Friday's Talk of the Nation included a discussion of the new "green" mega-mall in Syracuse. When the discussion turned to other city improvements, tearing down the elevated portion of I-81 was mentioned as a way to make the city move livable and raise the tax base. One of the guests referenced a study showing that the value of real estate two blocks on either side of elevated highways was significantly less valuable than other nearby property.
If this is true for elevated highways, it is probably also true for sunken ones like the Inner Loop. Raising our tax base is just one more reason to tear it up.
Comments (2)
I thought they did a study or some kind of contest a few years back about this issue in Rochester. One of the things mentioned was filling in the inner loop to create green space. So the NPR story is just catching up to something that's been in discussion (in terms of ideas).
Posted by Muzenews | May 25, 2006 3:02 PM
Posted on May 25, 2006 15:02
I agree -- I've heard a lot of talk about filling in the Inner Loop for aesthetic reasons, but the tax base doesn't usually get mentioned. Maybe most people think it's obvious and I'm just slow...
Posted by Rottenchester | May 25, 2006 3:16 PM
Posted on May 25, 2006 15:16