Posts tagged DcRSS
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People use the built environment how they need it, not always how it’s intended
Ever since the opening of Phase I in October 2017, the Wharf in DC has seen flocks of people at its restaurants, historic fish market, boardwalk and various piers. The “Recreation Pier” has public swings that are one of the first urban elements you see when entering the Wharf through 7th Street. Keep reading…
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Ask GGWash: Should I commute between Baltimore and DC?
I just spent the past year living in Baltimore and commuting to work in DC. Since housing is so expensive in the District, a lot of people have asked me whether I would recommend commuting between the two cities. Keep reading…
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65 top Maryland officials to Wiedefeld: End the late night Metro cuts
Late last night, 65 elected officials from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties sent an official letter to Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, urging him to restore Metro’s late night service. Keep reading…
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Metro needs late night service, and to not catch on fire
On Thursday, the WMATA board will vote on whether or not to extend the current suspension of late night Metro hours, which is set to expire next summer. Chair and DC Councilmember Jack Evans has threatened to veto any move that will push back the return of late night Metro service. Keep reading…
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LGBTQ youth disproportionately experience homelessness. Some are also entrepreneurs.
Homelessness impacts people from many backgrounds, so it may not seem like an LGBTQ issue. However, the District's 2017 Homeless Youth Census found that 31% of young people experiencing homelessness self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or queer/questioning, and 6% self-identified as transgender. Keep reading…
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The DC Council just cut $20 million for homeless services to fund tax breaks for commercial properties
On December 4, the DC Council moved to divert an estimated $20 million in new tax funds it had pledged for homeless programs to instead reduce the property tax rate for commercial entities valued at $10 million or more. That could have funded permanent supportive housing for about 730 people or long-term housing vouchers to about 1,000 very low-income families. Keep reading…
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Tell Mayor Bowser and Jack Evans: No secret Congressional deal for a stadium giveaway at RFK
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Councilmember Jack Evans, Trump officials, and Congressional Republicans are trying to put a rider in the federal spending bill that would make it easier to build a new stadium at the current RFK site. Keep reading…
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Events: A fireside chat about how governments can take better risks
'Tis the season to dispel the dark wintry cold by joining GGWash for a “fireside chat,” stoking courage in government officials who want to actively make their communities better. Many factors lead government agencies to be risk-averse, but we can change that. Keep reading…
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DC is very close to funding more public restrooms. Here’s what some people experiencing homelessness think.
On Tuesday, December 4 the DC Council put a bill to fund public restrooms on its consent agenda, meaning it's almost certain to be passed in a final vote next week. GGWash has been partnering with the People for Fairness Coalition to push for more public restrooms downtown. Keep reading…
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Georgetown University once almost built a neoclassical bus station
In 1985 as Georgetown University considered its plans for the future, University Architect Dean Price sketched this illustration of a possible neoclassical bus station. Keep reading…
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Events: More bicycle lanes please!
Our calendar doesn't have very many events this week, but mark your planners for a GGWash “fireside chat” next Friday at noon about how government can take better risks. Is there a great urbanist event going on this week that we don't know about? Let us know in the comments! Keep reading…
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Long Bridge expansion will add new railroad tracks and a bike trail between DC and Virginia
New plans call to double the number of railroad tracks over the Potomac River between DC and Arlington, and to build a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge between Southwest Washington and Crystal City. Keep reading…
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DC gave initial approval to weakened clean energy legislation
The DC Council gave preliminary approval to landmark clean energy legislation last Tuesday that would make DC a leader in the fight against climate change. Keep reading…
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Ask GGWash: How can I get into urban planning?
We respond to reader email: “Nothing gets me going like an old proposed expanded Metro map that runs through Thomas Circle and “Longfellow Square.” I want to figure out how I could turn all this energy and creativity and interest into something more. Do you have ideas or suggestions for places I should look for entry-level jobs that could lead me down this path?” Keep reading…
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A grand Bicentennial project was partly built on Kingman and Heritage Islands. Now most traces have disappeared.
In the early 1970s, the District created a Bicentennial Commission to manage the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution. DC Mayor Walter Washington wanted the District to have its own Bicentennial project, focused on providing new opportunities to young people by creating activity centers, and drawing new tourist dollars to city coffers. Keep reading…
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If DC is serious about being a green city, it should encourage dockless scooters
Since I left the US Department of Transportation a couple of years ago, one of the most transformative developments in how Americans get around is the e-scooter. I see them every day in downtown Washington, DC and in several major cities where I travel. Keep reading…
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Here’s what happens when your bicycle is stolen
People are more likely to feel that bicycling is a safe, effective means of getting around when stolen bicycles are recovered and abandoned bikes are removed. This also makes stealing bicycles less attractive. In DC, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Department of Public Works (DPW) are the agencies that work together to provide these services. Keep reading…
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Is underground housing a bad thing?
The Scottish Rite Masonic temple in Dupont Circle plans to build apartments on some empty space behind its building. One element of the project is two levels of apartments below the ground level. This has raised the question: is underground living an abomination, or something people can choose to pay for as they wish? Keep reading…
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Here’s what bus lanes on 14th Street NW could look like
14th Street in Columbia Heights could get bus lanes, if a proposal from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) becomes reality. The plans are in the early stages, and agency and neighborhood officials are looking for feedback. Keep reading…
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Events: Help government take better risks
How can government take better risks? We'll discuss at a fireside chat with Nelson\Nygaard's Jeff Tumlin, former DC Water head George Hawkins, and former DC planning director Harriet Tregoning. Also, talk about Spin joining the ranks of scooter companies in DC, Arlington parking, Virginia housing, the Long Bridge, and entrepreneurship. Keep reading…
