Posts about Development
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Zoning laws are frequently abused. Here’s what they’re supposed to do.
Unfortunately, since zoning is ubiquitous throughout the development process, elected officials often try to use zoning legislation to coax developers in a different direction and to address community complaints — regardless of whether it's really the best mechanism to do so. Keep reading…
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DC has more historic buildings than Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia combined. Why?
As of 2016, DC had designated 26,749 properties as historic landmarks or historic districts. That’s 19.4 percent of all properties in the District — a proportion many times higher than in cities that are larger and/or older than Washington. Keep reading…
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Zoning can do a lot, but it can’t do it all
Some communities try to use zoning to force a specific type of business to be built in the neighborhood or to prevent too many people from moving in. Zoning laws can be a powerful way to shape neighborhoods — which means they're often abused. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County wants greener development
Including green building standards in the ordinance will help ensure that new development in Prince George’s will meet a minimum level of environmental friendliness. This in turn will help protect natural resources, reduce emissions, and generally support better health for everyone in the county. Keep reading…
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2017’s greatest hits: Brookland Manor offers a crash course in why housing in DC is so complicated
East of the the Rhode Island Avenue Metro, there’s a gigantic housing complex called Brookland Manor. The owners plan to redevelop it and say they’re building far more affordable housing than DC law requires. The people who live there now say the owners aren’t coming close to meeting the area’s need for affordable housing. They’re both right. This was one of our top posts from 2017. Keep reading…
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Here’s what Southeast Boulevard could look like
The District Department of Transportation held a second community meeting on the redevelopment plan for the Southeast Boulevard and Barney Circle. Here's what it could look like. Keep reading…
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Here’s why new homes are so expensive — and how we can fix that
The best way to make new houses less expensive is to allow more neighbors to live in your neighborhood. Just ask anyone who’s tried to build a house. Keep reading…
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Metro needs a loop to lasso riders from this growing corner of DC
The Capitol Riverfront is the fastest-growing part of DC, which could create a bottleneck on the Green Line at the L'Enfant Plaza stop at the area continues to boom. This loop could help relieve the congestion. Keep reading…
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Montgomery County is adapting to changing retail trends, but can it adapt its reputation?
In Montgomery County, a new study aims to prepare suburban shopping districts for the future of retail. However, the area's problem isn't vacancies, but its reputation. Keep reading…
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Why I oppose historic designation for Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale is in fact very historic, but a closer look reveals that this initiative is less about preserving history and more about limiting the kind of changes residents can make with their homes. Keep reading…