Posts by Malcolm Kenton — Contributor
-
Fix it first, then upgrade, says new regional transportation plan
The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved the draft Regional Transportation Priorities Plan two weeks ago. It advocates a “fix it first” approach that directs resources towards keeping the transportation assets we have in good shape, rather than building massive new facilities that may be costly to maintain. The plan is a significant victory for… Keep reading…
-
Redeveloping McMillan is the only way to save it
At a recent public hearing, neighbors of McMillan Sand Filtration Site renewed calls to make it a park. But the only way that can happen is by developing part of it as a neighborhood, and it’s up to the DC Council to make it happen. Residents filled a June 6 public hearing held by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to oppose plans to sell the derelict… Keep reading…
-
DC Sustainable Energy Utility saves energy and creates jobs
Five years ago, the DC Council created the DC Sustainable Energy Utility to help the city’s growing population use less energy. While it hasn’t been perfect, DC SEU can help achieve Mayor Gray’s goal of cutting the District’s energy use in half by 2032. Created by the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 and housed within the District Department of… Keep reading…
-
Amtrak shouldn’t axe the national network
The Brookings Institution released a report earlier this month on our national passenger rail system, Amtrak. Many news and blog articles about the study took the report to mean that if Amtrak were to get rid of its long-distance trains, the company could provide rail service without taxpayer subsidy. That’s not actually true, nor is Brookings suggesting getting rid… Keep reading…
-
Appreciate our furry ecosystem engineers
The DC area’s beaver population has boomed in the past 20 years, and that’s a great thing. It’s a sign that our region’s waterways, having suffered from decades of channelization, pollution, neglect and mismanagement, are starting to regain their ecological health, though much work remains to be done. The industrious creatures’ presence… Keep reading…
-
Bigger park, taller buildings on tap for McMillan site
DC Water will temporarily use two former water filtration cells in the McMillan Sand Filtration Site to store excess rainwater and mitigate flooding in neighborhoods like Bloomingdale beginning in spring 2014. That decision forces Vision McMillan Partners (VMP) to redraw its plans to transform the site into a mixed-use neighborhood. The previous plan called for new rowhouses… Keep reading…
-
Should streetcar go to Minnesota Ave or Benning Rd Metro?
Once the initial H Street segment opens (now estimated for early 2014 at the earliest), the next step for DC’s streetcar system is to extend the line east across the Anacostia River. DDOT will present the options in a report this month, but major decisions remain, such as whether to end the line at Minnesota Avenue or Benning Road Metro stations (or both). DDOT staff and AECOM… Keep reading…
-
New websites crowdsource development ideas
GGW’s I Wish This Were series of posts imagined better uses for vacant properties and bad public spaces. 2 entrepreneurial DC brothers have taken this concept to the next level, with websites that harness the power of crowdsourcing to help shape neighborhood development. Ben and Daniel Miller, sons of Gallery Place developer Herbert Miller, created 2 crowdsourcing… Keep reading…
-
Sequestration could hurt Metro, other regional projects
Because the Congressional “supercommittee” failed to agree on a deficit reduction plan, WMATA is likely to lose about $12 million from the federal government in 2013. This could spell trouble for an agency that has already had to raise fares to keep up with its significant capital needs. Under the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011, without a supercommittee… Keep reading…
-
New McMillan plan blends growth and preservation
The developers of DC’s McMillan Sand Filtration Site have listened to community concerns, from open space to traffic to transit, and created a plan for a new community that residents should one day see as a city landmark and a source of civic pride. Envision McMillan released a revised plan in March for the long-awaited redevelopment that will transform the historic, off-limits… Keep reading…