Land Use
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Photo by jennifer yin licensed under Creative Commons
Greater Greater Washington writes about where we live, work, and play, why we make the location choices we do, and what forces shape these places.
Many people would like to live in safe, diverse, walkable neighborhoods with access to transit, stores, parks, good schools, and other amenities. While our region has more walkable urban places than most, the demand still exceeds available housing, making these places more expensive (and prices keep rising rapidly).
We must ensure that there are enough housing choices so everyone who wants to live in such a neighborhood can choose to do so. We should ensure that housing in desirable areas is available to people at many points along the income spectrum, and take action to fight segregation. And we can improve the vitality of all neighborhoods by encouraging new retail and amenities to improve the quality of life for all residents.
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Inclusionary zoning will soon be making a difference in DC
Nearly 3 years after regulations were finalized, DC’s inclusionary zoning (IZ) program is beginning to have a positive effect on affordable housing stock in the city. While the program has suffered a slow start up because of grandfathering and the recession’s effect on residential development, the program’s 3rd annual report suggests that IZ in… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: On the brink
CMs call for Gray resignation; Keep it simple; Number of cracks grow; Sidewalk or trees; DCU inches toward stadium; Wheaton Costco ban his snag; BRT creep in California; And…. Keep reading…
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Do you know the other Watergate?
Before “Watergate” became synonymous with a group of buildings and a scandal, it was the name applied to something else. And it’s something that most of us are very familiar with, especially if you’re an avid runner who heads down to the Lincoln Memorial, on the Potomac River side. There are a series of steps between the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River, which give the odd impression… Keep reading…
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On the calendar: Speak up for Hine, Montgomery BRT; learn about Prince George’s medical center, Arlington CaBi
Important and interesting hearings and forums are happening in the next few days about the Hine project (tonight), Arlington’s Capital Bikeshare (tonight), Montgomery BRT (tomorrow), and next week, a forum about where the Prince George’s medical center should go. Tonight is the final Zoning Commission hearing on the Hine project at Eastern Market, and the commission… Keep reading…
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Spingarn remains the best option for streetcar barn
A group of residents in the Carver-Langston neighborhood of Ward 5 have successfully lobbied councilmember Kenyan McDuffie to oppose a streetcar maintenance facility in the southeastern corner of the ward. If they succeed in blocking the planned facility at that location, the city is left with few options that aren’t very viable. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie… Keep reading…
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Wheaton will redevelop with or without BF Saul
Unhappy with getting a smaller slice of downtown Wheaton than they originally hoped for, developer BF Saul has pulled out of Montgomery County’s redevelopment scheme for the area. Residents impatient for new investment will be frustrated, but Wheaton’s revival is already underway, and it’ll continue with or without BF Saul. Two years ago, County Executive… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Taxis and corruption
Council passes taxi bill, spares Uber; Harris pleads guilty; Bring more power lines underground?; Amtrak eyes larger Union Station; Designing smaller apartments; Map DC’s abandoned bicycles; Takoma Park mulls municipal power company; And…. Keep reading…
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Then and now: Dulles sprawl
NASA’s Earth Observatory site shows how sprawl in the Dulles Airport area has grown through a comparison of 2 satellite images, one from 1984 and one from 2011. $(window).load(function() { $(’#container’).beforeAfter({ animateIntro : true, introDelay : 1000, introDuration : 1500, introPosition : .5, showFullLinks : true, beforeLinkText: ‘Show… Keep reading…
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1950 plan shows never-built freeways
The 1950 plans for DC show massive efforts to remove people from so-called “blighted” neighborhoods, and give more fascinating and scary insights into the urban development mindset of the day. They also include a full-color map showing the many freeways then planned for DC: Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Make it high speed
Make the NEC high-speed, gradually; California moves ahead with high-speed rail; Uber would be legal, but have to stay pricey; McDuffie opposes car barn; Cafritz project approved; Gray election consultant charged; DC breathalyzers may return; And…. Keep reading…