3 ms·

It seems very silly to me that people want to bulldoze Coyote Valley in the name of housing when "downtown" Mountain View, flanking a mainline commuter railroad

It seems very silly to me that people want to bulldoze Coyote Valley in the name of housing when "downtown" Mountain View, flanking a mainline commuter railroad, consists entirely of single-story buildings and parking lots. There are many, many, MANY opportunities around the Bay to replace wasteful developments with real ones. Just look at the grotesque waste of the Blossom Hill Caltrain area. It's strip malls, parking, and sprawl for miles. If you go further out, you'll get more of the same.

mc32 12y ago
Quite right. I think the whole Camino Real strip from San Jose to Daly city could be turned into a high density corridor with subway line running below (or above) connecting SF to SJ and all the new downtowns in between. Like a really long Van Ness going down the peninsula. Old timers could keep their quaint towns --whatever, but at least allow a modern city corridor down The Camino with good density and the accompanying amenities (design it with self-reliance in mind so as not to incite needless driving). The thing that irks me most is the anti building anti progress contingent which aims to keep the whole of the bay area preserved as it was in 1964. Look at China Japan Singapore Holland get a clue learn to change with the times
- bjones22 12y ago
  I think there is something to be said about the quality of life in these individual cities. From San Jose through Carlmont, Burlingame etc., each city already has a large amount of development and more importantly, are residential neighborhoods containing schools, parks, and the like. There are already very large amounts of traffic congestion at certain points (currently have Ralston and Hillsdale in my mind), and near the various high schools in the area. I'm not saying we shouldn't strive for better infrastructure and development planning but the Camino Real strip is not the low hanging fruit in my opinion.
  - mc32 12y ago
    The thing is lots of those towns cry foul when someone wants to introduce development. It's virtually a crime. But if you could make the corridor self sustaining with a good efficient transit line up and down the corridor -- that would be my dream. In reality it's going to be piecemeal with old timers kicking and screaming at every occasion.
- Animats 12y ago
  Quite right. I think the whole Camino Real strip from San Jose to Daly city could be turned into a high density corridor Redwood City is doing that. Check out the huge new buildings next to the railroad tracks. Besides, this boom is probably temporary. Social and apps have probably peaked.
  - mc32 12y ago
    It may have but there is still too little housing stock for the current pop. In addition there are lots of old units which should leave the market... But this market is taking anything and everything available.
  - jonny_eh 12y ago
    Just like how chips peaked and telecom peaked? There's always a next technology, and odds are it'll be worked on in the Bay Area. It's where the money and talent is concentrated.

mc32 12y ago

Quite right. I think the whole Camino Real strip from San Jose to Daly city could be turned into a high density corridor with subway line running below (or above) connecting SF to SJ and all the new downtowns in between. Like a really long Van Ness going down the peninsula. Old timers could keep their quaint towns --whatever, but at least allow a modern city corridor down The Camino with good density and the accompanying amenities (design it with self-reliance in mind so as not to incite needless driving). The thing that irks me most is the anti building anti progress contingent which aims to keep the whole of the bay area preserved as it was in 1964. Look at China Japan Singapore Holland get a clue learn to change with the times

bjones22 12y ago
I think there is something to be said about the quality of life in these individual cities. From San Jose through Carlmont, Burlingame etc., each city already has a large amount of development and more importantly, are residential neighborhoods containing schools, parks, and the like. There are already very large amounts of traffic congestion at certain points (currently have Ralston and Hillsdale in my mind), and near the various high schools in the area. I'm not saying we shouldn't strive for better infrastructure and development planning but the Camino Real strip is not the low hanging fruit in my opinion.
- mc32 12y ago
  The thing is lots of those towns cry foul when someone wants to introduce development. It's virtually a crime. But if you could make the corridor self sustaining with a good efficient transit line up and down the corridor -- that would be my dream. In reality it's going to be piecemeal with old timers kicking and screaming at every occasion.
Animats 12y ago
Quite right. I think the whole Camino Real strip from San Jose to Daly city could be turned into a high density corridor Redwood City is doing that. Check out the huge new buildings next to the railroad tracks. Besides, this boom is probably temporary. Social and apps have probably peaked.
- mc32 12y ago
  It may have but there is still too little housing stock for the current pop. In addition there are lots of old units which should leave the market... But this market is taking anything and everything available.
- jonny_eh 12y ago
  Just like how chips peaked and telecom peaked? There's always a next technology, and odds are it'll be worked on in the Bay Area. It's where the money and talent is concentrated.