Wasn't there a law in Portland until recently that...I forget the specifics...every new construction had to have some money earmarked in its budget for some community purposes or something? I understand monetary inavaility (I'm bloody broke myself) but developers should be enticed to help the neighborhood in general, rather than just putting up gated silver towers: Republican ivory towers, they are...

But putting a clause into zoning code that any developer planning on devoloping a high-density space greather than, oh say 10 acres or 20,000 sq. ft. (at random) to earmark not more than 1% of their construction budget to the effect that they would increase pedestrian access to their building, plant trees around it, and refurbish any stretch of rail currently abandoned for tram/light rail purposes immediately adjoining their property for mass transit purposes would certainly require some political pressure, and no matter how much it may help them in the long run, big development will oppose it...

But that's where I think the money should come from...

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