Posts by Mike English — Guest Contributor
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Opinion: These Maryland bills would help protect renters and prevent displacement
As Maryland’s General Assembly enters its final 30 days in session for 2022, more than two dozen bills have been proposed that would help renter households. Keep reading…
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South Silver Spring: The place I live, and the place it could be
Opinion: Here’s how South Silver Spring could — and should — change under the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. Keep reading…
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How activism during the pandemic gave me hope and community
When the pandemic hit, I felt scared and alone, but weirdly, more connected with my community than ever. Keep reading…
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A library replacement offers a unique opportunity to build housing in Maryland’s Chevy Chase. Cue the usual opposition
Chevy Chase, Md. is wealthy, lacks affordable housing options, and has a history of exclusion. Now some residents are opposing building housing alongside a library reconstruction project. Keep reading…
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Converting office space into housing can be one solution for the region’s housing crisis — but not the only solution
Office to residential conversions are sometimes treated as a panacea, and a reason not to try any of the other many tools we need to use to solve our region’s housing shortage. Keep reading…
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We must confront the status quo in Montgomery County housing decisions
As people make up their minds about Montgomery County’s new housing initiatives and proposals, it’s important to earnestly confront what preserving the status quo means. Keep reading…
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The vision for Silver Spring leans urbanist, with glaring exceptions
The Montgomery County Planning Department recently wrapped up series of community conversations about the Silver Spring downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan. Most of the attendees were supportive of the plan and of a generally urbanist vision, including building dense housing and mixed-use development on such sites. However, a long-running tension about Silver Spring caused debate among attendees. Keep reading…
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Here’s a look at how zoning in Montgomery County can impact a neighborhood block by block
Montgomery County passed a lot of legislation in 2020 to address housing and zoning challenges, with more to come. But, the new year gives us a chance to look at some potential impacts of these changes and some of the stark differences between neighborhoods that share almost the same location – but have different zoning. Keep reading…
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A WMATA site tax credit overcomes a County Executive veto, setting the stage for housing decisions to come
On October 27 the Montgomery County Council voted 7-2 to override the County Executive’s veto on Bill 29-20, which will provide property tax incentives for developers to create high rises on WMATA owned land by exempting them from all property taxes for their first 15 years, though the bill itself sunsets in 12. While the terms of the bill were dry and technical, the debate around it highlighted the severe housing needs in Montgomery County and the tension surrounding development and growth policies. Keep reading…
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How your vote will decide the future of Montgomery County’s funding and representation
On November 3, four county-level ballot questions will determine the future of Montgomery County’s funding and representation. Whether enacted — or prohibited — the measures will shape the county for years to come. Keep reading…