Recent Posts
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Lost Washington: Childs fast food restaurants
On Massachusetts Avenue at North Capitol Street NW, close to Union Station, stands a rather striking SunTrust bank building. How did this stately little building with its big windows and rough, pumice-like walls land on this corner, and why is it put to such nondescript use? It’s lived a number of lives through the years. Designed as a restaurant, cheery and inviting, it… Keep reading…
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Retail spaces “too big” or College Park population too small?
One of the main arguments for more student housing in downtown College Park is that there simply aren’t enough people in the area to support all of the stores, bars and restaurants in the area. College Park’s three-block business district is a revolving door of store closings, where new retail options open with great fanfare and close within a few months. It’s… Keep reading…
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How can DC fix the liquor license process?
A number of businesses’ recent tangles with DC’s liquor license process has clearly shown the need for reform. The long saga of Hank’s Oyster Bar in Dupont Circle clearly demonstrates the flaws as well as some strengths of the current system. Back in 2005, Jamie Leeds wanted to open a restaurant on Q Street NW just east of 17th Street. However, a number of residents… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Stop the harassment
Metro PD harasses photographer; DC Council considers bullying law; The plan changed, comprehensively; Are parks a “public good”?; Chesapeake Bay states wrestle with clean-up; The latest anti-bike screed; Melbourne bike share failing; Rich giving up the American dream. Keep reading…
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Should DC dump the sales tax?
DC should consider getting rid of the bottom tier of the sales tax and replacing it with a higher income tax. This could stimulate business, help the working poor by removing a regressive tax, and retain more money within the District by taking advantage of federal deduction rules. Replacing this part of the sales tax with an income tax on higher earners would transform the bottom… Keep reading…
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NoMA has no parks thanks to flawed upzoning
When DC officials rezoned the land north of Union Station to create NoMA, they triggered the creation of a brand-new neighborhood. Unfortunately, they forgot to leave space for a park, and created an economic dynamic that virtually ruled out any parks. Last week, Tommy Wells introduced a bill to try to fix this glaring omission. As Michael Neibauer explains in a Business Journal… Keep reading…
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How do you choose a DC public school?
Every parent wants the best for their children. But how do you find the best public school for your child? If you are considering where or whether to live in DC, how do you know if your nearby schools are any good? The growing pile of data can add to the confusion, since in many cases it isn’t clear how achievement is being defined and what these numbers mean for students. In DC,… Keep reading…
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Georgetown ANC debates additional CaBi stations tonight
Georgetown’s 4 Capital Bikeshare stations surround the neighborhood, but avoid the residential area and its 8,500 residents entirely. Tonight, the ANC will discuss the possibility of expanding CaBi into the neighborhood. If you want to see more CaBi stations in the Georgetown neighborhood, it’s important for you to show up and tell the ANC why you want… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Houses and cars
Washingtonians spend too much on housing; New suburbanites struggle without cars; Shoo, parties; Local design criteria have value; Start of a new cycle in Rosslyn?; Virginia has a lot of aging bridges; Former DOT secretary prioritizes roads; Detroit fills grocery void with independent markets; Demand for 2BR apartments growing. Keep reading…
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Struck in DC this week: Don’t be a jerk edition
On Friday morning, two elderly pedestrians were injured, one seriously, by a hit-and-run-cyclist in an alley near the 500 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW. As WashCycle notes, “this story was picked up by just about every news outlet.” The reason it got so much attention, while countless other hit-and-run incidents barely get mentioned, is because it’s… Keep reading…