Posts about Development
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Identifying your block’s zoning is easy. Here’s how to do it.
Zoning ordinances might seem intimidating, but it's easier than you think to figure out what's allowed to be built in your area–promise. Here's a step-by-step guide to navigating local zoning codes: Keep reading…
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Three things you need to know to get land-use woke
America’s history of land use is fundamentally racist, exclusionary, and exploitative. If we’re going to have productive conversations about where to go, we need to understand what got us here. Keep reading…
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Bids, bids, bids: What should we make of the Washington region’s efforts to woo Amazon?
DC and Fairfax/Loundoun have just released their Amazon HQ2 bids, but are they good for area residents? Our contributors have a lot of mixed feelings about them. Keep reading…
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Here’s the reality: Montgomery County needs smart growth
In the 1970’s, Montgomery County led the way on progressive growth. Now residents have to rise to the occasion again to build the Montgomery of 2040 through smart policies that prioritize accessible transit and affordable housing. 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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Will apartments on top of grocery stores overwhelm Reston?
Keeping zoning limits low won't stop the job and family growth that brings people Reston. Letting people live where they can walk, bike, or take transit to their jobs or errands–rather than force them to drive for every trip–is a far better method to accommodate that growth. 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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DC has over 14 million square feet of vacant office space. What if some became homes?
While there's a glut of empty office space in downtown DC, there is a dearth of homes available for rent or purchase in the area. Could tax incentives to transform vacant offices into homes help with the city's housing shortage? Keep reading…
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The developers of Union Market want DC to pay for more parking
The DC Council appears to be moving forward with plans to update Union Market, including a $36 million underground parking facility. Critics say the city should incentivize alternative forms of transportation instead of subsidizing private parking. Keep reading…
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DC now allows accessory apartments to be built in residential zones. What happens next?
Expanding accessory apartments could benefit DC in a variety of ways, including increasing the supply of affordable housing without government subsidies, creating opportunities for multi-generational households to form, and diversifying housing stock. Keep reading…