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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Evans withdraws ticket plan, blasts criticism
Thanks to the many of you who sent letters yesterday, Jack Evans decided not to propose his budget amendment to allocate free sports tickets among councilmembers. Evans is also, not surprisingly, displeased that I compared his attitude over tickets to malfeasance from Harry Thomas Jr, Kwame Brown, and Harriette Walters. Primarily, he argues that it was inappropriate to criticize… Keep reading…
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Breakfast Links: Bring the buses
Buses growing more quickly than rail; It’s affordable, but not mortgagable; What’s up with Walter Reed; District budget approved; Council shuffle creates new development committee; Memorial Circle still dangerous; What is the Corcoran thinking?; Time running out on transpo bill; How Battery Park City became rich. Keep reading…
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Plan revitalizes Burtonsville with housing, street grid, parks
Burtonsville’s had a hard time over the past few years. A highway bypass hurt local businesses, the beloved Dutch Country Farmers Market skipped town, and nearly a third of the village center is vacant. But that could soon change if a redevelopment plan is adopted. Montgomery County planners say they know how to stop the bleeding. Their Burtonsville Crossroads Neighborhood… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Not easy being a business
Secondhand stores safe; DC not so easy for small business; Corcoran of Alexandria?; Will Tysons lose more trees?; Congress considers more monuments; Better sewers benefit all; Listen car-free; And…. Keep reading…
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Public land deals give hot neighborhoods affordable housing
Someone sitting in the lively plaza in the heart of Columbia Heights or enjoying a bite to eat at 5th & K’s Busboys and Poets might not know that the shiny new apartment buildings nearby house both well-off residents and and those earning modest to very low incomes. The new mixed-income buildings, built on formerly city-owned land, contain 20-35% affordable housing that… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Neglect
Entrepreneur lets estate decay; Where’s the exit, Metro?; Building falls down; Some live off the beaten path; Walkable North Bethesda vs. U Street; Time to shuffle committees?; Soccer proposal gets numbers; McDonnell backing off Silver Line. Keep reading…
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Weekend links: Come see DC
DC almost top vacation spot; Right-wing group fighting Silver Line; Take the boring out of transit; Kwame divides, Brown unites; Restaurant pavilion right for St. E’s?; Who doesn’t want Alexandria bikeshare?; Fewer, smaller gulps?. Keep reading…
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Hine supporters do live on Capitol Hill
Opponents of the Hine project have been trying to discredit anyone who supports it, claiming they have business relationships with Stanton-Eastbanc, don’t live in the area, or other. That’s false. Keep reading…
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Ask Kwame to keep the West End housing deal affordable
Unless DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown reverses course, the long-awaited replacement of the West End Library and fire station will move forward without the originally-promised affordable housing. Please Tell Chairman Brown to fund West End affordable housing. Long planned as a 52-unit project of very affordable apartments for those earning up to 60% of area median… Keep reading…
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Don’t waste public money to woo Bloomingdale’s
Both Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chair Kwame Brown may want to use tax increment financing to lure a high-end tenant like Bloomingdale’s to the Georgetown Park mall, the Current reported. That’s a foolish policy. In tax increment financing (“TIF”), the city issues bonds for a particular project and gives the money to a private developer. A portion… Keep reading…