Category: City Government (Page 6 of 15)

Time to SpeakUP and pack the house for transit!

On Monday, June 18, supporters of the proposed Wake County transit plan will attend the Board of Commissioner’s meeting at 2:00 pm to show their support for moving forward with a public hearing and referendum on the plan.

The conservative majority is blocking public education, input and vote on the transit plan and it is bad governance.  We must hold them accountable for blocking the public’s voice on this critical public infrastructure.

Attendees and speakers are needed.  If you’d like to speak in support of the plan, please email Capital Area Friends of Transit and arrive at 1:30 to sign up.

The Commissioners meet on the 7th floor, Room 700 of the Wake County Courthouse, 335 S Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27601.

Thank you!

 

Post Contributed by Tappan Vickery: Program Coordinator / WakeUp Wake County

As a resident of Wake County, I’d like to see the mass transit plan for Wake County on the November ballot

There was an important message brought to light in the Editorial Section of the N&O this morning regarding transit for us in Raleigh / Wake County.

The Editorial references our right to vote on transit in the general election this November.  Whether you are for or against mass transit for our region, the question is shouldn’t our county commissioners give us as residents a right to vote our preference during a scheduled election?  The general elections is when most people vote.  If it’s not on the November ballot, it would then require a special vote, that typically brings a small percentage of voters to the pole.

Please read this article from the N&O this morning: Clear the way for a vote on  transit plan.

Email this message below, to your county commissioner / all the county commissioners, so your voice can be heard.

This is all you need to say . . . but you need to  say it.

As a resident of Wake County, I’d like to see the mass transit plan for Wake County on the November ballot.

Here are the email address of each county commissioner:

joe.bryan@wakegov.com, paul.coble@wakegov.com, bward@wakegov.com, james.west@wakegov.com, phil.matthews@wakegov.com, Tony.Gurley@wakegov.com, ervin.portman@wakegov.com

And, if you’re as passionate as I am about Downtown, and have one extra minute, share this post with a couple of folks… the more residents the county commissioners hear from, the better.

Author:  Ann-Cabell Baum Andersen

CityCamp Raleigh 2012 Returns to Downtown

Save the date for CityCamp Raleigh 2012: June 1, 2, and 3.

CityCamp Raleigh is three days of open sourced talks, workshops, and hands-on problem solving, to re-imagine the way the web, applications, technology, and participation will shape the future of our city.  Who should attend?  Concerned and active citizens like yourself.  Anyone with an idea on how to make Raleigh a better place to live. Youth who want to get more involved.

The planning committee is working on all the details, but attendees can expect a similar format from our first CityCamp—a day of talks on Friday afternoon, an unconference on Saturday, and teams working on solving a city-wide opportunity on Sunday.

If your are interested in sponsoring, planning, or participating in this years CityCamp Raleigh, please visit http://citycampral.org/.  We look forward to shaping the future of our city with you.  Be sure to mark your calendar for the first weekend in June when together, we will make change happen the open source way. Registration for the event will be opened in early May.

This is a guest post by Jason Hibbets, City Camp Raleigh Planning Committee

Downtown investment is key to keeping taxes down while supporting Raleigh’s population growth

Underutilized tract of land - northeast Glenwood South

Joe Minicozzi, a new projects manager of a firm which drove the revitalization of downtown Asheville has taken his show on the road, convincing other cities:

If you’ve got underutilized buildings in your downtown, do anything you can to fix them up, because that’s where your wealth comes from.

The bottom line is that per acre, high density areas have the potential to generate much more public wealth than low-density subdivisions or massive suburban malls.  Taking into consideration the revenue they bring in, downtowns cost considerably less to maintain in public services and infrastructure.

Growth in low density development works like a pyramid scheme. 

Low density development isn’t just a poor way to make property-tax revenue, it’s extremely expensive to maintain.  In fact, it could only be feasible if we’re expanding development at the periphery into eternity, forever bringing in revenue from new construction, helping to pay for the existing subdivisions we’ve already built.

It would take 600 single-family homes on a 150-acre subdivision to equal the tax base of the 30-story Wells Fargo Capitol Center downtown.  And it sits on 1.2 acres of land.

This simple math is important for residents to understand, and particularly for those still hesitant to support investments in public transit.

Transit authorities are currently holding public forums to inform residents about the Wake County Transit Plan, and to build local support for its approval.  Improved availability of public transit is a critical part of the infrastructure necessary to encourage higher density development and attract more residents to live in urban areas like downtown Raleigh.

Higher density development downtown keeps taxes low.

This is the simple message for all those who complain that the city is investing too much inside the belt line or in downtown Raleigh.

And while Raleigh has not been as hard hit as other cities, property values and their associated tax revenues have fallen.  By utilizing the economics of land use, Raleigh can continue to grow and avoid the need to raise taxes or cut city services.

 

Information included in the post taken from an article posted in the online publication from <www.theatlanticcities.com>.

The Simple Math that Can Save Cities From Bankruptcy

Enjoyed the Raleigh Home Tour in past years? Now it’s expanded into the Downtown Living Tour. Volunteer and tour for free!

Downtown Living Tour will include homes, as well as unique urban shops and restaurants offering a discount to attendees.

As in the previous eight years since the tour began, ticket holders can visit a variety of homes ranging from multi-tenant buildings to single family houses. But this year’s home tour is expanding beyond downtown dwellings to focus on the experience and benefits of urban living.

Downtown Raleigh continues to attract a diverse set of residents, who are seeking the benefits of a more urban lifestyle.  From innovative young professionals looking to more naturally collaborate and build social networks to empty nesters ready to simplify their lives and enjoy a more walkable and healthy lifestyle, downtown Raleigh is now more attractive than ever.

Ticket holders will get to better appreciate all that is for offer by touring a medley of independently-owned restaurants, unique retail shops and services offering discounts to attendees.

Walk, or take the free bus or shuttle.

The Tour is self-guided and designed to be a walking tour, but it also easy to use the free R-Line or hop on a golf cart shuttle, which will follow designated routes to several tour stops.

Tickets will be available online beginning April 9th for $10, but you can still join in for $15 on the day of event.  Want more details so you can target the homes and businesses that you’ve been wanting to explore?  Check out this website for more details about the event, check-in and parking.

Go on the Living Tour for FREE!  Be a volunteer.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance is looking for enthusiastic and energetic people to be Greeters, Hosts, and Information Guides during the event.

Perks include:

  • Free pass to the Tour (to be used before or after shift)
  • Free lunch and snacks
  • Free t-shirt
  • Invitation for you and one guest to the After Party at Spy Raleigh (immediately following the event, 5 pm-8 pm)
Over 140 volunteers are needed to support the Tour operations. Registration deadline is April 30th!

This is a chance to support downtown and have fun too.  It’s always a great day to meet new people, consider where your next move might be, or even rediscover how much you love the place where you already live.

See you then!

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