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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Veterans’ Plaza in Silver Spring worthy of The Turf’s legacy
Last week, I had a chance to walk around Veterans’ Plaza, the new small urban park that replaced The Turf at the corner of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring. I saw an array of benches, trees, unprogrammed space, and an amphitheater. Because of its simple layout and effective amenities, it will be even more successful than its celebrated… Keep reading…
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Should urbanists be nervous about Vince Gray? Part 3: Does Gray believe in Smart Growth?
This one is easy. On Smart Growth, Gray is on the right side. Sorry, antis. It’s true that many who oppose a growing city and think that a three-story townhouse is a skyscraper supported Vince Gray early, figuring he must be better than Mayor Fenty. However, they would be disappointed with a Gray mayoralty. Gray recently walked along Wisconsin Avenue from Tenleytown… Keep reading…
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Breakfast Links: Learning to share
Bike sharing the social way; Healthy employees are happy employees; Prince William County goes to the dogs; There must be an app for that; P is for Portland, but not for pedestrian; Newspaper page rage. Keep reading…
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Put a lid on DC’s reservoirs
Washington, DC has two major open-air reservoirs and several smaller capped ones. Each of these are, however fenced off for security creating dead zones in the city. Instead, D.C. should follow Seattle’s lead and put lids on its reservoirs. This will improve the quality of our water, make our water supply more secure and add acres of public space to the District’s portfolio. Starting… Keep reading…
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The little shop that survived (sort of)
A recent article in The Washington Post about the historic synagogue downtown that was moved once and will be moved again soon got me thinking about historic buildings in D.C. that have been moved. Georgetown’s exquisite Dumbarton House is another example; it was moved north about 50 feet in 1915 to allow the Georgetown stretch of Q Street to be connected up with its Washington… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: What a mess
Seat hogs rejoice; Murder is sooo 1991; As the crow flew; Stay right for cars; Cities of God and man; Atlanta express buses face shutdown; Fare hikes and the federal benefit; Third time’s the charm. Keep reading…
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Street tree care: How can it improve?
Washington, DC is nicknamed “City of Trees,” but its appropriateness is at risk along with many of DC’s trees. We must improve the way we care for our city’s trees to make this nickname relevant again, and soon. A few years ago, the city planted trees in the median of North Capitol Street, from Michigan Avenue to Hawaii Avenue, while the street was undergoing… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: The bike Rorschach test
Prince William County still sprawling; Metro collaborating with programmers; Increasingly alone driving alone; The Lorax army; Not all buses are created equal; Yes, schools still matter; Underground Fight Club; DC a hard place for Latinos; Spinning up conspiracies. Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: You are what you eat
UMD’s East Campus rises from the ashes; DC’s worst slumlord; Soccer moms rejoice!; If you’re building in San Francisco; Fare gate somersault; Drop that burger. Keep reading…
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Strip malls won’t help Wheaton redevelopment
In February 2008, El Pollo Rico burned down, taking half a block of downtown Wheaton with it. Over two years later, the site at Ennalls Avenue and Veirs Mill Road is filled once again. But the new shopping center, called Triangle Park, may not an improvement on what was there before. Triangle Park was developed by Greenhill Capital and designed by Steven J. Karr. Together, they’ve… Keep reading…