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: Solutions for Northern Virginia
DoD to pay for express buses to Mark Center; Reps want Metro extension studies; How to get complete streets in Alexandria?; Alexandria proposes own Metro Board changes; Talking streetcars with Dan Tan; Snow preparation costs money; NYC taxis all disappear at the same time; Barclay Bikes not so great?; And…. Keep reading…
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What will we fund if Maryland increases the gas tax?
January means the start of the legislative session for Maryland, and the General Assembly meets tomorrow for the first time. The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding is likely to recommend a major funding increase for transportation that includes a gas tax hike, but we’ve heard little about a strategic plan for where to put that money. The Commission… Keep reading…
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Historic aerials show the disappearance of Southwest
HistoricAerials.com is a Google Maps-like page featuring aerial imagery from decades past. Its database includes images of Washington from several years. The earliest aerials they have of the area are from 1949. It’s a fascinating way to watch neighborhoods change decade-to-decade. The most visibly changed neighborhood in DC over the past 60 years has probably… Keep reading…
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St. Elizabeths plan threatens South Capitol Trail
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Department of Homeland Security at St. Elizabeths is available for comment. It includes several improvements that should appeal to cyclists, but at least one alternative threatens the important, planned South Capitol Street trail. To accommodate the increase in jobs, the EIS primarily adds vehicular capacity by widening South… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Planning the deets
Getting into the Purple Line details; Finalizing connections to Tysons stations; Fairfax may limit parking near Metro; Alexandria needs an add-on tax; Congress needs a dorm; Will political shooting raise security?; Listen to the riders; Jamieson knows what WMATA PR should say; “War on drivers” is nonsense; And…. Keep reading…
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DC does have some great public spaces, as do the suburbs
There are lots of great public spaces in the DC area, but they can come in unexpected places. Post architecture critic Philip Kennicott, laments DC’s lack of public squares, like Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia: We have none, of course. Washington is a city of avenues and streets, coming together in circles that do not function well as public spaces. Our grand ceremonial… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: What’s effective?
Tommy talks Metro & bags; MD smart growth policies ineffective; Councilmember Biddle; Another fight in Metro station; Metro to use 3-day weekend closures more; Developments in the works for 2011; NY Ave redevelopment not held up by historic preservation; Ohio puts interstate extension in multimodal plan; And…. Keep reading…
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Terrible parking ideas come from Boston’s “T”
The Washington area might have a ways to go to make suburban communities more walkable, and it might be the sport of the year to criticize WMATA, but at least we’re not Boston. While WMATA is making it a priority to and wants to avoid building huge numbers of new parking spaces, the MBTA is proposing a variety of terrible parking-related ideas. The “T” is… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Bad choices, good choices
Dulles Metro station won’t be in front of terminal; DC bag fee works, VA & MD ponder own fees; RAC opposes bag searches; Kass promoted on transportation committee; Welcome, GOP majority; How CaBi may expand; Historic preservation not always a hindrance; Help create transit manual; And…. Keep reading…
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Could transit benefits attract zoo members?
Any avid “zoogoer” will tell you that becoming a Friend of the National Zoo (FONZ) is a no-brainer. For car owners, one perk stands out among the generous benefits: free parking. A quick cost-benefit analysis shows why drivers appreciate the free parking benefit, in particular. Up to three hours of parking in the zoo lots would cost $15 according to the recently revised… Keep reading…