Photo from Capital City Diner.

Not what they meant by “on Bladensburg Road”

Two guys bought a historic, metal, modular diner from upstate New York and brought it to DC to set up on Bladensburg Road. They didn’t expect to actually be setting it up on Bladensburg Road, i.e. in the middle of the road, but when DCRA denied them permission to put it on the newly-constructed foundation, that’s what they had to do. A few hours of Twittering and a parking ticket later, and they got interim permission to put it on the lot. It turns out the shyster architect hadn’t done the foundation correctly and forged an engineer’s signature. (DCist, Young & Hungry)  

Planners disagree on bridge

The Montgomery Planning Board failed to approve an amendment to allow a pedestrian bridge to the new Silver Spring library. Chairman Royce Hanson, member Joseph Alfandre, and staff director Rollin Stanley all opposed the bridge, arguing it would detract from the liveliness of the street, not actually save any time, and encourage driving. Jean Cryor, a member from Potomac, couldn’t understand why the county would design anything except in the most auto-oriented way. The County Council will make the final decision. (Gazette via Just Up the Pike)  

What’s excellent?

BeyondDC has the same reaction I did to an exchange involving Harriet Tregoning about why DC’s architecture is “conservative.” Tregoning made wistful comments about having well-known architects design some of our buildings, but BeyondDC isn’t so sure those guys are the ones to make our buildings actually better.  

Bus-and-ride

More commuters from the more car-oriented outer parts of the region are taking the bus to nearby Metro stations.  They are choosing to save on the parking fee, the hassle of finding spaces at the park-and-ride lot, on gasoline, and on the wear-and-tear of their personal vehicles. (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)  

Hotel ok, still too tall?

The Cardozo-Shaw Neighborhood Association voted to support the U Street hotel, but they do think it’s too tall. (14th & You)  

Air rights development to cover 395

DDOT will be closing a ramp on the Center Leg (I-395) to accommodate a new project covering over the freeway between Mass Ave and E Street. The ramp only serves southbound drivers who just got on a few blocks earlier, making it fairly redundant, and the project will knit some of the fabric of the area back together including restoring some cross streets. (BeyondDC)