How Much is Upzoning Worth?

"Upzoning" -- changing zoning laws to allow taller buildings and greater population density -- creates a windfall gain for landowners in high-value areas when the regulatory barrier is removed, and cities can capture some of that (by selling development rights at or near market prices) to defray the costs of the transit infrastructure that makes the higher-density development feasible.

Source: U.S. News.

How much is upzoning worth? A lot. Different stories about different places reveal just how much. Some cities are quicker to recognize that value and take advantage of it for the benefit of the city as a whole, not just the owner of the property that's upzoned. Some cities are a little slower on the uptake. And then we get to Richardson.

The Glorious Fourth

From 2015 07 04 Breckinridge Park

It was our first trip back to Breckinridge Park since 2012 for Richardson's "Family 4th Celebration" and it was even bigger and better than the last time. The fireworks were preceded by a patriotic concert by the always entertaining Richardson Community Band. We sat right down by the lake for the closest and best view of the fireworks, including the reflections in the water.

From 2015 07 04 Breckinridge Park

More after the jump.

OTBR: A Broken Stone Fence in Australia

Latitude: S 37° 34.422
Longitude: E 145° 07.176

A child on a road trip with his family asks, "Where are we?" and the father answers, "Let's check the map. We're off the blue roads [the Interstate Highways marked in blue on the road atlas]. We're off the red roads [the US and state highways]. We're off the black roads [the county highways]. I think we're off the map altogether." It was always my dream to be off the map altogether.

After the jump, a few of the random places (and I mean random literally) that I visited vicariously last month that are "off the blue roads".

Into the Woods (2014)

IMDB

Into the Woods (2014): Musical mashup of fairy tales. By the numbers. Who is target audience? Kids? Adults? Maybe Stephen Sondheim fans. C-

POTD: Cambodia Online

From 2015 03 18 Siem Reap

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Siem Reap, Cambodia. It suggests why much of the developing world is going straight to cell phones for their first telephone service, leap-frogging landline telephones. Too bad that's not possible for getting electricity service.

Repeat Tweets: Our Sophomoric State Senator

Repeat tweets from June, 2015:

• Jun 1 2015: RT @KonniBurton: "No longer Freshmen!" Now merely sophomoric. @DonHuffines
  
• Jun 1 2015: Headline: "RISD school bus involved in chase, recovered in Louisiana." Yikes! kltv.com
  
• Jun 2 2015: Headline: "Ratliff not seeking re-election to SBOE next year." No! Please don't let Creationist Don McLeroy back in. trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com
  
• Jun 7 2015: Is there a way the NBA could redesign their product so that bad officiating isn't an inherent part of the game? Or do they just don't care?
  
• Jun 8 2015: "The most informed voters are often the most badly misled." Why "citizens' town hall" meetings" will lead you astray. vox.com
  

After the jump, more repeat tweets.

City Council's Take on Charter Amendments

The commission appointed by the Richardson City Council to review the city charter made numerous recommendations for charter amendments. By their own estimation, it may take fifty ballot propositions to address them all.

On June 22, the council deliberated what to do with those recommendations. Twice, I discussed those deliberations regarding one particular recommendation (filling a single vacancy on the council by appointment instead of a special election). Today, I want to talk about the council's take on all the other recommendations made by the commission.