Posts by Joanne Tang — Editorial Board
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Cemeteries use a lot of space and are terrible for the environment. Is there a better way?
In Berlin, cemeteries are being converted to parks, playgrounds, and housing. Is Berlin going in the right direction? Are other cities, including those in the Washington region, likely to follow suit? Keep reading…
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Cemeteries use a lot of space and are terrible for the environment. Is there a better way?
In Berlin, cemeteries are being converted to parks, playgrounds, and housing. This reprioritizing reflects a change in attitude among some Berliners who see their city shrinking as its population increases—without the housing or recreation space to match. It also coincides with a decrease in conventional casket-in-ground burials, as cremations become more popular. Keep reading…
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How accessible is Metro anyway?
Much more needs to be done to make local rail and bus systems truly accessible. For example, Metro’s 7000-series trains still have a dangerous gap between the cars that a blind man fell through in 2016, and more than half of local bus stops aren’t reachable to people using wheelchairs. Keep reading…
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Liberty at Lorton: How a notorious prison got a new life as a housing complex
In my previous post about the Lorton Reformatory in Lorton, Virginia, I went over the history of the prison complex from its beginnings in the 1910s to its closure in 1999. In this article, I turn my focus to the long road to redeveloping the prison site and its grounds into a place that the Lorton community could be proud of and see as useful. Keep reading…
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Here’s a fascinating story about the old Lorton, Virginia prison
The Lorton Reformatory is a prison in Lorton, Virginia that closed in the late 1990s. In May 2018, it reopened as a sprawling complex of apartments called Liberty at Lorton about 19 miles outside of DC. The development is a great example of how a historical site can supply housing in a region that badly needs it, while still preserving a historical landmark with a storied history. Keep reading…
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As Virginia’s eviction moratorium ends, the state scrambles to offer relief to those in need
Virginia recently launched the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP), which uses $50 million in funding from the CARES Act to provide assistance to renters and homeowners. The relief program launched the same day Virginia’s statewide evictions moratorium expired, meaning that thousands of people can now be called to court for overdue rent or mortgage payments. Keep reading…
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Cemeteries are a matter of land use — and justice
One of the most complicated (and perhaps uncomfortable) conversations people can have is about death. How will we choose to remember others or have others remember us? As urbanists, we can look at this topic from another lens too: the way we use land for our burial rituals, and how those practices might shift as our population grows and our housing shortage increases. Keep reading…
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A pedestrian-only block in Alexandria may become a reality this spring
Last fall, the City of Alexandria approved efforts to finalize planning for a pilot program to make the 100 block of King Street pedestrian-only on weekends from April to October. Keep reading…
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Part of King Street in Alexandria could become car-free
A small section at the base of King Street in Alexandria, Virginia could become a car-free zone. The project is still in the research stage, and city staff are currently looking into closing some combination of the 100 block and 200 block of King Street to car traffic to make the space even more attractive and useful. Keep reading…
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Why does “save historic Alexandria” mean stopping scooters but not curbing cars?
Hand-wringing over “historic character” is common when people oppose new development, but it happens with transportation changes too. A recent scuffle over dockless e-scooters in Alexandria highlights this phenomenon. Keep reading…