Posts by David Versel — Guest Contributor
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Who rides (and will ride) transit in Greater Washington?
About one in seven workers in the DC area commutes to work via public transportation, higher than any other large American metropolitan area outside of New York. But where and how we take transit to work will make increasing ridership a challenge. A new study by the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis (CRA) reveals many surprising insights about the region’s… Keep reading…
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More roads won’t solve traffic on I-95 in Northern Virginia
I-95 in Northern Virginia is already one of the nation’s most congested corridors, and forecasts predict it will only get worse. A new study by the GMU Center for Regional Analysis lays out the difficult decisions area leaders face regarding the corridor’s future land use, economy, and transportation network. At present, the I-95 corridor in Fairfax and Prince… Keep reading…
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Aging Boomers could have huge impact on suburbs
There are about 1.5 million Baby Boomers in Greater Washington, representing 26 percent of its population. The housing choices of these individuals will have a profound effect on the region over the next 30 years. Where do they live now, and where will they live in the future? Keep reading…
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What’s a better connection for Montgomery and Fairfax?
The American Legion Memorial Bridge helped usher in an era of suburban growth for Montgomery and Fairfax counties, which combined have over 2 million residents and 1.1 million jobs. As both counties have grown, the bridge remains the only link between them, and one almost exclusively dependent on single-occupancy vehicles. The George Mason University Center for Regional… Keep reading…
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Private-private partnerships may hold key to revitalization
With local governments exercising more caution about investing public dollars in development projects, partnerships among diverse private interests have become increasingly important the financing of the infrastructure improvements needed to support development. The most prevalent form of public-private partnerships for urban redevelopment has long been tax increment… Keep reading…
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Turn Richmond Highway back into a string of distinct places
The 9-mile stretch of Richmond Highway between the Beltway and Fairfax County Parkway traverses an extraordinarily diverse swath of Fairfax County. There are many informal names that locals use to describe the various sections of the corridor, such as Penn Daw, Beacon Hill, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Gum Springs, Mount Zephyr, Woodlawn, and Accotink. While some of these… Keep reading…
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Condos are missing from Fairfax County’s revitalization story
Apartments are becoming a tough sell in revitalizing areas of Fairfax County. Market support for rental units appears tepid, and the community is often opposed. Condominiums may be an attractive alternative, but so far nobody is talking about the them. In January 2011, Redbrick Development Group announced a mixed-use development with 290 luxury apartment units in Fairfax… Keep reading…
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Window shopping is becoming window dressing
According to industry experts, retail is rapidly evolving into little more than an amenity to enhance the value of housing and office spaces above. The old retail model of traveling to a place simply to acquire goods is dying, thanks in large part to the Internet, they said at a panel on retail during ULI’s April 17 Real Estate Trends Conference. Today’s successful… Keep reading…
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Facts trump emotion as Fairfax approves Penn Daw plan
In spite of fierce objections from some neighbors, the Fairfax County Planning Commission unanimously supported a plan to revitalize the Penn Daw area along Route 1. But vehement opposition suggests that future redevelopment in the corridor will continue to be difficult. Penn Daw Plaza is a typical 1960s neighborhood strip mall, located about ½-mile south of the Huntington… Keep reading…
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Richmond Highway revitalizing, but many challenges remain
Revitalizing suburban highway corridors in the Washington area presents a challenge, with small parcels, uncooperative property owners, opposition from neighbors, outdated plans, auto-oriented zoning, and identity issues. Route 1 from the Beltway in Alexandria to Fort Belvoir, also known as Richmond Highway, shows the good and bad of revitalization. For many people,… Keep reading…