Posts tagged Preservation
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Passed in 2008, this affordable housing law has never been used. Now DC is finally getting ready for DOPA.
Here's our handy primer to help you understand the nuances of DOPA, or the District Opportunity to Purchase Act, and how it's different from TOPA, the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. Keep reading…
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Neighbors weighed in early, and it led to an 80% affordable development in Petworth. Could other projects follow this model?
Over the years, there’s been a lot of back and forth about what to do with the old Hebrew Home and Paul Robeson School. Now the city, with extensive input from area residents, has taken a big step forward in bringing almost 200 homes to the site. Keep reading…
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Baltimore may sell homes for $1 instead of demolishing them
Baltimore's population decline has led to a dearth of buildings, some which have been left to deteriorate. Now the city is considering a measure that would allow people to buy homes for $1 instead of demolishing them. Keep reading…
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You can now build an accessory apartment in DC to make some money! Here’s a step-by-step guide.
Maybe you've heard about accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs or accessory apartments. New DC laws now allow them to be built in much of the city. If you've been thinking about installing one in your house but don't know how, we're here to help! Keep reading…
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DC’s height restrictions are contentious. Here’s what we could learn from cities around the world.
Height restrictions aren’t a black-and-white issue; cities around the world have balanced historical preservation and modern development in a variety of different ways. What could DC learn from Paris, Milan, London, and others? Keep reading…
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Prince George’s zoning code rewrite could make the county greener and less car-dependent
Zoning impacts everyone, down to the most local level–that's why Prince George's County's comprehensive rewrite of their 1,200-page, overly complex code is such a big deal. Keep reading…
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Should this plain box Pepco substation in Tenleytown really be a landmark?
Designating historic landmarks is a valuable piece of the land use policy landscape, but this mechanism isn't immune to abuse by those who don't want new development. Case in point? Efforts to preserve this decidedly unremarkable Pepco substation. Keep reading…
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As a new resident of Arlington, am I a burden or an opportunity?
To her longtime Arlington county neighbors, a new resident feels like she and her family are seen as a problem to manage and an obstacle to preserving the community as it has been. Keep reading…
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This online GIS atlas reveals the history of Prince George’s County
Hey history buffs: Prince George's Atlas has a slew of fascinating old aerial photos, maps, and other cartographic information about the county, including property boundaries and environmental information. What did your neighborhood look like a century ago? Keep reading…
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Dozens organize against allowing additional three people per acre in Reston
Fairfax wants to raise the zoning cap on how many people can live in Reston from 13 to 16 people per acre in certain areas–and some neighbors aren't happy. Keep reading…