Wake BRT: Western Blvd. Corridor Study
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TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) PRECEDENT BOOK CITY OF RALEIGH DECEMBER 2020 CITY OF RALEIGH TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) PRECEDENT BOOK DECEMBER 2020 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Transit-Oriented Development Precedent Book was prepared by WSP USA, on behalf of the City Planning Department and through a collaborative process. RALEIGH TOD PRECEDENT BOOK INTRODUCTION The TOD Precedent Book (the book) builds on the ETOD Guidebook and provides guidance to developers who want to participate in the dynamic evolution of Raleigh’s BRT corridors. Transit-oriented development (TOD) INTRODUCTION offers unique advantages to developers but is not without challenges. For this reason, this book focuses on lessons learned. This book explains 1 why TOD locations enjoy more market demand than auto-dependent locations, and describes critical factors for market-based success and opportunities to apply Equitable TOD principles. Lessons learned have been derived from TOD case studies and literature. Case studies Raleigh is the fastest-growing city in North Carolina and one of the selected capture places where original conditions are similar in context fastest-growing regions in America. With a population of more than to the BRT Corridors of Wake County. The lessons learned consider how 470,000 in 2018, Raleigh (the City) is expected to reach 600,000 TOD development came to be, and describe important features for by 2030. As Raleigh and Wake County continues to grow, traffic economic feasibility and community benefits. congestion will also increase. Recognizing the role of transit in serving the needs of a growing population, Wake County voters approved a plan in November 2016 for focused investment in public transit, which includes building approximately 20 miles of Bus Rapid Transit BRT and TOD (BRT) lines. Increasingly, Wake County's BRT corridors will be conduits While TOD has been traditionally associated with rail transit, Bus of economic and community activity – as BRT and transit-oriented Rapid Transit (BRT) is in a position to lead the next frontier of development connect a complementary mix of homes, jobs, and transportation systems, primarily due to its relatively low cost-to- other destinations with fast reliable affordable transportation. benefit ratio and ability to provide service at levels comparable to other fixed guideway systems. The City published the Equitable Transit-oriented development (ETOD) Guidebook in 2020, which outlines a path for planning future The Cleveland Health Line has often been credited as one of growth around transit with an emphasis on equity and affordability. the most successful BRT systems in the country, having spun off Once implemented, BRT will connect Raleigh residents to jobs, approximately $9.5B in private and institutional development housing options, education, health care, and other needs, with within walking distance of the corridor. When planning for TOD reliable speed and without a car. The ETOD Guidebook recognizes around BRT stations, there are additional considerations that should the significant economic, social and environmental benefits of be taken into account - mostly due to the zone of influence and building near BRT, provides a vision for sustainable growth and perceptions of bus-based systems on market demand. A BRT is accompanied by a “Policy Toolkit” to encourage ETOD. The Station with a similar context and market demand will generally Guidebook recommends public policies and investments to attract support a similar amount of development as a rail station. private investment with zoning incentives, financing tools, and housing affordability programs to advance equitable development. By focusing on considerations associated with private investment, this book complements the public actions described in the Policy Toolkit with lessons learned to assist developers who may not be familiar with TOD. 2 RALEIGH TOD PRECEDENT BOOK 3 INTRODUCTION HOW TO USE THIS BOOK TOD Precedent Book This book includes lessons learned from successfully built TODs to The Precedent Book was prepared to support the development assist those who are interested in development along Wake County community interested in pursuing opportunities for TOD around BRT Corridors. Key components of this Precedent Book are organized the Wake County BRT Corridors. into five sections: Introduction 1. Introduction 2. Why Invest in TOD? 3. What are the Types of TOD? WHY Invest in TOD ? ........................................................6 • Strong Market Demand 4. How to Successfully Build TOD • Development Yield and Diversification 5. Case Studies • Policy Incentives WHAT Are the Types of TOD ? ............................12 • Station Area Types • Types of TOD Opportunities • Site Size HOW To Successfully Build TOD ................14 • TOD Lessons Learned Case Studies ..............................................................31 4 RALEIGH TOD PRECEDENT BOOK 5 why INVest IN TOD 2 WHY INVEST IN TOD? TOD real estate investments offer advantages when compared with A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD auto-reliant locations. TODs offer convenient local access to daily activities, such as getting groceries, walking to school, and enjoying parks. Local destinations bring STRONG MARKET DEMAND “location-efficient” value to the homes and jobs that are within walking Differences in real estate value are often explained with a simple distance. In Raleigh and throughout the country, real estate markets adage: “location, location, location.” This is especially true in the case show higher demand for residential and employment districts that offer of TODs, where location demand can be thought of in three different shops, services and amenities. Walk-to conveniences add value and ways: reduce use of private cars and average driving distance when they are used, in addition to providing health and environmental benefits from reduced vehicle emissions and miles traveled. EASY REGIONAL ACCESS When choosing where to locate, residents and business people want COMMUNITY-CENTERED LIFESTYLE to get what they need with relative ease. The market places greater value on locations with greater travel options and reduced travel TOD's value-add is more than better regional and local access. TODs costs – as measured in time and money – especially for trips to central mix residential uses and employment with commercial conveniences, business districts and employment-focused activity centers. Reduced recreational open space, and other community amenities. TOD planning travel costs also enhance affordability in TODs. and design creates a whole community where many if not most activities take place close to home or work. As the nation’s metropolitan areas continue to grow, real estate demand will continue to rise for locations that offer convenience, TODs stress pedestrian-friendly routes to encourage car-free transit and save money, and enhance quality of life. For Raleigh, Wake County’s local trips, and the quality of walking environments adds value in and Transit Investment Strategy Report (2016) found that congestion of itself. The “2013 Community Performance Survey” from the National along major corridors can be expected to worsen significantly and Association of REALTORS® showed 60 percent of respondents favored will lead to growing demand for fast reliable alternatives to car travel. diverse, walkable communities that are closer to employment. Through urban design and land use mix, TODs are more attractive to home- As transit service increases travel options for residents and buyers, renters, and employers, than developments that segregate land employees, it reduces travel costs for trips to the central business uses and rely on private cars for most trips. district and regional destinations – and market demand increases. 6 RALEIGH TOD PRECEDENT BOOK 7 why INVest IN TOD HIGHER DEVELOPMENT YIELDS TODs are generally more compact than auto-reliant developments, and FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING DEMANDS with a greater intensity and diversity of use within a walkable district, that can result in higher returns on investment and a wider range of real TODs will have residential and commercial uses, which can also be estate products. thought of as real estate “products.” Residential products may include a mix of apartments, townhouses, and detached single-family home products, and of which each may appeal to different type of household COMPACT DEVELOPMENT in terms of tenure, size, and affordability. Commercial uses may include High market demand for and limited supply of TODs justify investments office buildings, research and development, lodging, entertainment, and of higher residential density and higher commercial intensity than retail. auto-reliant locations. In Raleigh, zoning recommendations allow for and encourage more residential density and commercial intensity Developers can use TOD’s mixed-use platform to their advantage. For in exchange for housing affordability and/or transit-accessible jobs. example, day care and restaurants may be more successful near office Specifically, the TOD Overlay includes an “affordability bonus,” which buildings, and office buildings near day care and restaurants may have would allow additional building height in exchange for affordable lower vacancy rates. Such synergies can translate into more market housing units, and an "employment bonus" that allows more building demand and investor interest. height for job-generating uses. In larger TOD projects where there is a greater mix of uses and independent development parcels, product