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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Breakfast links: LivingCheaply
DC gives LivingSocial big bucks; DC budget autonomy on hold again; Wells is against private streetcars; McDonnell wants Loudoun to join Silver Line; Walk a mile in a neighbor’s shoes; Beat back anti-bikeshare arguments; A lot you didn’t know about Moses; Walk Score gets better; And…. Keep reading…
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Turn Richmond Highway back into a string of distinct places
The 9-mile stretch of Richmond Highway between the Beltway and Fairfax County Parkway traverses an extraordinarily diverse swath of Fairfax County. There are many informal names that locals use to describe the various sections of the corridor, such as Penn Daw, Beacon Hill, Groveton, Hybla Valley, Gum Springs, Mount Zephyr, Woodlawn, and Accotink. While some of these… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: It will grow
Columbia Pike will change; What’s up in northern Maryland; Streetcar will move ahead?; Gray for campaign finance reform; Lots waiting for charters; Watch David talk Metro; Will Boxer cave?; Waters rising in Delmarva. Keep reading…
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Citizens make big impact with low-cost bus stop seating
For weary bus riders, especially seniors and people with disabilities, comfortable seating at bus shelters is a necessity. Even while many governments expand bus service, they often regard seating as an unaffordable or unneeded luxury. In one corner of northern Virginia, a group of residents have crafted a grassroots solution, giving their neighbors a place to sit while they wait… Keep reading…
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Metro’s 17-foot long “experimental station”
At first glance, this looks like a mundane promotional photo from the early days of Metro’s Judiciary Square station. It isn’t. You’re looking at a full-scale “experimental” station built in 1968 to practice underground building techniques. It wasn’t underground. And it wasn’t at Judiciary Square. Washington’s… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Prince George’s future
Prince George’s casino still possible; More white families moving into Prince George’s; Reckless councilmember, light punishment?; Bellevue library is pretty great; Feds ignoring homeless?; Traffic noise can give you a heart attack; Deregulation cut bus ridership?; And…. Keep reading…
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Weekend links: Arrive
Anacostia gets costlier; Gray flies to China on the cheap; Nationals sell out; DC aims to take back buses; Church looks to own entire block; The diversity of LeDroit Park; Hong Kong becomes mega-region without unity; And…. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Bigger and better Metro
No extension on extension decision; Safety on the rise; More sprawl faster; No parking for post; Hine closer to consensus; Rant wrong on libertarianism, right on DPW failure; Crystal City will be more crystal-like; And…. Keep reading…
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Schools and taverns can coexist
The Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board will grant a license for All Souls, the proposed restaurant to occupy the long-vacant storefront at 725 T Street NW in the Shaw neighborhood. While most liquor license applications face protests over noise and trash, several residents had objected on the grounds that children at the school across the street would be harmed by merely… Keep reading…
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Let’s attract companies with our workers, not with subsidies
DC has grown its private sector by investing in urban amenities that attract a 21st century workforce. Other states simply give companies direct subsidies to attract them instead, providing little external benefit. But the DC Council is about to do exactly that, by giving LivingSocial a $32.5 million location subsidy with few strings attached. DC’s sizable,… Keep reading…