Great article. Writing from Massachusetts, I fully expect future analysts to realize with horror how our energy efficiency building code and other well-intentioned rules exacerbated segregation here by driving building prices up. All for meager reductions in pollution or emissions (if that) because we're merely displacing the poor.
There's an irony here, too. Building denser, walkable communities is good for the climate, but if the goal becomes "solve climate change," and we then "everything bagel" the housing with triple-platinum LEED requirements, etc., such that it is impossible to build cheaply, if at all...well, what have we done other than perpetuate the status quo?
Any thoughts on CMDA? They seem to be doing some interesting TOD work with municipalities, of course it's all opt-in, and I'm not sure any of their projects are far enough along to properly assess.
I don't have any informed thoughts on CMDA, but Connecticut is one of the most transit-rich places in the country, and the opportunity for TOD is huge. Wallingford, my hometown, has Amtrak and commuter rail connections, but its train station is surrounded by parking lots, strip malls, and warehouses. It's easy to see the potential, but I'm not sure about the local politics.
Ryan you still local? I live in Wallingford (grew up in Meriden) and I am trying to get a pro-housing group started (YIMBY Action chapter and/or similar) to focus on local action as a complement to what Desegregate CT is doing at the state level. Any interest or resources/people I should know about?
Hey Casey! I live in Austin these days, but I still have family in Wallingford. Those two groups should be able to connect you with anybody who's reached out to them. I'd also check out if there's a local Strong Towns group, since you'd likely find some interest among them.
I'm curious what kind of local action or goals you would pursue in Wallingford. I don't have a great sense of the politics or potential opportunities there.
Great article. Writing from Massachusetts, I fully expect future analysts to realize with horror how our energy efficiency building code and other well-intentioned rules exacerbated segregation here by driving building prices up. All for meager reductions in pollution or emissions (if that) because we're merely displacing the poor.
Thanks! And, yes—I think those kinds of tradeoffs are often underappreciated in the housing discourse.
It's incredibly hard to persuade people of this without appearing to be in the bag for fossil fuel interests.
There's an irony here, too. Building denser, walkable communities is good for the climate, but if the goal becomes "solve climate change," and we then "everything bagel" the housing with triple-platinum LEED requirements, etc., such that it is impossible to build cheaply, if at all...well, what have we done other than perpetuate the status quo?
Any thoughts on CMDA? They seem to be doing some interesting TOD work with municipalities, of course it's all opt-in, and I'm not sure any of their projects are far enough along to properly assess.
I don't have any informed thoughts on CMDA, but Connecticut is one of the most transit-rich places in the country, and the opportunity for TOD is huge. Wallingford, my hometown, has Amtrak and commuter rail connections, but its train station is surrounded by parking lots, strip malls, and warehouses. It's easy to see the potential, but I'm not sure about the local politics.
Ryan you still local? I live in Wallingford (grew up in Meriden) and I am trying to get a pro-housing group started (YIMBY Action chapter and/or similar) to focus on local action as a complement to what Desegregate CT is doing at the state level. Any interest or resources/people I should know about?
Hey Casey! I live in Austin these days, but I still have family in Wallingford. Those two groups should be able to connect you with anybody who's reached out to them. I'd also check out if there's a local Strong Towns group, since you'd likely find some interest among them.
I'm curious what kind of local action or goals you would pursue in Wallingford. I don't have a great sense of the politics or potential opportunities there.