Date Archives April 2005

57th District House of Delegates race

I had the opportunity this afternoon to hear David Toscano, Kim Tingley and Rich Collins speak today at CAAR…. Kim Tingley is the newcomer and Rich Collins is a newcomer to the “running for office” landscape, but a brilliant person – I would love to take or audit one of his classes…. This seat is an unenviable position – seemingly endless needs – transportation, education, economic growth, growth – with very little money to go around. I like and appreciate ideologues; heck I happen to play one myself at times, but the political landscape is so unforgiving tow ideologues I wonder whether one could actually accomplish anything.

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And then there’s this –

“Of Course, There’s No Bubble”: “We’re still getting started,” says real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, who has advice about buying, selling, and hot spots across the U.S. This part is interesting – Q: Any advice for sellers?… The one thing: If you want to be overpaid, underprice by 10% and see what happens…. Only 1 in 10 people maybe has that chutzpah, but it works again and again and again…. Over and over again, people say, “I’ll give you the higher price, but I need five days.”

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Real Estate’s high P/E ratios

A Canadian take – Merrill Lynch’s David Rosenberg has been a housing bear for some time and you wouldn’t look like a genius following his advice. Prices in the United States and Canada keep going up, no matter what the economist says…. Just because the housing bubble “hasn’t burst, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” he told Barron’s…. The bubble talk is everywhere!

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Expert offers ideas to help U.S. 29

DailyProgress.com | Expert offers ideas to help U.S. 29: Most view the community’s primary transportation artery as a necessary evil. While U.S. 29 is frequently the most efficient route through the area, few relish their treks along the busy road. “There’s not much community pride in [U.S. 29],” Mike McGown, incoming chairman of the North Charlottesville Business Council, said at the council’s spring luncheon…. When questioned on how the “road diets” and “villages” would work on a major thoroughfare that moves much commuter traffic through the Lynchburg to Washington corridor, Burden suggested the “passing through” traffic be given other road options.

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Fewer lanes = better traffic flow?

First With Local News AM 1070 WINA Charlottesville: A community planner says you can move traffic quicker with fewer lanes…. Burden says reducing lanes can actually move traffic more efficiently. He says when you take a lane away and put a turn lane in the center, it moves just as much traffic in a safer manner and it’s easier for pedestrians. Burden says speed limits along these roads are set by the prudent driver, not the imprudent driver, and therefore the speed comes down.

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