Recent Posts
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Urban football stadiums in the US: The bad
Yesterday, several GGW contributors debated whether DC could accommodate a new home for the Washington Redskins inside the District. We asked some of our urbanist friends around the country to weigh in on the experience with urban arenas in their cities. Today we’ll look at two cases that depict the problems with massive stadiums dropped into the urban fabric without… Keep reading…
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Happy hour, bike ride tonight
If you’re still in town, stop by tonight for Greater Greater Washington’s holiday happy hour. And if you’re free earlier, join the celebratory bike ride with Gabe Klein and DDOT and WABA staff beforehand. The happy hour is at Marvin, 2007 14th Street NW. It doesn’t have a big sign, just a smaller one on the door, but don’t let that fool you. We’ll… Keep reading…
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DC breaks 600,000
The official Census data is out, and the District’s official 2010 population is 601,723. DC grew 5.2% from 2000’s total of 572,059. It’s the first decade of growth since 1950. Keep reading…
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Rather than close Ellsworth Drive, narrow Georgia Avenue
The best and most vibrant public space in downtown Silver Spring is Ellsworth Drive, a street already designed more for pedestrians than for cars. Its success has led to some calls to close it entirely to traffic. But instead, a better approach would be to create other, new public spaces by narrowing Georgia Avenue. Even if you don’t like the chain stores that line it, it’s… Keep reading…
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Council needs help judging tax breaks
The DC Council will vote on three breaks for developers today, on taxes and affordable housing requirements. But if I were a Councilmember, I’d have a really tough time deciding whether any of them are a good deal or not, because we simply don’t have enough information. First is the Adams Morgan hotel tax break. A developer wants a $46 million property tax break to build… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: On the search
Searches have begun; Metro no dirtier than the rest of the world; DC Congressional overseer still up in the air; Federal DC homebuyer tax credit extended; Bethesda water has slight contamination; Big money instead of preservation; Small MoCo suburbs planning ahead; Gas demand in decline; And…. Keep reading…
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GGW debates: Urban football stadiums in DC
A couple weeks ago, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans made some comments about bringing the Redskins back to a stadium in the District. Though Evans clarified his remarks later, the story sparked some debate here on GGW as well as elsewhere in the blogosphere. Urban stadiums have been built in cities around the world, with varying level of success. Several GGW contributors… Keep reading…
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Green Area ratio hearing, parking testimony deadline today
DC’s extensive zoning update process continues with a hearing tonight on the Green Area Ratio proposals and the deadline for submitting written comments on car and bicycle parking minimums and maximums. First, today is the last day to submit written testimony to the Zoning Commission on the parking chapter, including relaxing parking minimums, adding limited parking… Keep reading…
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DC poised to relax affordable housing in Waterfront deal
The DC Council is rushing to a final vote on Tuesday to roll back affordable housing at the Southwest Waterfront. The vote would relax existing requirements in the land deal that make 30% of new housing affordable for residents at low incomes. The Southwest Waterfront project will replace acres of parking lots and low wharf buildings with a lively, walkable district. But creating… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Alexandria and more
One Potomac Yard tax approved; Condo foreclosures up in Alexandria; DC wants online hotel sites to pay up; Bilbray wishes freeways jammed down DC’s throat; School crime stats are misleading; Bike sharing could get carbon credit revenue; TOD proposed at Laurel MARC; Where’s my lane?; And…. Keep reading…