Posts tagged Density
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These beautiful maps show how the region’s population density changed since 1970
DC’s population growth has slowed since the 2009 boom 10 years ago, but the population still continues to climb. In December, the US Census Bureau announced that DC’s population reached 702,455, officially passing the 700,000 mark. Keep reading…
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Beach town urbanism: There’s big density in small spaces in Cape May
Last year my family and I decided to visit Cape May, New Jersey for the first time after a lifetime of mostly sticking to beaches closer to DC. We liked it so much we went back again this year. One reason we returned is because the area is laid out a bit differently than most beach towns. Cape May offers a great example of a walkable and historic place. Keep reading…
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How housing density can help keep cities cooler
We all know Mid-Atlantic summers can be oppressively hot and humid. To me, sultry days in Richmond feel like I’m walking around inside someone else’s mouth! The bad news (for me and anyone else who experiences heat as a sweaty human) is that the number of days per year with a heat index—or a “feels-like” temperature—above 95°F is expected to at least double by mid century. Let’s talk about how land use factors into this equation. Keep reading…
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National links: Denser housing is more climate-friendly. Now Oregon wants to legalize it.
An Oregon bill could make denser housing, like duplexes and fourplexes, legal statewide. A new game lets you build a transit system. A Vancouver grocer uses embarrassing designs on plastic bags to encourage customers to use reusable ones. Keep reading…
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Residents who don’t want more people in Reston are resorting to misinformation
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is about to take up a proposal to change some of the zoning in Reston and allow for more people to live in certain areas near transit. Known as “Planned Residential Communities (PRC),” the proposal would raise the person-per-acre cap across those areas from 13 to 15. Keep reading…
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National links: Building “missing middle” housing won’t solve the shortage alone
Replacing single-family homes with duplexes and fourplexes is an important step, but we also need more apartments. Why is vehicle ownership growing in the country's most transit-oriented cities? The rise of “smart cities” has also sparked deep concerns about surveillance and lack of privacy. Keep reading…
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Alexandria lost 90% of its affordable homes in the past few decades. Is it really ‘radical’ to build more?
As of 2017, Alexandria lost 90% of the affordable housing it had back in 2000. The city could start to address this shortage by adding housing in areas currently zoned for single-family homes, in a way that would mimic some of its best neighborhoods. Keep reading…
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In a bold inaugural, Muriel Bowser says we need more housing, in every neighborhood
In her second inaugural address, DC mayor Muriel Bowser called for 36,000 new homes in DC, 240,000 in the Washington region, and targets for overall homes, workforce homes, and deeply affordable homes in every ward and neighborhood of the District. It's a bold vision. Keep reading…
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Lots of Fairfax communities are emphasizing transit and walkability. Why not Fair Oaks?
Fairfax is a big county with big plans. New transit lines accompanied with ambitious land use plans aim to transform areas like Tysons Corner, Reston, and Herndon in the northern half of the county, while the Embark Richmond Highway Plan is guiding growth in the southern portion. But what about the middle? Keep reading…
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Upzoning Arlington Ridge and Aurora Highlands could house Amazon employees—and then some
On the heels of the recent Amazon HQ2 announcement, important questions have been raised about how to accommodate the 25,000 new employees who will come to the Washington region. Our housing demand far outstrips the supply, even without Amazon. Keep reading…