AntiRust

Urban Planning: When Hip and Groovy Becomes a Death Knell

So urban planners have been spending kajillions to "revitalize" downtowns across the country for decades. Well, now there's another idea that did the exact opposite of what they promised. This time it's "skywalks" and tunnels that supposedly allowed pedestrians to walk, shop and otherwise cavort in hip, urban fashion. From the NYT (emphasis mine):

They were dreamed up in a fit of 1960's urban renewal - a development guru's idea for making downtown Cincinnati easier to navigate and easier to enjoy. The city erected a small network of second-story bridges that spanned the streets and linked offices and hotels, allowing people to stroll through downtown without stepping onto the sidewalk.

Two dozen cities across the country pursued similar plans over the last 30 years, building skywalks and underground retail catacombs to keep businesses and stores from fleeing to suburbs and shopping malls. They ensconced shoppers and office workers in well-lighted, climate-controlled environments and insulated them from crime, cold and urban blight.

But now, many of these cities are gripped with builders' remorse. They say the skyways and tunnels have choked off pedestrian traffic, hurt street-level retailers and limited development in the city core.

"The skywalks were not the best-developed scheme in recent history and have not served us all that well," said Jim Tarbell, a Cincinnati councilman.

And now, as cities try to draw residents downtown with loft conversions and tax incentives, several are trying to divert pedestrians back to the street and do away with the walkways. Critics say the walkways are too antiseptic and too controlled and have transformed cities into places to pass through, not live in.

"If I could take a cement mixer and pour cement in and clog up the tunnels, I would do it today," said Laura Miller, the mayor of Dallas, referring to the city's tunnels. "It was the worst urban planning decision that Dallas has ever made. They thought it was hip and groovy to create an underground community, but it was a death knell."

They thought it was "hip and groovy." Sound familiar? I wish someone would ask an urban planner, just what was "the best-developed scheme in recent history"? I suspect the ones up on the latest trends would point to "loft conversions and tax incentives" to "draw residents downtown."

Until another 30 years passes and someone proposes filling the lofts with concrete, too. By that time they'll have another scheme.

Transportation Pork: New York Rep. makes a $100 Million Boo Boo

The Trib's Bill Steigerwald slammed federal transportation pork on July 31. He was right on all counts. Unfortunately, it came a few days too early to include the latest tragi-comedy on wheels.

The New York Times is reporting today that the largest single item for New York in the federal transportation monstrosity is $100 million for a tunnel that nobody wants. Ok. Hardly anybody. Still, you know it's bad when Nurse Bloomburg refuses to hitch his car to the federal gravy train.

This is a case study in what's wrong with government.

Crony Capitalism Taken to Task in PA and MD

People who extol the efficiency and morality free markets face a constant problem: Many of the politicians who claim to be on their side really just support another kind of welfare. Corporate welfare. It is frustrating, because real capitalism has nothing to do with the corrupted Crony Capitalism that infects both major American parties.

I was encouraged to see that argument in two very different newspapers over the past few days. Check out this editorial from yesterday's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review slamming Harrisburg's decision to shower subsidies on the very successful Dick's Sporting Goods. Here's part of the argument:

Ed Stack, Dick's CEO, accepted the $2 million opportunity grant, $2.1 million in job creation tax credits, $500,000 in customized training grants, $1.25 million in infrastructure development program grants and $5 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

This is in addition to the state's job creation and opportunity grants exceeding $600,000 given to Mr. Stack's company a few months ago.

Never mind that Article VIII, Section 8, of the Pennsylvania Constitution explicitly prohibits the commonwealth from pledging or lending its credit "to any individual, company, corporation or association."

Politicians cannot use taxpayer dollars to reward those they favor. Government must ensure a level playing field instead of tilting it toward the rich and powerful insiders.

Now check out this column from Jay Hancock in today's Baltimore Sun.

THE MARYLAND Constitution seems rather clear on corporate welfare. "The credit of the State," it says, "shall not in any manner be given, or loaned to, or in aid of any individual association or corporation."

No mixing government and business, in other words. No public debt to aid private investors. No government borrowing or loan guarantees, at least in the very narrowest interpretation, for nongovernment corporations.

These days, of course, Maryland economic development officials use your tax dollars to run their own little merchant bank - a portfolio of loans and other business financing worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This week Baltimore officials took a big step toward underwriting a $305 million loan for a privately run convention center hotel.

Is the Cato Institute just getting better at distributing talking points, or are people just waking up to the corporate shakedown? Either way, this is a step in the right direction. Capitalism is a powerful system, and people who think it works need to be vigilant about policing its integrity. So kudos to the Tribune-Review, the Baltimore Sun and Mr. Hancock.

Last Baseball Post for a While. Promise.

Some thoughts on the Erie Times-News story linked in the previous post. First, doesn’t this quote make it seem like maybe, just maybe, this stadium was a white elephant from the very get-go:

The plan was developed with substantial input from James Walczak, an Erie lawyer who was instrumental in the construction of Uht Park and bringing the SeaWolves to town in the mid-1990s. Walczak said he has been pushing for such upgrades since Mandalay bought the SeaWolves in 2003.

At the time, Mandalay quickly set goals of increased attendance and improved corporate sponsorship. Mandalay also developed a list of desired upgrades for Uht Park that included the improvements DiVecchio and Sinnott are pushing for.

"This is terrific. There's no other way to put it," Walczak said of the proposal. "Everything in the right field of Jerry Uht Park is going to be improved. We think that the $4 million will be enough to essentially do what we wanted to do to Jerry Uht Park in the first place."

So why didn’t you build it that way in the first place?

Walczak said the upgrades would help boost revenues at the ballpark.

He estimated advertising revenue alone "could triple" because of the new scoreboard, and that additional concessions and the picnic area would bring more fans and group events to the park.

"We have the smallest facility in the Eastern League, with the fewest amenities," Walczak said. "To be competitive, to show good faith, we have to make these improvements to strengthen our ability to negotiate with Mandalay, or another team if the SeaWolves do leave."

Sinnott and DiVecchio said baseball is a key to Erie's ongoing effort to revitalize the downtown as a cultural and entertainment district. The region is seeking state grants for that effort, and DiVecchio said the $4 million could be considered a local match for any state money awarded in the future.

State Sen. Jane Earll of Fairview, R-49th Dist., agreed with that rationale.

"One of the things that the state looks at is significant community support and community resources," Earll said. "If it's something important to the community, they want to see that commitment."

Or will the state demand even more matching funds, which will require the city and county to pour even more into it? Discuss among yourselves.

Dale McBrier, DiVecchio's Republican opponent in the county executive race, said the proposal is a good idea. "I support the county getting involved," McBrier said.

The plan appears to have been hatched without input from County Executive Rick Schenker or Mayor Rick Filippi, both of whom will leave office in January.

Neither Schenker nor Filippi could be reached for comment. Filippi's top aide, Tina Mengine, said "no one discussed anything with us."

"So I can't comment specifically, but I do think it's important we do everything we can to keep the SeaWolves," Mengine said. "It's an important commodity for the community."

Mandalay officials could not be reached for comment Monday. In a previous interview, Mandalay spokesman Kevin Mortesen would not confirm the Massachusetts talks, and denied a deal is in place to move the SeaWolves.

Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan has confirmed the negotiations.

John Frey, the SeaWolves general manager, called the proposed improvements "exciting," and said Mandalay is aware of the plan. Frey said he couldn't handicap whether the improvements would sway Mandalay.

"They're a group that's been openly proactive in checking out other markets, so I don't know,"Frey said. "But this is a great step toward helping Erie's long-term baseball future."

Hmm. Seem like good people to do business with. Can’t imagine them casting about for a better deal in the future. And what was that supporters of the new plan said a few paragraphs higher? Something about the $4 million being enough to make all the necessary improvements? Can’t imagine anyone questioning their judgment. Except, er… what was that about the white elephant again?

Jake Rouch, chief executive of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, said $4 million wouldn't be enough to do all the upgrades needed at Uht Park.

"But this is how you get the ball rolling and get people energized, by being creative,"Rouch said. "Holyoke's (relocation talks) caught everybody flat-footed. But now people are stepping up."

Bollocks.

Baseball Shakedown on the Lake

You can find four million reasons to hate the intersection of municipal politics and professional sports here.

Erie Baseball Update

There seems to be some movement in Erie's quest to retain its AA Seawolves franchise--the one that Holyoke, Mass. is trying to lure away with a $110 million development deal. That's right. $110 million. For an AA team.

Cash-strapped Erie is nothing if not determined, however. An astute reader who goes by the name Nemo has forwarded word that the city is considering a $4 million deal. (Read the post for a bit of context, or just scroll down to Nemo's comment). I will not be able to verify until later. In the meantime,  for a look at the kind of job Erie does at promoting a different sport, go here. 

A Convention-Center Critic Comes to Pittsburgh

Bill Steigerwald had a provocative Q & A with Joel Kotkin in yesterday's Trib. Kotkin has emerged as a vocal critic of former CMU Professor Richard Florida's idea of saving cities by attracting hip, urban members of the "creative class." People who support things like convention centers and luxury hotels will not appreciate Kotkin's take on things:

Unfortunately, many cities are adopting policies that are counterproductive in the long term. In a way they are trying to get a sugar high -- the whole convention center stupidity, and the luxury hotels and the performing arts centers.

Kotkin will be speaking in Pittsburgh on August 11. It should be quite a show. The Allegheny Institute is sponsoring the luncheon event, which will be held at the Pittsburgh Athletic Center in Oakland. More info here.

(Lucky for Steigerwald, the subjects for his  Q & A sessions have taken a turn for the better. Check out this dude. Yes. Shameless.)

An Interesting Dude and a Book Review Hit Pittsburgh

The Post-Gazette ran a review of my book the other day, which is excellent news. The Allegheny National Forest is a wonderful place in the throes of some pretty heavy economic and environmental turmoil. Seeing that it's only two-and-a-half hours from Pittsburgh, at least a few people ought to be interested.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that the review is available on the PG's website. That might have something to do with the fact that it was a reprint from the Philly Inquirer. Which is fine with me. It was a pretty positive review. It has appeared in a few papers, including Charlotte's.

The PG has run something of interest to people who know the forest, however. Seems that Jim Kleissler, the fellow who ran the zero-cut activist group that has been suing to stop logging on the Allegheny for the past decade, has now set up shop in Pittsburgh. He'll be running the Merton Center. Check him out. And check out the Merton Center. According to its website:

We are people from diverse philosophies and faiths who find common ground in the nonviolent struggle to bring about a more peaceful and just world.  We work to raise the moral questions involved in the issues of war, poverty, racism, and oppression.

You can read more about Kleissler, ahem, in the book. Or just keep checking out the paper. He's an interesting guy. And you'll be hearing a lot about him, I suspect.