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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Where and What’s That?
I recently took a trip to a different city. Can you identify the city from the photos below? How many of these places can you identify? Each pair depicts the same building or site, except the middle pair, which are nearby. Keep reading…
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Weekend video: It’s a wonderful city
It’s easy to take for granted the importance of the planning process. But planning plays an important role in building the communities that make this region great. The planning department of Beverly Hills, California created this innovative video to explain why land use regulation is an important aspect of our cities. Keep reading…
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Can blight, or even an auto ad, invoke opportunity?
The ads shown during Super Bowl XLV have generated a great deal of both positive and negative buzz. Chrysler’s two-minute spot for its new 200 model proved to be an emotional tour de force for many viewers, not only for Michiganders, but also for those hailing from across the Rust Belt. Keep reading…
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Want to be on some DC boards?
Mayor Gray has to fill 5 of 9 slots on the Historic Preservation Review Board in the near future. He will also have two appointments to make to the Zoning Commission and two for the Board of Zoning Adjustment. Some seats have people whose terms have expired; Gray could reappoint some of the current members of any of these boards, or not. Other seats are currently vacant. The Committee… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Can Metro work with others?
How can streetcars interoperate?; Relations between police union, Metro sour; Metro stuck between rock, hard place; Maryland senators propose gas tax hikes; Norton wants elected DC DA; South PG has most growth; Amtrak ridership keeps growing; Long-awaited projects move forward; And…. Keep reading…
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Afternoon links: Contradictions galore
Solar Decathlon to National Harbor?; E-ZPass cameras okay by AAA; Affordable housing from heaven; Enlighten Brookland; How to avoid another commute from hell; Getting farm food into schools; Assessing Sarles; VRE mulls fare and policy changes; And…. Keep reading…
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Congo withdraws curb cut requests
The Republic of the Congo has withdrawn its request to build a circular driveway or a shorter one-way driveway in front of the property at 16th and Riggs where it hopes to move its embassy from Crestwood. At a hearing Tuesday before the Foreign Missions Board of Zoning Adjustment, the ambassador from the Republic of the Congo and his DC attorneys said they would modify their request… Keep reading…
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Chinatown’s Friendship Archway
Much of DC’s Chinatown is about symbols. The neighborhood is small and fragile, seemingly forever on the brink of extinction. Its identity hinges on a smattering of things Chinese: the restaurants (of course), the red and green lampposts, the Chinese characters on street signs. But without a doubt the most striking and enduring symbol of all is the great Friendship Archway,… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Shooting ourselves in the foot
APTA says scrutinize bag searches; Wealthier DC residents registering guns; The ICC’s mixed blessing; People coming into DCPS; Metro escalators are worse than they used to be; What should go at Rhode Island Avenue?; Home rule history has its ironies; Green homes bad, books good?. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Virginia all-in for roads
VA senate passes McDonnell’s roads plan; Wider roads top priority in new report; More “design by fire truck”; DoD should be chipping in for transportation; Evans unfazed by Snyder lawsuit; Development team selected for New Carrollton; Pepco frustration continues, MoCo eyes other options; More research says cities safer than suburbs for kids; Remembering freedom bus rides; And…. Keep reading…