Land Use
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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Was your neighborhood “obsolete” in 1950?
The National Capital Park and Planning Commission, forerunner to today’s NCPC, declared most of Shaw, Mount Vernon Square and Triangle, Capitol Hill, Southwest, Buena Vista and other neighborhoods “obsolete” in 1950. Yes, amazingly, they really used that term. Keep reading…
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Close 13th Street all day next July 4th
The National Mall is a great place to watch DC’s July 4th fireworks celebration. But it’s also such a tremendous hassle that many Washingtonians prefer to watch from more local neighborhood spots. A street festival on 13th Street, NW would instantly become the prime non-Mall celebration. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Heat wave
Heat to blame; Wave bye to heat wave; I70 turns in sigs; Another tech tax break; Wild city; Bike more places in parks; Less smart growth; And…. Keep reading…
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Weekend links: Buckle up
Heat may be damaging roads; Riders get no info to evacuate train; Wells is running; We’re #14!; Office development seeks shift to housing; Planners underestimate induced demand; Who needs an SUV?; And…. Keep reading…
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DC tech execs ask for better spaces for startups
7 owners of DC technology companies sent a letter to the DC Council and Deputy Mayor Victor Hoskins today proposing aggressive new initiatives to build the DC tech sector. The executives ask DC to prioritize helping startups find space and to create vision like New York’s Innovation Island. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Cabs and CaBi
Cabs go plastic; Taxis against the world; CaBi in Fairfax?; NPS considering Arlington boathouse; Light rail gets PAC; Target streetcar, hit other things too; Get ready to fight in the states; And…. Keep reading…
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What would you ask LivingSocial or DC officials?
Next week, Ken Archer will discuss the LivingSocial tax deal and ways DC can foster more of an innovative technology sector as part of a panel July 11 with LivingSocial’s CFO, Lisa Mayr, and David Zipper, the DC official who spearheaded the tax break. What questions would you like to ask? Moderator Peter Corbett has agreed to ask at least one of the best questions our readers… Keep reading…
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Montgomery’s McMansions will need to find a new purpose
Skeptics of Montgomery County’s proposal to allow homeowners to build accessory apartments more easily claim it will change or harm single-family neighborhoods. But recent trends in housing suggest that those neighborhoods will change anyway. Slightly less than half of Montgomery households live in single-family homes today, and pretty soon they may no longer be… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Obligations
WV wants to keep MARC service; Why the Silver Line survived; Gray fills boards; CaBi rolls along; Can’t afford it anymore; SF allows rear boardings; California’s loss is Northeast’s gain; Planning heads for mayor!. Keep reading…
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Holiday links: For the fourth
How to get around; Non-profit drives drinkers home; Safety rules a waste?; WCP gets bought; Charles County adopts traffic cameras; Rents in NoMa, Capitol Riverfront rise the most; Only some city brands stick; NPS will soon change vending contract; Don’t assault anyone; And…. Keep reading…