Posts by Cheryl Cort — Contributor
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DC’s affordable housing programs are slated to get more money than ever before
This year’s DC budget includes the most funding ever for affordable housing programs: $222 million. Here’s how the money will be spent: Nearly half of the funds, $100 million, will go into the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF). This will pay to renovate or create 1,000 homes for low income households. Next year’s funding is roughly double this year’s… Keep reading…
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Prince George’s is getting a major new medical center. Will it make it easier to walk around?
Preliminary site plans for an upcoming regional medical center at Largo Town Center Metro station could do more to encourage people to walk around the new complex. Missing key elements of a more pedestrian-friendly design could suppress the site’s potential as a new walkable downtown and for Prince George’s County. Keep reading…
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Why the right is wrong about affordable housing
On Wednesday, we discussed what’s wrong with the notion that supply and demand don’t apply to housing. But on the other end of the spectrum, a free-market approach isn’t the whole answer to housing affordability, either. Some people (on the left) oppose new market-rate housing development. They claim that new development only provides high-end housing,… Keep reading…
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Why the left is wrong about affordable housing
Whenever we discuss housing affordability, we usually hear two major opposing beliefs. Both are well-honed, clear arguments. And both are wrong — or at least, not completely right. Some say that new development only provides high-end housing which doesn’t do anything to help those who really need it. Therefore, they oppose new market-rate development. Others… Keep reading…
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Car-free housing could come to historic Blagden Alley
One hundred twenty-three new units of housing could come to Shaw’s historic Blagden Alley. Many residents think that’s a great idea, but some aren’t happy that the project would contain no parking spaces. That idea deserves support, not opposition. Keep reading…
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Finally, DC’s zoning update steps forward
After a debate that has stretched for seven years, reforms for lower parking requirements near transit, basement apartments, and corner grocery stores are actually close to becoming reality in DC. The DC Zoning Commission has been deliberating on the zoning update this week. The commissioners embraced most of the DC Office of Planning’s proposals while even rejecting… Keep reading…
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DC sells valuable land, but loses interest in using it to create affordable housing
Since 2000, the District has generally required that when it sells publicly-owned land, part of the deal include new affordable housing for lower-income residents. But more recently, that commitment has waned. A bill in the DC Council could rejuvenate it by requiring affordable housing in city land development deals. The trend of weakening the city’s commitment to… Keep reading…
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Prince George’s is trying to be serious about transit-oriented development
Prince George’s County officials want everyone to know that the county is serious about transit-oriented development and making the most of its Metro stations. A promise to plan needed streets, sidewalks and parks around a short list of stations could be an important change to county spending that’s been focused on big-ticket road projects. The county has been… Keep reading…
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Takoma Metro development proposal is a real compromise
For more than 10 years, we’ve discussed what kind of development at the Takoma Metro station would make this station a lively, safer place. A new plan for a residential building does just that, while offering a compromise to neighbors concerned about open space and parking. Since 2000, WMATA has attempted to develop the area around the Takoma station. Last year, developer… Keep reading…
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DC mulls new affordable housing rules in public land deals
When the District government bids out city-owned property for development, it asks for affordable housing to be part of the deal, but how much is enough? Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie is proposing that 20-30% of the housing in any such deal be affordable for low-income households. On properties that DC has offered for development, like Parcel 42 in Shaw or the Hine School on Capitol… Keep reading…