What happens when SimCity falls in the wrong hands
They want to build a light rail system through my neighborhood. The sales pitch is pretty good. Probably too good to be true.
My neighborhood is a block or so away from the Appleway Avenue simulation. That simulation shows the neighborhood as it is today. Appleway runs right along the back of University city, A nearly abandoned shopping mall. They show a simulation of the effect that mass transit is going to have on University city.
I am suspecting that there is similar propaganda out there for the Appleway-Sprague couplet. They converted Sprague avenue to a one way street a few years ago, and installed Appleway Avenue. The couplet does make it easier to get around the valley, but it certainly has not lead to an economic boom.
I don't necessarily oppose the light rail, or transit. I just think that we should be realistic about it. The mass transit system will be really good for downtown Spokane. It will likely increase the property value in the immediate vicinity of the rail system. (Hey that is me) It will not impact the aesthetic properties of the neighborhood however. I don't believe that property owners are going to be inclined to put in a massive park in the middle of their property.
Trains don't make trees magically appear on the side of every road. Take a look at the Napa simulation, and it is obvious that that is what they are inferring.
