Posts by Dan Malouff — Editorial Board
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Columbia Heights has a transit-themed playground
Nerd alert: One of DC’s old trolley turnarounds is now a transit-themed playground. Keep reading…
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Grassy lawns exist to prove you’re not a peasant. It’s time to let that status symbol die
Grassy lawns originally became popular for members of the pre-industrial aristocracy to show they could afford to waste land rather than farm it. Today, lawns are mandated by zoning codes that outlaw other uses, even front yard gardens. Keep reading…
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Why the Green Line in northern Prince George’s is a huge missed opportunity
Northern Prince George’s County is lined with walkable downtowns. Imagine if the Green Line served them, instead of park-and-rides. Keep reading…
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Here’s why walk-up windows are good urbanism
A macaron shop looking to open in a small space in Georgetown is proposing to sell their sweets from an open window facing the sidewalk, rather than from an interior register. Customers wouldn’t actually go inside the shop, they’d merely stop outside it, and order through a large window. Hopefully the store will be approved, because walk-up windows are great urbanism. Keep reading…
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The Potomac River once had a suspension bridge
Crossing the Potomac River between DC’s Palisades neighborhood and North Arlington, there have been eight bridges since 1797. For much of the 19th Century, the crossing was a literal chain suspension bridge. Keep reading…
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Why do cyclists love green bike lanes?
Green-painted bike lanes make cycling safer, by reminding car drivers to watch out for cyclists when driving across bike lanes. That’s a great benefit, and it works, but it’s not the main reason so many cyclists get so excited over a little bit of color. Keep reading…
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Relive an afternoon on the ballpark ferry
Washington’s growing fleet of water taxis are useful as transportation, but they’re also a fun and unique way to see the city. Keep reading…
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Washington’s unbuilt highways
This is a map of the Washington that almost was. If mid-century planners, dedicated as they were to driving and the clearance of historic neighborhoods, had their way. It is a map of the highway network proposed for Washington during initial planning of the Eisenhower Interstate System, in 1958. Keep reading…
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Herbert Hoover christens the Arlington Memorial Bridge in a 1932 newsreel
Arlington Memorial Bridge opened in 1932, amidst the very depths of the Great Depression. It was a major event in Washington, which drew President Herbert Hoover, the first lady, and the vice president. This vintage newsreel illustrates the excitement. Keep reading…
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537 incredible photos of DC in the 1980s & ‘90s
The DC of the 1980s & ’90s was a dramatically different place than the DC of 2017. Photographer Michael Horsley documented the era with a fascinating series of photos. Keep reading…