Recent Posts
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When DCPS closes a school, what happens to the building?
DC Public Schools plans to close 15 schools, based on declining enrollment and changing demographics. This isn’t a new experience; DC closed other schools in 2008. What happened to those school spaces? There have been many debates in DC, and nationally, about whether it’s wise to close schools. But if schools do indeed close, it’s also worth talking about… Keep reading…
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Mendelson grills accessory dwelling opponents
After being postponed a day because of the threat of snow, the marathon 7-hour oversight of the Office of Planning almost entirely revolved around the same controversial subject as the last 4-5 years: the zoning update. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson asked tough questions of people on both sides of the issue. At first, he wondered how some people could say the Office of Planning… Keep reading…
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Washington growing more at the center, less at the edges
After years of rapid population growth, greater Washington might be slowing down. However, the real story is where most regional growth is happening: in and around the Beltway, not on the fringe. Yesterday, the Census Bureau released population estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses the District and 27 surrounding… Keep reading…
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Morning bell: Closure challenge coming
Closure opponents may sue; Less tolerance for zero tolerance; Idaho is illegal; Quest for a preschool; How poor students fare; Top colleges don’t get poor studens; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Shine a light
A brighter day dawns; No Bike DC this year; ANC cool to moratorium; Subway subway fantasy map; Congressman v. architects; Long Bridge getting pool; Bike share everywhere; Costly delays; And…. Keep reading…
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Flickr highlights and a CSG internship
Here are our favorite new images from the Greater and Lesser Washington Flickr pool, showcasing the best and worst of the Washington region. Plus, want to be an intern at the Coalition for Smarter Growth this summer? Keep reading…
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Streetcar won’t make Columbia Pike unaffordable
Some residents have expressed concern that the Columbia Pike Streetcar will bring changes to the Columbia Pike area. Besides traffic impacts, another oft-repeated criticism is that streetcar-oriented development will harm the relative affordability of many areas along Columbia Pike. The price of housing has soared in the areas of Arlington that are close to the Metro. It… Keep reading…
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School librarian funding slips away in new budget
After parent outcry about librarians in schools last year, a DCPS task force recommended keeping existing full-time librarians and working toward having one in every school in 3 years. Unfortunately, the 2014 budget allocations do not put DCPS on track to meet this commitment. Last year, DCPS moved librarians out of the category of “required staff” and into “flexible… Keep reading…
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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…
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Breakfast links: Make it better
Transform Franklin; Baltimore Penn gets its own plan; Metro sequestered; Senate to the rescue; Too many apartments?; Food trucks chafe at rules; Need more than nightlife; And…. Keep reading…