Comments on: Two Interesting Stories about Crozet http://www.realcrozetva.com/2009/04/13/two-interesting-stories-about-crozet/ A community blog for Crozet, Virginia Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Jim Duncan http://www.realcrozetva.com/2009/04/13/two-interesting-stories-about-crozet/comment-page-1/#comment-26293 Jim Duncan Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:54:48 +0000 http://www.realcrozetva.com/2009/04/13/two-interesting-stories-about-crozet/#comment-26293 I'm hoping that with the Mudhouse and the Library will serve to become the hubs of Downtown Crozet ... but unless we do something to connect 250 with Downtown, they are going to remain independent - and thus driving only- of each other. <blockquote>Is urbanity a fallacy in this market? Why are we planning for it? Are there ways suburbanism can be made better that would be a better use of our planning energies?</blockquote> I'm stealing this and putting it on RealCentralVA ... I’m hoping that with the Mudhouse and the Library will serve to become the hubs of Downtown Crozet … but unless we do something to connect 250 with Downtown, they are going to remain independent – and thus driving only- of each other.

Is urbanity a fallacy in this market? Why are we planning for it? Are there ways suburbanism can be made better that would be a better use of our planning energies?

I’m stealing this and putting it on RealCentralVA …

]]> By: Chris Schooley http://www.realcrozetva.com/2009/04/13/two-interesting-stories-about-crozet/comment-page-1/#comment-25618 Chris Schooley Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:49:36 +0000 http://www.realcrozetva.com/2009/04/13/two-interesting-stories-about-crozet/#comment-25618 That Crozet image is striking, it lead me to immediately think of the mall at Short Pump, it's faux-walkable. Crozet will continue to be suburban until it has some critical mass of housing units. People drive there, they must park somewhere. Sure, there are 35 housing units within walking distance, of which maybe 10 of those residents regularly walk to Downtown Crozet. So should we continue to encourage "urban" growth in Crozet? Is there a market for urban living in Crozet? It makes me rethink urbanism in general, but commercial areas that are considered urban specifically. Sure, there is the Downtown Mall, but that is fairly concentrated. How often do people who live in Belmont walk to the Downtown Mall to buy something? Or do they just walk to avoid DUI's? I had someone refer to the area on Main Street where Rosey Brown Blvd crosses as "Midtown" the other day. Funny, yet accurate? Who walks between The Corner and Downtown? Only drinkers, if you actually plan on buying something, you drive. Say you need some paper for your office at the UVa Hospital, do you walk to Staples? Nope. The Corner, Midtown, Downtown, Belmont....all independent neighborhoods? Is urbanity a fallacy in this market? Why are we planning for it? Are there ways suburbanism can be made better that would be a better use of our planning energies? That Crozet image is striking, it lead me to immediately think of the mall at Short Pump, it’s faux-walkable. Crozet will continue to be suburban until it has some critical mass of housing units. People drive there, they must park somewhere. Sure, there are 35 housing units within walking distance, of which maybe 10 of those residents regularly walk to Downtown Crozet. So should we continue to encourage “urban” growth in Crozet? Is there a market for urban living in Crozet?

It makes me rethink urbanism in general, but commercial areas that are considered urban specifically. Sure, there is the Downtown Mall, but that is fairly concentrated. How often do people who live in Belmont walk to the Downtown Mall to buy something? Or do they just walk to avoid DUI’s? I had someone refer to the area on Main Street where Rosey Brown Blvd crosses as “Midtown” the other day. Funny, yet accurate? Who walks between The Corner and Downtown? Only drinkers, if you actually plan on buying something, you drive. Say you need some paper for your office at the UVa Hospital, do you walk to Staples? Nope. The Corner, Midtown, Downtown, Belmont….all independent neighborhoods?

Is urbanity a fallacy in this market? Why are we planning for it? Are there ways suburbanism can be made better that would be a better use of our planning energies?

]]>