Lev's recent activity
-
Comment on Jon Stewart returns to ‘The Daily Show’ as host in ~tv
-
Comment on The case for American single-stair multifamily in ~design
Lev Link ParentBasement units are actually legal in Providence. People build them frequently. Considering that they're purpose-built for habitation, the basement units in these fake two-family dwellings are...Basement units are actually legal in Providence. People build them frequently. Considering that they're purpose-built for habitation, the basement units in these fake two-family dwellings are probably better than the average basement unit city-wide. Many basement units are stuck in actual basements, places never intended as living spaces. The illegal thing, per the building code, is creating three units at a time without sprinklering. Developers leave the basement conspicuously empty in their submitted plans because it's the most plausible place to do so. I suspect the building department already looks the other way on these obviously but not explicitly illegal plans for the reasons you stated in your reply, but it would be tougher to justify if the developers submitted plans showing conspicuously empty above-ground floors instead.
There are a few other benefits to building the sorts of houses I described in my first post. Two-family dwellings have a lower appraisal value than three-family dwellings, meaning that property taxes are slightly lower. That benefit only lasts for a few years however. Once the house gets reappraised, its tax status will reflect the number of units present in the house, regardless of its supposed legal use. In addition, the developers of these houses pay lower permitting fees to the city than if they were up front about the true scope of work. Being said, under-representing construction costs to municipalities is a widespread practice in the construction industries which isn't limited to this sort of build.
I support affordable housing. However, finding compromises between the drive to build cheap and the drive to build well is a big part of an urban planner's job. In this case, the compromise is easy. The RI building code should be amended to require sprinklers only at higher unit counts. That's how it is in other places, including some surrounding states similarly dense with triple-deckers. That way, developers could build as cheaply as they do right now, but the work would be legal and the houses would be better contributors to the urban fabric.
-
Comment on The case for American single-stair multifamily in ~design
Lev LinkSuper interesting article, I'm going to spread it around. The effects of bad and outdated building codes can be plainly obvious if you know where to look, but unlike with zoning, public knowledge...Super interesting article, I'm going to spread it around. The effects of bad and outdated building codes can be plainly obvious if you know where to look, but unlike with zoning, public knowledge and awareness is really low. My department has spent the last year writing a new comprehensive plan, so I've been in the field engaging with the public about the city and it could improve. I fielded so many comments about zoning issues (parking minimums, minimum lot size for a new subdivision, unit per sqft requirements, etc.), but not one word about the state building code.
Of course, the building code doesn't explain everything. Building codes don't overtly control density, zoning, parking, or any other classic planning issue. But they indirectly affect the implementation of the YIMBY vision. For example, the classic New England three-family is a staple in Providence, RI. Huge sections of the city feature these houses as the base urban fabric. It's still legal to build these sorts of houses in Providence, and sometimes people actually build them, or at least versions of them. Here's one from 2017 which roughly aligns with the surrounding urban fabric. Even this one isn't perfect; instead of containing three stacked coterminous units like a classic triple-decker, this one features split levels with separate entrances.
Don't worry, developers absolutely build structures that more closely resemble a classic Providence triple-decker. It's just that those homes are very rarely three-family dwellings, at least in the legal sense. Check this one out, for example. According to this property's use card, the structure is a two-family dwelling constructed in 2021. The plans submitted for this house show a large, empty, almost entirely above-grade basement, with two residential units above. If pressed, the developer will claim that the basement is for tenant storage, and the building department has no choice but to believe them. But after the city issues a certificate of occupancy, the developer will return and perform unpermitted work, adding a kitchen, walls, bathrooms, and more, converting the space into an illegal third unit. Notice how this structure's front door is lifted almost a full story off the ground. Developers do this to make their illegal "basement" units as rentable as possible, complete with full-sized windows and ground floor amenities.
Admittedly, the example I've shown here is a bit on the egregious side, not all of these illegal three-families have front doors that far off the ground. Here's a different example. Built in 2019, this structure resembles any other house in the city. Its urban form is great. The front door is a little too high, but the ornate fence in front makes that a bit more amenable. Like the prior example, this structure legally listed as a two-family. But there are definitely three units in there. The smoking gun? Three electric meters on the exterior wall. Here's an earlier streetview capturing the construction process for this house. Look at how shallow the foundation is!
It begs a question. For both of the locations I showed, city ordinance allows three-family dwellings by-right. So why did the developers build two-family dwellings with illegal basement units instead? You can probably sense where this is going. The Rhode Island state building code requires developers to sprinkler all new structures containing three or more residential units. Sprinkler installation is incredibly expensive, making it more economical for builders to construct "two-family dwellings" and take their chances with an illegal third unit instead. Fire safety has been quite strict in Rhode Island ever since the Station Nightclub fire, although I don't know if this particular building code requirement derives from that moment or from a different time. The bigger question is whether it matters. Providence gets its density either way. And if the state raised its sprinklering cut-off, developers might just do the same practice but with four units instead of three. For me, it's a safety and quality-of-life matter. The building department never inspects the illegal basement units; all manner of bad construction practice could be lurking down there. And, of course, an above-ground unit is superior to a basement unit for several reasons. More above-ground units mean a higher average standard of life in the city.
-
Comment on Who's your favorite football team, and why? in ~sports.american_football
Lev LinkDespite my status as a born and raised New Englander, my NFL football fandom has always gone with the Kansas City Chiefs. The basic reason is that my father hails from Kansas City, and being a...Despite my status as a born and raised New Englander, my NFL football fandom has always gone with the Kansas City Chiefs. The basic reason is that my father hails from Kansas City, and being a dutiful son, I adopted his allegiance. The slightly more complex truth is that I wasn't raised a football fan in my younger years; the Chiefs' persistent losing had pushed my father away. For reasons mostly unrelated to him, I decided to become a football fan early in the 2013 season. I grew up as a strange kid, and somewhere along the way, I realized that I wanted more normal, relatable interests. And what's more normal than football? So, I knew that I wanted to follow an NFL team, but I didn't care which one. I had a sense that my father had been a Chiefs fan at some point in the distant past, but that was it. Fortunately, the Chiefs made my decision easy that season, going on a nine game winning streak to start the year and decisively ending a period as the worst team in football. I was hooked by week five.
Although it was cynical, my plan totally worked. I used my new football knowledge to make a whole bunch of well-adjusted friends throughout high school and college. One unexpected side-effect is that I discovered a genuine love for the game. I would call it one of my chief (haha) interests to this day. Another unexpected side-effect was that my Chiefs fandom reignited my father's. These days, discussing Chiefs news and watching games together is one of our primary father-son bonding activities. Through a very lucky (and extremely generous) connection, we even attended the Super Bowl this year, where we witnessed the Chiefs hoist the Lombardi live. I think my fandom will never reach such heights again.
As for NCAA football, my New England origins really doom me here. Being from the part of New England that isn't the Boston metro, college football wasn't (and isn't) a major cultural institution, and I'm dubious that it's a big deal even in Boston. The only watchable team within a hundred miles of my house was BC.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~sports.american_football
-
Comment on Geocachers in the house? in ~hobbies
Lev LinkI've geocached on-and-off for over a decade. It was a major feature of my childhood; the desire to find new geocaches took me progressively further and further from my house on elaborate cycling...I've geocached on-and-off for over a decade. It was a major feature of my childhood; the desire to find new geocaches took me progressively further and further from my house on elaborate cycling adventures before I could drive. At one point, I had found every single geocache in my hometown. I play much less these days, but I still maintain all my legacy hides from the glory days. Unfortunately, I live in city now, where the geocaching culture is weaker.
-
Comment on Let's chat everything classical music in ~music
Lev (edited )Link ParentYeah, he's a beast. I just don't have the ear for that sort of thing myself (or even close to it). Fortunately not! Christian Thielemann conducted actually, it was pretty amazing. Hey, who knows?...Wow, I don't think I would even be 10% correct if I played that game...
Yeah, he's a beast. I just don't have the ear for that sort of thing myself (or even close to it).
Was that the Bruckner 8 that someone had to step in? I'm too lazy to even Google but I remember hearing about that...
Fortunately not! Christian Thielemann conducted actually, it was pretty amazing.
For context, I'm a young-ish conductor in my mid-30s, so I doubt you've seen me, unless you've been to the mostly random small towns I conduct more often. Almost all of my big-name orchestra partners are those who hired me to do education or outreach/family concerts!
Hey, who knows? I've definitely attended concerts in some random small towns!
I don't think I can give you a "favorite" answer, but I really like Augustin Hadelich, who is definitely among my favorites. Manny Ax, similarly, is among my favorite pianists.
Hadelich is my favorite as well. I sadly missed a chance to see him perform live back in April; did you know that he's on the Yale music school faculty?
I've got a few other questions for you.
- Who decides what your orchestras program? Is it you? If so, how do you decide what to perform?
- Who were you favorite orchestras and conductors when you first got into classical?
- How (and why) have some of your interpretations changed over time (this question comes from the aforementioned roommate)?
- Are there any soloists who you've found particularly easy or tough to work with?
- I'm always on the hunt for new music to listen to (particularly romantic and neoclassical stuff). Like others, I struggle to find new things online. In fact, my only recent success has been finding Aaron Rosand's recording of the Arensky violin concerto, which I liked enough to add to my main classical playlist. What have you been listening to these days? Do you have any recommendations?
-
Comment on Let's chat everything classical music in ~music
Lev LinkHi wbl. I wasn't much of a classical music guy (or even a regular music guy) throughout my childhood. But when I went off to college, I roomed with a talented violinist who introduced me to the...Hi wbl. I wasn't much of a classical music guy (or even a regular music guy) throughout my childhood. But when I went off to college, I roomed with a talented violinist who introduced me to the genre. We frequently played a game called "guess the violinist" where the goal was, as you may imagine, for my roommate to guess which famous violinist was soloing in a 2-3 minute audio snippet. I pulled from a list of about 100 well-known violinists from across the years, but I purposely hunted for YouTube videos with low view-counts to ensure that my roommate had no familiarity with the audio in question. So it was super difficult. Still, he correctly identified the soloist within the four guess allotment probably 50% of the time. There were some violinists like Mutter and Heifetz that he frequently identified on the first guess, whereas with others like Shlomo Mintz and Mischa Elman, he struggled.
One outcome of playing so much "guess the violinist" is that I ended up hearing a ton of classical music, which got me hooked. I attend a lot of live concerts these days, many of them very cheaply owing to generous student pricing. Maybe I've even seen you conducting! For a recent highlight, I heard a crazy good Bruckner 8 at Carnegie Hall when the Vienna Phil visited NYC this past winter.
So that was a lot about me. I've definitely got some questions for you as well. Do you primarily work with a single orchestra or organization, or do you take guest conducting roles across the country/world? Who's your favorite living violinist? How about your favorite living pianist? What's the best or most memorable classical performance you've witnessed live, either as the conductor or as a member of the audience?
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~design
Lev LinkI enjoyed the height limits section of this article in particular; it reminded me of the most arbitrary height limit I've seen codified. One of the recent progressions for density in my city has...I enjoyed the height limits section of this article in particular; it reminded me of the most arbitrary height limit I've seen codified. One of the recent progressions for density in my city has been to allow development on undersized lots. For a long time, the city deemed any lot below 2,200 sqft to be unbuildable, essentially making parking the only legal use for those properties. As part of a larger zoning overhaul, we decided to legalize development on these tiny lots, but with a limit of 2 stories and 22ft in height (itself a 100% arbitrary limit) in an effort to keep any new construction in scale. When we presented this change to our planning commission, a commissioner raised a concern about his two massive sons and questioned whether houses built to a 22ft height limit could accommodate big tall men. After discussion, the commissioners raised the height limit to 32ft (but kept the 2 story limit).
Some of these less restrictive approaches to zoning cited in this article have begun appearing in ordinances around the country, including in my own city. Our use matrix, once very prohibitive, now looks a lot like the Japanese example. We've also crunched our zoning district count down to a number under 20!
Being said, my city's zoning ordinance remains a little clunky. As it stands, most of the residential zones don't allow for the densities that developers want to build at. Rather than changing their developments to fit our zones, builders instead petition the city council to get a spot zone change into a commercial district, which have much looser zoning requirements. These zone changes take months and months, but they're well worth it for developers who want to see returns on their investments. All this bother because densifying the residential zones would be "too political."
A big part of that density calculation is parking. Parking is one of the big topics that this article set didn't cover. I don't know what parking regulation is like in Japan, but in North American cities, it has a big impact on the viability of projects. The conventional wisdom is that no resident would ever accept a dwelling unit without a parking spot (or multiple), but in dense urban cores, it's frequently easier for developers to turn a profit when they aren't devoting significant chunks of their lots to car storage. Most of my city's commercial zones have no parking minimums for lots below 10,000 sqft (another huge success of the recent zoning reforms), which is why developers request these zone changes in the first place.
-
Comment on NFL playoffs discussion thread in ~sports.american_football
Lev Link ParentIt reminded me of his play in last year's Super Bowl. In that game, he had a bit of an excuse, as his Offensive Line was full of below replacement-level players. This year, however, his OLine was...It reminded me of his play in last year's Super Bowl. In that game, he had a bit of an excuse, as his Offensive Line was full of below replacement-level players. This year, however, his OLine was completely stacked and he frequently had tons of time in the pocket. Despite his reputation as a gunslinger, Mahomes is actually a fairly risk-averse QB, in that he usually doesn't loose the deep ball unless his receiver is wide open. Maybe he got so deep into his own head during the second half that he just kept waiting and waiting for receiver to truly break free, which never occurred. Then, instead of making the tough through to a moderately well-covered receiver, he just took the sack instead. It was all just very sad to watch. It's not like the Bengals offense played particularly well at any point in the game. Oh well. In the words of my dispirited father, "it's just football."
-
Comment on NFL playoffs discussion thread in ~sports.american_football
Lev LinkI'm gutted by the Chiefs' defeat today at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. I wish I knew what was going on in Patrick Mahomes' head during the second half. After that Tyreek Hill goal-line...I'm gutted by the Chiefs' defeat today at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals. I wish I knew what was going on in Patrick Mahomes' head during the second half. After that Tyreek Hill goal-line miscue, it was as if Mahomes completely lost confidence in himself to make good decisions and pull the trigger on difficult throws. Still, I've suffered far more gut-wrenching defeats during my Chiefs fandom than this one; at least this year I can find solace in that Kansas City 100% did not deserve a Super Bowl berth considering their poor play.
I must admit that I missed this afternoon's second game entirely as the Chiefs game outcome drained away any interest I'll have in football for the rest of this season. I may still watch the Super Bowl, but unfortunately I really have no positive or negative feelings about either the Rams or the Bengals, so the passion isn't really there. As for the rest of the playoffs, last weekend's slate of games was seriously electrifying! I really thought that Tom Brady was going to the complete the comeback and add another bullet-point on his ironclad GOAT resume. Alas, it was not to be. I wish I could say that I've never been more stressed out as a Chiefs fan than during their match-up last week vs. the Buffalo Bills, but that would be a lie! All four games last weekend were awesome, although I was disappointed by the quality of football in the Super Wild Card round. And despite the craziness of these playoffs, I still suspect that the Week 18 Raiders-Chargers match will emerge alongside last week's Chiefs-Bills game as the most remembered game of the 2021 season. I don't think I've ever seen a finer instance of divisional spite!
-
Comment on Aaron Rodgers began his stint as guest host on Jeopardy! in ~tv
Lev LinkI've been excitedly waiting for Rodgers to host ever since they announced it. The NFL 2020 MVP hosting Jeopardy? I couldn't ask for a greater fusion of two of my hobbies! And I must say, I thought...I've been excitedly waiting for Rodgers to host ever since they announced it. The NFL 2020 MVP hosting Jeopardy? I couldn't ask for a greater fusion of two of my hobbies! And I must say, I thought Rodgers was a natural too. I still can't get over the gall of the returning champion during Final Jeopardy, though!
-
Comment on What are you following this week? Weekly sports round-up thread in ~sports
Lev Link ParentYeah, I had been feeling bad about how close that Pats game was until the Pats lost to the far inferior Broncos during their next game. Chiefs also had a close win against the Chargers, although...Yeah, I had been feeling bad about how close that Pats game was until the Pats lost to the far inferior Broncos during their next game. Chiefs also had a close win against the Chargers, although Chiefs-Chargers games are always very close (Lynn's Cover 3 is so effective against the Chiefs' misdirection, they what I think is a top 3 secondary in football, esp with those fast safeties). Raiders are better than people think they are; they've also beaten the Saints and Panthers, two decent teams, and kept it competitive vs the Bills. But yeah, these Chiefs ain't the 2007 Pats; they're a very good team, but not worldbeaters.
One potential reason they look less beatable: Mahomes hasn't had to be himself really. In 2018 and the 2019 playoffs, his defense was bad enough that Mahomes had to go out and do incredible things each and every drive just to keep the team in the games. This year, the Chiefs defense is probably a top 10 unit, and so Reid is way more willing to just go and burn off the clock with runs and short passes. Although Mahomes is still taking as many attempts as usual per game, he's taking deep shots waaaay less. His average depth of target this year is a full yard shorter than it was last year. The OLine has also taken a major quality hit-- did you know that Mahomes has scrambled more times in this year's 7 games than in all of last year's 14?
-
Comment on What are you following this week? Weekly sports round-up thread in ~sports
Lev LinkIt is a good time to be a Chiefs fan (the Kansas City Chiefs are a team in the NFL). They notched a good, solid dubski this week against the Buffalo Bills, another team with a solid roster and...It is a good time to be a Chiefs fan (the Kansas City Chiefs are a team in the NFL). They notched a good, solid dubski this week against the Buffalo Bills, another team with a solid roster and promising future. I've been a fan for a while, but barring last year's Super Bowl run, I think this current state might be the best I've ever seen the Chiefs.
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year, and usually this is accompanied by what's known as a "Super Bowl Hangover" the following year, in which important players leave the team, and the rest of the league spends the entire offseason dissecting film of what made the SB winner so good in the first place. The Chiefs, though, have yet to suffer any SB Hangover ill effects. They currently sit at 5-1, three of those wins coming against quality opponents in the Bills, Ravens, and Patriots. It is absolutely a homer take, but I really believe the Chiefs have the best complete roster in the League right now, and almost every Chiefs starter would start on the majority of other NFL rosters. Before they lost to the Raiders last week, I was unironically expecting a perfect 16-0 season. Alas, football is hard, and winning each regular season game is damn near impossible. Regardless, my hopes remain high.
-
Comment on The mad, mad world of niche sports among Ivy League-obsessed parents in ~sports
Lev LinkI'm a current non-athlete undergrad attending one of the schools mentioned in the article-- another dimension not covered here is what happens after these students actually arrive on campuses....I'm a current non-athlete undergrad attending one of the schools mentioned in the article-- another dimension not covered here is what happens after these students actually arrive on campuses. Socially, I've found that a lot of these molded Greenwich athlete types tend to form their own groups, and actually don't mingle all that much with the wider student body. I suppose that's not a huge surprise; like prefers like, and as this article demonstrates (as well as the linked article in the Princetonian), Ivy campuses offer many similar students from these extremely wealthy towns. Still, it's disappointing to see both from the recruits, who have been given the opportunity to expand their horizons, and from the schools where this system continues to be the modus operandi.
At Williams College, where recruits compose a bonkers 33% of the student population, I've heard that they call the non-athletes "nonners" and the entire campus's social breakdown is based on athletic status. Wild!
-
Comment on Beginning March 1, Amtrak’s popular “saver” tickets will be nonchangeable and nonrefundable, ending a popular policy that gave passengers the flexibility to rebook if their travel plans changed in ~transport
Lev Link ParentFormer Rocky Mountaineer and Amtrak cross-country traveller here, can't recommend the Mountaineer enough really. Amtrak can be fun, and it is quite a lot cheaper than the Canada option, but the...Former Rocky Mountaineer and Amtrak cross-country traveller here, can't recommend the Mountaineer enough really. Amtrak can be fun, and it is quite a lot cheaper than the Canada option, but the Mountaineer brings you through some areas so scenic and remote that their beauty can't really be matched anywhere on the American passenger rail system. If you have any care for luxury or scenery, the Mountaineer will treat you right. I took the short trip from Banff to Vancouver with a stop in Kamloops; all three places were well worth the visit. Banff in particular is a genuinely stunning place to be, I'll go again if I ever get the chance. In addition, the Mountaineer folks put us up in a great hotel in Kamloops overnight, and every train has outdoor receptacles from which to view the nature, something you can't get on American passenger trains anywhere. I loved that train trip so much, I'd take the exact same route again!
-
Comment on Kansas City Chiefs are champs with stunning Super Bowl comeback over San Francisco 49ers in ~sports.american_football
Lev LinkAs a Chiefs fan, this day has been amazing. The Chiefs haven't won the Super Bowl since my own father was a boy, getting to watch this game with him and the rest of my family was perfect. I am so...As a Chiefs fan, this day has been amazing. The Chiefs haven't won the Super Bowl since my own father was a boy, getting to watch this game with him and the rest of my family was perfect. I am so happy that the Chiefs won a Super Bowl and I was alive to witness it. There are still fireworks going off in the streets and yards around my house. In 2015, when the Kansas City Royals won the World Series, 800,000 (2/5 of the entire KC metro area population) people attended the victory parade downtown. I expect the numbers this time around to be even higher. What a time to be alive.
It’s a wisecrack about college football. Between college football seasons, players can enter a transfer portal to move between schools, usually in the hopes of finding a better situation or increasing their playing time. Stewart posted his measurables (height, weight, 40 yard dash time) as if to advertise himself to other schools, imitating actual college football players who post similar transfer tweets during the offseason.