Posts from June 2017
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Building of the Week: Eastern Market
Many Washingtonians are familiar with Eastern Market, a hodgepodge of farmer’s market, prepared food and handmade craft vendors, and flea market. The building at the core of this market was part of a thriving city-wide market system 140 years ago. Learn more about Eastern Market's history with this post! Keep reading…
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Use this map to keep your neighborhood trees watered!
Last year, DC’s urban forestry division planted 4,200 young trees, and if they’re going to grow big and strong, they’ll need a lot of water. That’s where you come in: to make sure each tree stays hydrated, use this interactive map to zoom in on a place (like your neighborhood) and see which trees need watering. Keep reading…
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We’ve worked for nine months on a better Comp Plan. Here’s what we’ve got.
The DC Comprehensive Plan doesn’t do enough to encourage and direct growth in an inclusive way. We have worked with a diverse group of partners to draft a set of amendments that we think make the Comp Plan a stronger, better guide for the city’s growth. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Metro’s new hours hurt service industry and hospitality workers
Metro's new, permanent hours hurt service and hospitality workers the most. Dialing back zoning could boost the country's economy. Capital Bikeshare is looking for a corporate sponsor. Keep reading…
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David Grosso wants DC to ditch “mayor” and “councilmember” for “governor” and “representative”
DC Councilmember David Grosso (At-large) wants to start calling DC's mayor its governor, for the council to be the “legislative assembly,” and for councilmembers to be referred to as “representatives.” Would Grosso's idea of having DC refer to its own government as though it’s a state move the District anywhere closer to statehood? Keep reading…
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All transit riders have a choice
Agencies and officials often sort transit riders into two groups: “captive” and “choice.” This is a false dichotomy that perpetuates inaccurate assumptions about who rides transit and what their motivations might be. Keep reading…
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AAA Mid-Atlantic: “Yeah, let’s not make our roads safer.”
Unsafe driving is a major problem in DC, and to fix it the District should ticket drivers less frequently and make fines cheap. At least, that’s what AAA Mid-Atlantic had to say in its recent comments about traffic offenses and fines in the city. Keep reading…
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Columbia, Maryland was an early template for smart growth. It turns 50 this week.
One part real estate project, one part social experiment, Columbia, Maryland is one of the most ambitious and successful planned communities ever built in the US. Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the Columbia's founding, so it’s a good time to reflect on both the project and its principal proponent, developer James Rouse. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Metro embraces a low tech solution for track worker safety
A new Metro safety rule seeks to improve operator awareness of track workers. DC broke down a tent city, but that removal doesn't solve the city's housing problems. Reston residents mobilize against denser zoning. Keep reading…
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Chat: How should reporters write about “up and coming” neighborhoods?
Last week, an article called “River Terrace is a modest jewel tucked away in NE Washington” ran in the Washington Post’s Real Estate section. The next day, DCist staff writer Christina Sturdivant, who grew up in River Terrace, wrote that article’s author left out a lot of important detail about the neighborhood. Christina, some GGWash editorial board members, and I recently talked about the matter. Keep reading…