Thanks to David Speakman for sending this in.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Berryessa BART Station Analysis
SPUR has an in depth analysis of San Jose's first BART Station and provides multiple suggestions for maximizing the land use around it. Its a bit lengthy, but is definitely worth a read if you are interested in future development or urban planning. I really like the idea to create a retail park out of shipping containers right next to the station. Check out the article over here.
Thanks to David Speakman for sending this in.
Thanks to David Speakman for sending this in.
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ReplyDeleteSeriously. SJ needs to step it up and do it right this time. We really don't get many opportunities to build case examples of transit-oriented development, and the chances that we've had so far don't really cut it. While I am optimistic and hopeful that SJ is maturing and awakening from its suburban self, I have a STRONG feeling that we are gonna drop the ball again on this one. Honestly, I'm really tired of the same thing happening again and again. We create a good plan. A developer comes in and proposes a faux-smart development (kinda like what's happenin now). SJ acquiesces, and we have what we have today - a jumbled, non-integrated mess. Now, I'm not asking that we build out a mini-SF around Berryessa station. I'm just saying that there are certain facts and certain options out there that capitalize the most on a nearby transit station, and if we wish to see the most success out of this station, some things need to be done and some things need to be avoided. Let's look to the local, national, and global examples out there and emulate them to achieve success. This is our chance. Let's do it right.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good plan, my biggest concern is that VTA, San Jose and other people with the power to drive development will not push for office space near BART, which means the only people taking BART will either transfer to a shuttle at the station, or commute from the station, given the lack of jobs near transit up the East Bay, unless they end up commuting to Oakland, SF or Berkeley it will be unlikely scenario that they even would take BART everyday, so people will live close to BART so they can go to other places quicker on weekends or to the airports, not really a solution to decrease traffic in the South Bay.
ReplyDeleteIf that's ends up being the case, BART would really have to go downtown and hope that drives down office vacancy rates there to have an effect on traffic, which would be a real shame and a missed opportunity to drive jobs closer to transit.