1VPwlveuxDLdOLxhLNDV0wmdfANjmx-zIWLaARWFsN4J9FTi4Vi1uWPGJS2vjCMhFvXj29XXRSOfpMI/s1600/trashcans_letterbox.jpg" /></a></div>
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Read more about their numerous activities in their latest <a href="http://us14.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ad19b87a293343a23f5020ee2&id=17273a98e8&e=6bc8fc17b9" target="_blank">NEWSLETTER</a>.<br />
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Highlights include their:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>installation of trash cans at several paddle access points</li>
<li>acquisition of a grant for a hiking bridge over Pokeberry Creek, &</li>
<li>details on an upcoming Haw River Clean-Up-A-Thon </li>
<ul>
<li>Saturday March 18th from 9-12 at the US 64 Bridge</li>
</ul>
</ul>
Be sure to check out their <a href="http://www.lowerhaw.org/" target="_blank">website</a> too. Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-49227018950452085882017-02-01T12:00:00.000-05:002017-02-01T11:22:53.344-05:00From Pickle-Low to PickleballDorthea Lange, as part of her famous 1939 photographic series in Pittsboro, captured this sign advertising a "Pickle-Low Party" in downtown Pittsboro. This was well before our current ordinance outlawing such scofflaw utility pole postings. More information about this photo can be found <a href="http://blogs.lib.unc.edu/ncm/index.php/2014/07/25/a-pickle-low-party-in-pittsboro/" target="_blank">here</a>, though the jury is still out regarding what exactly a pickle-low party is. If you happen to know, please leave a comment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgHElqCh_qTxsJAFivH0JPgmW9gXEOf4BenKRqvZuLLZGdd4Xai5I0lRnrQ6GDweWLxQn7wVkZSXQ0YdkF24c6x_wmoO_HBfGVmEv9mc3eQ95_qnT9y5kg4usRQxwEROlZ9sHwTtdnhQ/s1600/pickle_low_party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgHElqCh_qTxsJAFivH0JPgmW9gXEOf4BenKRqvZuLLZGdd4Xai5I0lRnrQ6GDweWLxQn7wVkZSXQ0YdkF24c6x_wmoO_HBfGVmEv9mc3eQ95_qnT9y5kg4usRQxwEROlZ9sHwTtdnhQ/s1600/pickle_low_party.jpg" /></a></div>
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History repeats itself in 2017 with a different type of Pickle Party, namely a growing group of pickleball enthusiasts meeting twice a week at the <a href="http://pittsboronc.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={D5AFA5A0-6836-4ED3-AA9C-DF9F07D3DC9C}&DE={A1B264E2-0B76-4E8D-A168-EE1E606C9B84}" target="_blank">McClenahan Park</a> tennis & pickleball courts. I say pickleball courts because when we resurfaced the tennis courts last year, we repainted all three courts to specifically accommodate this rapidly growing sport. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsAmi_lQkJEvx5sOjLuSq9e9HiBe3AK1_BMbVGOeXpiQWfoS1ZJE37JnINIqiUcByBlbzV8djDqwcEIkioUkt5LEKsQYxTo7fmqdRU8hmT7s8lv6GVAsxO1ujNnFrMPTNTe_fLMRiTeQ/s1600/Pittsboro+Pickleball+png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsAmi_lQkJEvx5sOjLuSq9e9HiBe3AK1_BMbVGOeXpiQWfoS1ZJE37JnINIqiUcByBlbzV8djDqwcEIkioUkt5LEKsQYxTo7fmqdRU8hmT7s8lv6GVAsxO1ujNnFrMPTNTe_fLMRiTeQ/s1600/Pittsboro+Pickleball+png.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos courtesy of Janis Warren of <a href="http://jcwarrenagi.zenfolio.com/" target="_blank">JCWarren Photos</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This local group is inviting others to join their outings, which are held on Tuesdays & Thursdays starting at 9 a.m. Here's text from a recent Chatham Chatlist post by one of their members:<br />
<i style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #38761d;">"Pickleball
is going strong on the 3 tennis courts across from Pittsboro Elementary School. 15-20 regulars, ranging from beginners to advanced, play together in the spirit
of friendly competition.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We have loaner paddles and qualified coaches to help you get started. You will
be playing regular games on day one.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Our scheduled times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am till ? If it's at
least 40 degrees and dry at 9:00 am, there will be players there. Less than 40
degrees- proceed at your own risk."</span></i></span><br />
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Additionally, the <a href="http://chathamcouncilonaging.org/" target="_blank">Chatham Council on Aging</a> periodically offers pickleball classes for seniors.<br />
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Here's a quick video explaining some of the basic rules of the game: <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WLWj2LXecHU" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-6771679218183277302016-11-03T10:42:00.000-04:002016-11-03T10:42:16.636-04:00Quote of the Day<h3>
<span style="color: orange;">"You can measure the health of a town by the vitality and energy of its streets and public open space." </span></h3>
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- William H. WhytePaul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-22790984123288553602016-10-21T12:23:00.001-04:002016-10-21T12:23:58.470-04:00Quote of the Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYIN59-E1SLd8ZmyAoOoJPhTc8lNeMbgfkgHqyMQ7ASDCaRYCtjhyjwlahpuRRfUIRNzQK9d_BIy9sn3Ok29MY4ppW4EoYnbmjxkhwT5YTe73hMslUj59iDoAGKKHZIprYTDq3tMTkiE/s1600/Pedal+Push.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYIN59-E1SLd8ZmyAoOoJPhTc8lNeMbgfkgHqyMQ7ASDCaRYCtjhyjwlahpuRRfUIRNzQK9d_BIy9sn3Ok29MY4ppW4EoYnbmjxkhwT5YTe73hMslUj59iDoAGKKHZIprYTDq3tMTkiE/s1600/Pedal+Push.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-34015607422823801562016-10-12T13:46:00.001-04:002016-10-12T13:46:27.095-04:00Doris Day Parking & The High Cost of Free ParkingWhat is Doris Day Parking? You'll have to watch the first few minutes of this video to find out!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/118775541" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/118775541">Transportation & Parking</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user14771786">Julie Campoli</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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Parking Rock Star (&UCLA economist) Donald Shoup on the High Cost of Free Parking<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uVteHncimV0" width="500"></iframe>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-61960032824191376682016-10-04T12:53:00.001-04:002016-10-04T12:53:29.128-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-oXmD-2w8eT9tujlvJgswF-ly2CBQmU0DB2ldSl3Qq-zts6sWGEWSmS55KMyiFdH4irGHk4M48B472aubUxmbLAlovO7cQbLKfALrEq33qLpPZD5RndF12uTeLjt-sMmL8nFEJN51_U/s1600/Americans-Infographic500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-oXmD-2w8eT9tujlvJgswF-ly2CBQmU0DB2ldSl3Qq-zts6sWGEWSmS55KMyiFdH4irGHk4M48B472aubUxmbLAlovO7cQbLKfALrEq33qLpPZD5RndF12uTeLjt-sMmL8nFEJN51_U/s1600/Americans-Infographic500.png" /></a></div>
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For more details, interactive charts and the full report, <a href="http://www.nrpa.org/engagement/" target="_blank">click here</a>.Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-69152986336656498582016-10-04T09:06:00.000-04:002016-10-04T09:06:18.523-04:00Give Back Grace & Delight<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“The more successfully a city mingles everyday diversity of
uses and users in its everyday streets, the more successfully, casually (and
economically) its people thereby enliven and support well-located parks that
can thus give back grace and delight to their neighborhoods instead of vacuity.”</i>
- Jane Jacobs<o:p></o:p></div>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-24502314119398196432016-09-30T16:34:00.002-04:002016-09-30T16:38:17.243-04:0021 SwingsEvery now and then, humans make wonderful things:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/40980676?color=00f137&badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/40980676">21 Balançoires (21 Swings)</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/dailytouslesjours">Daily tous les jours</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-17944085635020473732016-09-29T11:32:00.001-04:002016-09-29T11:32:27.465-04:00Land Use Tax Implications Post 2 This is a follow up to the last post. This videos a bit longer and provides more detail - gotta love the power of maps:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VanFSnnjk_k" width="500"></iframe>Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-26503202216192016052016-09-29T10:43:00.000-04:002016-09-29T10:43:11.693-04:00Land Use - Implications for Taxpayers<i>"What we consistently find is that municipalities and their counties perform better when they invest their dollars in walkable mixed-use development patterns instead of other forms of development like sprawl." - Joe MInicozzi</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Planning 101<br />
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This video conveys in an elegant and concise manner the dollar and cent implications of land use decisions. <br />
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<iframe width="500" height="263" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HVD01WUm0oA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-51065148912559074642016-09-02T14:01:00.001-04:002016-09-02T14:01:39.022-04:00Random Quote of the Day<div class="MsoNormal">
“If you create a great city for an 8 year old and an 80 year
old, you will create a successful city for all people.” - Gil Penalosa<o:p></o:p></div>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-71020911524294702412016-09-02T13:34:00.001-04:002016-09-02T13:34:59.412-04:00The Economic Value of Walkability: New Evidence<div>
The real estate industry widely uses <a href="https://www.walkscore.com/" target="_blank">Walk Score</a> as a measure of a community's walkability. Many people want the health, social, and environmental benefits of living in communities in which common tasks can be easily accomplished without the use of an automobile. </div>
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Not surprisingly, Downtown Pittsboro compares favorably with many nearby competing areas as shown in the following infographic: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrL2On9EZ4sqBWXIiC4lLWRrchK2C_6-rJ5lCutPsR9tt60-c8p-x9mVH97sUv79OrxuBLY2z_Di5hjX_rUUFh0fd7sUjvrWMrrtzv-FF0fr45IZPOH8WTJTSefQpmrlEbEt7vV5ZlWw/s1600/Pittsboro+Walkscore.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrL2On9EZ4sqBWXIiC4lLWRrchK2C_6-rJ5lCutPsR9tt60-c8p-x9mVH97sUv79OrxuBLY2z_Di5hjX_rUUFh0fd7sUjvrWMrrtzv-FF0fr45IZPOH8WTJTSefQpmrlEbEt7vV5ZlWw/s400/Pittsboro+Walkscore.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But Walkability is more than just a quality of life indicator, it is also correlated with tangible economic value as the following article by Joe Cortright at <a href="http://cityobservatory.org/the-economic-value-of-walkability-new-evidence/" target="_blank">City Commentary</a> explains. Thanks to Joe and City Commentary for permission to reprint the article in full.<br />
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<b>The Economic Value of Walkability: New Evidence </b></div>
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<b>30.8.2016</b></div>
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One of the hallmarks of great urban spaces is
walkability–places with lots of destinations and points of interest in close
proximity to one another, buzzing sidewalks, people to watch, interesting
public spaces–all these are things that the <a href="http://gehlpeople.com/">experts</a> and <a href="http://www.realtor.org/reports/nar-2015-community-preference-survey">market
surveys</a> are telling us people want to have.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s all well and good to acknowledge walkability in the
abstract, but to tough-minded economists (and to those with an interest in
public policy) we really want to know, what’s it worth? How much, in
dollar and cents terms, do people value walkable neighborhoods? Thanks to
the researcher’s at RedFin, we have a new set of estimates of <a href="https://www.redfin.com/blog/2016/08/how-much-is-a-point-of-walk-score-worth.html">the
economic value of walkability</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Redfin used an economic tool called “hedonic regression” to
examine more than a million home sales in major markets around the country, and
to tease out the separate contributions of a house’s lot size, age, number of
bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage and neighborhood characteristics (like
average income). In addition, the RedFin model included an examination of each
property’s <a href="https://www.walkscore.com/">Walk Score</a>. Walk
Score is an algorithm that estimates the walkability of every address in the
United States on a scale of 0 to 100 based on its proximity to a number common
destinations like schools, stores, coffee shops, parks and restaurants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What they found is that increased walkability was associated
with higher home values across the country. On average, they found that a one
point increase in a house’s Walk Score was associated with a $3,000 increase in
the house’s market value. But their findings have some importance nuances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, the value of walkability varies from city to city.
Its much more valuable in larger, denser cities, on average than it is in
smaller ones. A one point increase in Walk Score is worth nearly $4,000 in San
Francisco, Washington and Los Angeles, but only $100 to $200 in Orange County
or Phoenix.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Second, the relationship between walkability and home value
isn’t linear: a one point increase in the Walk Score for a home with a very low
score doesn’t have nearly as much impact as an increase in Walk Score for a
home with a high Walk Score. This suggests that there is a kind of
minimum threshold of walkability. For homes with Walk Scores of less than
40, small changes in walkability don’t seem to have much effect on home values.
In their book, <i>Zillow Talk</i>, <a href="http://cityobservatory.org/the-value-of-walkability-across-the-us/">Spencer
Raskoff and Stan Humphries</a> reached a similar conclusion in their
research by a somewhat different statistical route, finding that the big gains
in home value were associated with changes toward the high end of the Walk
Score scale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For their benchmark comparison of different cities, RedFin
computed how much a home’s value might be expected to increase if it went from
a WalkScore of 60 (somewhat walkable) to a WalkScore of 80 (very walkable). The
results are shown here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrJCSNYUlSCHrt57-ruh7foW82KlJrTtCErbXoNOZypwwHtrFO1CyexXNaUVR-ktYUHSBmv1m-fg11lvCgqr6r-_PtEziNCHOLTOaqgN8MEO3-Z4g2906azhW1pvO-sqpW8vmr5HwGUE/s1600/Walk_Score_6080.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrJCSNYUlSCHrt57-ruh7foW82KlJrTtCErbXoNOZypwwHtrFO1CyexXNaUVR-ktYUHSBmv1m-fg11lvCgqr6r-_PtEziNCHOLTOaqgN8MEO3-Z4g2906azhW1pvO-sqpW8vmr5HwGUE/s400/Walk_Score_6080.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.redfin.com/blog/2016/08/how-much-is-a-point-of-walk-score-worth.html" target="_blank">Click here for the full REDFIN Study</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Among the markets they studied, the average impact of
raising a typical home’s Walk Score from 60 to 80 was to add more than $100,000
to its market value. In San Francisco, the gain is $188,000; in Phoenix, only a
tenth that amount.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Redfin’s estimates parallel those reported by their real
estate data rivals at Zillow. Raskoff and Humphries looked at a different set
of cities, and examined the effect of a 15-point increase in Walk Score.
They found that this increased home values by an average of 12 percent,
with actual increases ranging from 4 percent to 24 percent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We think the new RedFin results have one important caveat.
We know from a wide variety of research that proximity to the urban core tends
to be positively associated with home values in most markets. And it turns out
that there is some correlation between Walk Scores and centrality (older,
closer-in and more dense neighborhoods tend, on average to have higher Walk
Scores). RedFin’s model didn’t adjust its findings for distance to the central
business district. What this means is that some of the effect that their model
attributes to Walk Score may be capturing the value of proximity to the city
center, rather than just walkability. So as you read these results, you
might want to think about them representing the combined effect of central,
walkable neighborhoods. (Our <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273354349_Walking_the_Walk_How_Walkability_Raises_Home_Values_in_US_Cities">own
estimates</a>, which controlled for centrality, still showed a significant,
positive impact for walkability on home values).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The RedFin study adds to a growing body of economic evidence
that strongly supports the intuition of urbanists and the consumer research:
American’s attach a large and apparently growing value to the ability to
live in walkable neighborhoods. The high price that we now have to pay to
get walkable places ought to be a strong public policy signal that we should be
looking for ways to build more such neighborhoods. Too often, as we’ve noted,
our current public policies–like zoning–effectively make it illegal to build
the kind of dense, interesting, mixed-use neighborhoods that offer the
walkability that is in such high demand.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-75259332197639486302016-06-08T13:41:00.001-04:002016-06-08T13:41:29.782-04:00Nature & Green Space are not Synonymous<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i>"Nature" and "green space" are not synonymous.</i></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<i>"Green space" can better be understood as nature band-aids, such as berms, pointless setbacks, and ornamental shrubbery ensembles meant to shield or "soften" hopelessly bad urban design. You know you've encountered "green space" when it is meant to be seen only through a windshield or when using it gets you ejected by security.</i></div>
<div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding: 0px;">
<i>A city (or, more likely, a suburb) with lots of "green space" might well be a city with very little actual nature."</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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The insightful commentary above was a reader's response to <a href="http://www.citylab.com/weather/2015/10/the-pretty-much-totally-complete-health-case-for-urban-nature/411331/" target="_blank">this article</a> at the Atlantic's City Lab. The full article by Eric Jaffe is well worth a read. </div>
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-41882790958928515102016-05-18T10:57:00.000-04:002016-05-18T10:57:02.270-04:00Agriculture is the New Golf<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Agriculture is the New Golf: Rethinking Suburban Communities</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>by </i><i><a href="https://www.good.is/contributors/allison-arieff">Allison Arieff</a></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>There is new movement to plan suburban communities around
farms instead of golf courses. Can it catch on?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>It has often been observed</b> that suburbia is a
place where the developer displaces animals and rips out trees, and then names
the streets after them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Whether you see that as destruction or reinvention, the
tendency is nothing new. All of America was built on this sort of land
transformation, some of it smart, much of it not. But the devastation wrought
from decades of intervention by heavy equipment has manifested itself in a
range of ills from economic collapse to loss of biodiversity. So today we’re
faced with a strange scenario: Our relentless pursuit of the American Dream now
has us scrambling for a return to Eden.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW22lrb0JWMGXs3wOZ8UxXhip0xxkofqgMWUhIxrOh5cXpZpuh7C8WWO9a4rzUNN_wAK-IqcK3haZWBgJMH8L_n1oHhmpz7DnnxyeqpIpO5xk39yTe2z94LVjeegGVQsDKz6T1h62Pzg/s1600/Holmes+Park+Pittsboro+NC+Golf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW22lrb0JWMGXs3wOZ8UxXhip0xxkofqgMWUhIxrOh5cXpZpuh7C8WWO9a4rzUNN_wAK-IqcK3haZWBgJMH8L_n1oHhmpz7DnnxyeqpIpO5xk39yTe2z94LVjeegGVQsDKz6T1h62Pzg/s1600/Holmes+Park+Pittsboro+NC+Golf.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing golfer at Mary Hayes Barber Holmes Park in Pittsboro, NC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“We’re
at a watershed in terms of reaching the limits of sustainability both environmentally
[and in] time and expense,” says June Williamson, coauthor with Ellen
Dunham-Jones of <i>Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for
Redesigning Suburbs</i>. “There are many dynamics pushing and encouraging a
rethinking of our development patterns. The opportunity is there to reshape
those settings in a way that will reflect changing demographics, recognize
climate change, and acknowledge the need for new suburban development
patterns.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.good.is/articles/agriculture-is-the-new-golf-rethinking-suburban-communities" target="_blank">Read the full article at GOOD.</a> </div>
Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-12077806789620623552016-05-05T10:34:00.001-04:002016-05-05T10:34:37.430-04:00A Tale of Two Planners: Jane Jacobs vs. Robert Moses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://nthp-savingplaces.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/04/15/02/29/54/846/JacobsVSMoses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://nthp-savingplaces.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/04/15/02/29/54/846/JacobsVSMoses.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
Click <a href="https://savingplaces.org/stories/a-tale-of-two-planners-jane-jacobs-and-robert-moses?utm_medium=email&utm_source=NTHP_newsletter_050516&utm_campaign=NTHP_eNewsletter-FY16_May5#.VytSPIQrJaQ" target="_blank">here</a> for this concise by insightful article by Lauren Walser for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.<br />
<br />
The article highlights two very different approaches to city planning, one was top-down and closed-door, the other inclusive and embracing citizen participation. One approach was automobile focused, the other focused on the scale of pedestrians and neighborhoods. The author argues that despite their different approaches they both worked to create their conceptions of a better city.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Illustration: Library of Congress/Prints & Photographs Division/LC-DIG-ppmsca-24382; New York Public Library Digital Collections; Library of Congress/Prints & Photographs Division/LC-USZ-62-137839</span></i>Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1735913190114405229.post-7614618935891075742016-05-02T10:45:00.000-04:002016-05-02T10:45:05.090-04:00Trail-Oriented Development<div class="MsoNormal">
WASHINGTON (March 29, 2016) — Cyclists, take note: real
estate developers and cities are becoming more responsive to your needs by
creating an increasing number of communities tailored to those who would rather
bike than drive. A new Urban Land Institute (ULI) publication, <a href="http://uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/Active-Transportation-and-Real-Estate-The-Next-Frontier.pdf" target="_blank"><b><i>Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier</i> </b></a>identifies
this trend as “trail-oriented development,” the latest phase in the evolution
of urban development from car-centric to people-friendly design.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8e8HKjNe1QnD1tRh1c7xBRm-nmD69udFkCmK5cm8o4hJr3IBwfvb3O7aOt1UOZs_wQNEivqwkHXvk9UxSy8TrOQuKtXXxsTuGOAKdc-przb3xthwpi-Ghlu4A_JHcHYIKkuDX6_oWUo/s1600/temp+ULI.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8e8HKjNe1QnD1tRh1c7xBRm-nmD69udFkCmK5cm8o4hJr3IBwfvb3O7aOt1UOZs_wQNEivqwkHXvk9UxSy8TrOQuKtXXxsTuGOAKdc-przb3xthwpi-Ghlu4A_JHcHYIKkuDX6_oWUo/s1600/temp+ULI.PNG" /></a></div>
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Similar to transit-oriented development, trail-oriented
development takes advantage of and leverages infrastructure that supports
active ways of getting around in urban areas. “Communities big and large are
now investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Their efforts are
reshaping destinations across the globe, and have the potential to benefit
people of all income brackets, as biking provides mobility for those needing or
wanting a less expensive alternative to automobile ownership, maintenance and
use,” the report states.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The report, written by ULI Senior Vice President Rachel
MacCleery and ULI Senior Resident Fellow Edward McMahon, examines the impact of
the growing interest in active transportation on economic development, public
health, air quality, community design and real estate design and investment.
“At its core, the bicycle boom is about people choosing a lifestyle that gives
them more options and requires less dependence on motor vehicles,” it says.
“Through supporting bike infrastructure, real estate professionals can play a
significant role in creating healthier, more sustainable communities. They can
also help position their projects and communities in a marketplace that
increasingly values active transportation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The report, written by ULI Senior Vice President Rachel
MacCleery and ULI Senior Resident Fellow Edward McMahon, examines the impact of
the growing interest in active transportation on economic development, public
health, air quality, community design and real estate design and investment.
“At its core, the bicycle boom is about people choosing a lifestyle that gives
them more options and requires less dependence on motor vehicles,” it says.
“Through supporting bike infrastructure, real estate professionals can play a
significant role in creating healthier, more sustainable communities. They can
also help position their projects and communities in a marketplace that
increasingly values active transportation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ten real estate developments projects are profiled: <b>Bici
Flats</b>, a multifamily development in Des Moines, Iowa; <b>Circa</b> (multifamily)
in Indianapolis; <b>Flats at Bethesda Avenue</b> (mixed-use),
Bethesda, Maryland; <b>Gotham West</b> (mixed-use), New York
City; <b>Hassalo on Eighth</b> (mixed-use), Portland, Oregon;<b>MoZaic</b> (mixed-use),
Minneapolis; <b>Ponce City Market</b> (mixed-use), Atlanta;<b>Silver
Moon Lodge</b> (mixed-use), Albuquerque, New Mexico; <b>250
City Road</b> (mixed-use), London; and <b>Westwood Residences</b> (multifamily)
in Singapore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Amenities in the projects include bike storage; extra-wide
hallways and bike elevators; a bike repair room; bike cleaning stations; a bike
valet; shower and/or locker room facilities; bike parts or a mechanic on site;
on-site bike rentals or a bike-share system; a bike park-and-ride system, and
direct access to trails.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The projects show that “leading development practitioners
are recognizing the competitive advantage of investing in active transportation
amenities,” the report states. “By leveraging and enhancing access to walking
and bicycling facilities, they are helping to initiate a win-win cycle of
mutually reinforcing private and public sector investment in active
transportation in communities around the world.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Active Transportation</i> <i>and Real Estate</i> also
profiles five catalytic active transportation infrastructure investments, such
as trails, bike lane networks and bike-sharing systems, which have supported
real estate development opportunities. Infrastructure projects profiled are: <b>The
Circuit Trails,</b> an off-road trail system winding throughout Greater
Philadelphia; <b>cycle superhighways</b> in Copenhagen and London; <b>Midtown
Greenway</b> in Minneapolis; and <b>bike-sharing</b> <b>systems</b> in
Paris, Montreal, and Hangzhou, China.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shared themes among the projects include:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="square">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Active
transportation infrastructure can catalyze real estate development</b> —
Trails, bike lanes and bike sharing systems can improve pedestrian and
cyclist access to centers of employment, recreational destinations and
public transit, as a result boosting the appeal of development near the
infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Active
transportation systems encourage healthier lifestyles</b> –
Convenient access to active transportation systems makes the healthy
choice the easy choice, helping to improve the fitness and overall
well-being of community residents.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>Investments
in trails, bike lanes and bicycle-sharing systems have high levels of
return on investment</b> — Regions and cities have found that relatively
small investments in active transportation can yield high economic
returns, due to improved health and environmental outcomes.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>There
is evidence of a correlation between access to active transportation
facilities and increased property values</b> – In urban and suburban
markets, studies have shown that direct access to trails, bike-sharing
systems and bike lanes can have a positive impact on property values.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><b>There
is a reciprocal relationship between the private and public sectors in
terms of maximizing investments in active transportation</b> –
Developers are benefiting from access to sought-after locations that are
close to publicly financed active transportation routes; but they are also
making direct investments in active transportation by helping to finance
improvements to the systems.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The report points to evidence indicating that proximity to
bike trails raises property values. For instance, the value of properties
within a block of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail have soared nearly 150
percent since the trail’s opening in 2008; and the value of properties near the
Katy Trail in Dallas have increased 80 percent. Homes close to Atlanta’s
BeltLine have started selling within 24 hours; before the trail project began,
homes in the same area stayed on the market for two to three months. And in
Minneapolis, every quarter-mile of proximity to an off-street bike facility
raises the value of a home by an additional $510.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">The study also cites examples of the positive impact of
bicycle access on commercial and economic development. In New York City’s Time
Square, building rents rose more than 70 percent following the addition of bike
lanes in 2010; in both Salt Lake City and San Francisco, the replacement of
some street parking with protected bike lanes along specific corridors resulted
in higher retail sales in those areas. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australia, the
government concluded that building 124 miles of bikeways would generate more
than $350 million (US dollars) in economic benefits.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In terms of health and wellness benefits, the report points
to savings of $103 million (US dollars) in Sydney due to the increase in bike
trips and reduced traffic congestion. Also, in Philadelphia, a 2011 study found
that residents’ use of biking trail system avoids $199 million per year in
direct medical costs and $596 million in indirect costs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The increase in trail-oriented development “is indicative of
a worldwide trend of civic and private sector investment in active
transportation facilities, and the growing demand for walkable and bikeable
places,” the report says.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Active Transportation and Real Estate</i> was
published as part of ULI’s <b><a href="http://uli.org/research/centers-initiatives/building-healthy-places-initiative/" target="_blank">Building Healthy Places initiative</a></b>, which seeks to
leverage the power of ULI’s global networks to shape projects and places in
ways that improve the health of people and communities. The report was made
possible with support from the Colorado Health Foundation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In addition to the Foundation’s support, the Randall Lewis
Health Policy Fellowship Program provided research assistance for the report.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Article originally posted here: <a href="http://triangle.uli.org/press-releases/trail-oriented-development-new-uli-report-looks-projects-tailored-prefer-cycling-walking-driving/" target="_blank">Trail-Oriented Development: New ULI Report Looks at
Projects Tailored to Those Who Prefer Cycling and Walking Over Driving</a></div>
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<i>Artile written by Richard Cox and posted on March 29, 2016 at <a href="http://triangle.uli.org/" target="_blank">ULI Triangle News</a>. </i></div>
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<a href="http://uli.org/wp-content/uploads/ULI-Documents/Active-Transportation-and-Real-Estate-The-Next-Frontier.pdf" target="_blank">Full Report Here (Active Transportation & Real Estate) The
Next Frontier</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Paul Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04826568773463733309noreply@blogger.com0