Posts about HousingRSS
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We correctly described Marc Elrich’s wrong-headed, non-progressive Montgomery County land use ideas
Marc Elrich, a candidate for Montgomery County Executive, has been saying Greater Greater Washington took his words out of context in an opinion article, “Why Marc Elrich is not the right choice for Montgomery County Executive.” We did not misrepresent him, and stand by our reporting. Keep reading…
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This DC bill could help bolster affordable housing and protect low-income borrowers
In November 2017, DC Councilmember David Grosso (At-Large) introduced a bill that would likely increase affordable housing investments and low-income lending by banks that do business with the District government. Now local housing advocates say its passage is more important than ever. Keep reading…
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Why DC has so many rowhomes, and how they’re different from townhomes
Many neighborhoods in DC, from Capitol Hill to Petworth to Georgetown, have streets lined with rowhomes. This style evolved in response to the city's constraints on space, and these houses also help fill the need for a type of housing that's between detached homes and large apartment buildings. Keep reading…
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This is what Arlington residents think about their county
Arlington residents of all ages are concerned about housing costs. Many like new urban amenities and denser development but are worried about displacing lower-income neighbors. Others point to the county's affluence and pockets of racially homogenous communities and wonder what that says about their progressive values. Keep reading…
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Why I left small-city Wisconsin: the under-studied reason why Millennial couples are clustering in supercities
Low cost of living is a draw in small cities, but a partner's job can change the calculation. Even the promise of a backyard and time to grill won’t be enough to get many people back to midwestern towns. Keep reading…
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Historic preservation in DC needs reform
DC is undoubtedly a historic place, and it is essential that we use the tools we have to protect that history. However, DC is also a growing place, and a number of historic preservation cases and debates have revealed a preservation system in need of reform. Keep reading…
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Accessory apartments can improve housing affordability in DC — here’s how
Perhaps you’ve heard about Accessory Apartments (also commonly known as Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs) being allowed in DC, but did you know they can help our affordable housing crunch? We’ll break down what these apartments — which can be made from English basements, attics, carriage houses, and more — can do. Keep reading…
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Activists say a small office and retail building will gentrify Takoma Park. It’s already gentrified.
The City of Takoma Park has spent the better part of two decades trying to develop a publicly-owned parking lot in Takoma Junction, a prominent but downtrodden commercial area adjoining what is now one of the city’s most posh neighborhoods. The project is nearing final approval, but not everyone is happy. Keep reading…
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Banks find loopholes to deny blacks and Latinos home loans at twice the rate of whites
Here in the Washington region, African Americans are 2.2 times as likely to be denied a home mortgage loan compared to whites, an analysis from Reveal News shows. Latinos are 1.9 times as likely to be denied — even when controlling for factors like the applicant’s income, loan amount, and neighborhood. Keep reading…
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Why Marc Elrich is not the right choice for Montgomery County Executive
Marc Elrich is considered by many to be the front-runner in the Montgomery County Executive’s race. Greater Greater Washington has endorsed George Leventhal, but we know that many activists we agree with but for whom housing is not their top issue are supporting Marc Elrich. We wanted to explain why we believe he would be a dangerous choice for County Executive. Keep reading…
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Montgomery County doesn’t have enough homes. Will it use public land to help solve the problem?
Montgomery County is deep in the midst of a housing shortage, according to a county rental housing study released last year. The good news is that the study did not just list problems — it also outlined several ways to help solve them. Keep reading…
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Here are the top five issues you said GGWash should advocate on
The GGWash community cares about walkable, equitable urban places — that’s what we write and read about every day. We also take action when the right opportunity arises and do our best to take our cues from you, faithful readers, on what issues are worth organizing about. Keep reading…
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A small group just pushed through a historic district in my neighborhood. Here’s what happened.
Last week, DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) voted to designate our neighborhood, Kingman Park, as a historic district. This happened even though a review of comments to HPRB found a majority of residents opposed the designation. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County could have a brand new zoning code, but it’s off to a rocky start
Prince George’s zoning code is far out of step of today’s needs, so late last month the County Council introduced the first pieces of legislation to overhaul it. If passed, urban areas throughout the county could benefit greatly, but if this first vote was any indication, this change is not going to come easily. Keep reading…
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Tysons Corner wants people to live on the edge
There are big changes afoot in Tysons Corner, a flashy “edge” city where many people go to work, eat, and shop — but rarely live. Tysons’ vision for 2050 is to build transit-oriented development, a mix of density, and walkable spaces in an effort to attract new residents. Keep reading…
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Anacostia is using a land trust to maintain affordable housing
Change is coming rapidly to DC neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, and Anacostia in particular has seen rapidly-rising housing prices. The newly-designed 11th Street Bridge Park, almost certain to become a city-wide attraction like New York’s High Line, is also likely to further increase land and housing prices in the area. Keep reading…
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Events: Tech at the Wharf, NoVa transit projects, walking tour in White Flint, and more!
Learn more about the science and technology underpinning the Wharf, head to transportation camp in Baltimore, weigh in on future transit projects in Northern Virginia, see how Montgomery is remaking its suburbs, and more in events this week. Keep reading…
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A model YIMBY zoning code would give cities a guide to affordability
To solve the housing shortages that plague America's cities, zoning will need an overhaul. That overhaul would be more likely if cities had a guide. Keep reading…
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Surprise! The Mortgage Interest Deduction is now even more of a handout to the wealthy
Now that taxes have been filed (phew), we’re starting to get a look at how changes to the tax code made by the Republican Congress are affecting key programs. One of these, the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID), is a provision that doesn’t achieve its purported goal to increase homeownership and also skews its benefits towards richer households. Keep reading…
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Arlington’s old Red Cross HQ conversion sparks affordable housing debates
Today if you drive through Arlington on Route 50, you’ll pass a vacant building that once hosted the local Red Cross headquarters. In a few years, it will become a new multi-income development that will house more than a hundred residents in a transit-rich area of the county. Keep reading…
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