Looks like we’re finally earning out keep as the capital of the Left Coast. New York has one-upped us for too long on reappropriating unused asphalt (thanks to that pesky Janette Sadik-Khan), but San Francisco just unveiled plans for its first street pedstrianization project, at the corner of 17th and Market.

The opinion among my planner friends is that the very low volume of ped traffic on 17th makes this a less than ideal choice. But I’ll bet that it’ll pick up pretty quick, what with all the traffic between the suntanning salon and Twin Peaks bar . . . .

Credit where credit is due – even though one of our roommates works for the city, I found this on the always information Streetsblog.

Armed with a 1353 page environmental impact report that claims biking is good for environment, the city is now gearing up to proceed with much needed improvements. The public comment period ended on Jan 13, 2009 which might mean at some point this year we’ll see the beginnings of 34 miles of bike lanes, improved intersections, signage and much more.

Meanwhile, there has been talk of eliminating car traffic on Market Street, eliminating bike lanes on part of Market Street (what?), and charging all vehicle traffic in the central part of the city. Its going to be interesting to follow all of this.

In any case, the pdf version of our article is here.

I recently came across an interesting article in New Orleans’ Times-Picayune newspaper about the possibility of an urban rennaissance on the now-derelict Tulane Avenue corridor.

Well, maybe it’s not so interesting to most people, but it just so happens that Brendan and I spent a good chunk of our time working in the surrounding neighborhood in 2006, and I have to say I’m a little skeptical.  The article sort of skims over the issue, but we’re talking some serious blight that I, for one, would have to learn to ignore before considering an over-priced condo.  To wit:

The Economy Motor Lodge: well, it actually burned down a few years ago, but check out the reviews of this place.  Seriously entertaining, if it weren’t so scary.

Orleans Parish Prison: by some accounts, the largest urban jail in the entire United States.  Right outside one of those nice new plate glass windows if yours.  For real.

I guess if San Francisco’s Tenderloin can be re-dubbed “Little Saigon” anything is possible.  But still . . .