Assessing 2012 Appraisal Land Values in Relation to Transit Hubs
In 2012, the neighborhood of beacon hill was named one of America’s “Great Places” by the American Planning Association. This title is given to places or neighborhoods with superb planning and community impact, looking at aspects such as community form,
composition, character, and environment. This accolade would not have been possible without the increased development beacon hill has experienced over the course of the last decade. This project analyzes the impact of one of the biggest infrastructural changes Beacon Hill – and Seattle – has seen in its entire history: the introduction of the Sound Transit Light Rail. The Beacon Hill station was completed in 2009 and is the first station out of the urban/industrial core of Seattle. Its unique location makes it an interesting site to study.
Studies have shown that the introduction of light rail in various cities in North America provide mixed results in terms of economic development. However, a study performed in Hamilton, Ontario – a port city of similar size to Seattle – found that “there is a strong
positive connection between LRT and land values, even in the pre-construction phase of the transit system.”
Our prior fieldwork in the area has shown that there are major construction projects being completed directly adjacent to the light rail station. more mixed-use buildings are popping up, creating a dramatic shift in the property usage in the area. our project aims to determine whether or not the residential area surrounding the light rail has any major impact on appraisal land value compared to other regions in the neighborhood. Our focus zones sprawled throughout beacon hill had a radii of 0.25 miles from transit
hubs, which we have identified as being “walkable.”
composition, character, and environment. This accolade would not have been possible without the increased development beacon hill has experienced over the course of the last decade. This project analyzes the impact of one of the biggest infrastructural changes Beacon Hill – and Seattle – has seen in its entire history: the introduction of the Sound Transit Light Rail. The Beacon Hill station was completed in 2009 and is the first station out of the urban/industrial core of Seattle. Its unique location makes it an interesting site to study.
Studies have shown that the introduction of light rail in various cities in North America provide mixed results in terms of economic development. However, a study performed in Hamilton, Ontario – a port city of similar size to Seattle – found that “there is a strong
positive connection between LRT and land values, even in the pre-construction phase of the transit system.”
Our prior fieldwork in the area has shown that there are major construction projects being completed directly adjacent to the light rail station. more mixed-use buildings are popping up, creating a dramatic shift in the property usage in the area. our project aims to determine whether or not the residential area surrounding the light rail has any major impact on appraisal land value compared to other regions in the neighborhood. Our focus zones sprawled throughout beacon hill had a radii of 0.25 miles from transit
hubs, which we have identified as being “walkable.”