Posts about Planning
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Our 2018 endorsements for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 2
When tourists visit DC, they spend most of their time in Ward 2 — it’s home to Georgetown, Dupont and Logan Circles, downtown, and the Mall. But for those of you who call these places home, this November you have a number of candidates to choose between for local office. Keep reading…
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How 1920s-era zoning laws separated people from what they love about cities
A new video by the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University shares some history of how zoning laws caused decades of construction that separated people from the things they tend to love about city living, such as easy access to shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and random encounters with diverse people. Keep reading…
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How the Washington & Old Dominion railroad created Northern Virginia’s suburbs
Today, the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) is a paved trail used for fun and commuting across Northern Virginia. Of course, originally the Washington & Old Dominion was a railroad — one with a long and convoluted history that helped form Dunn Loring, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, and other communities that still exist to this day. Keep reading…
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Imagine being able to take a train to Great Falls. That was once reality.
Today, the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) is a paved bicycle trail used for fun and for commuting across Northern Virginia. Of course, the Washington & Old Dominion was originally a railroad — one with a long and convoluted history that helped form communities along it including Dunn Loring, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, and Ashburn. Keep reading…
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There is way more parking than people in Prince George’s. Why are spots sometimes hard to find?
Is there enough parking in Prince George's County? It’s common to hear residents decry the perceived lack of parking, usually along with some anecdote about driving around for half an hour looking for a parking spot or having to wait in a lot for someone to leave, but is this the norm or the exception? Keep reading…
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The “Toilet Paper Test” is a litmus test for walkability. Does your home pass?
If you're at home and you need to buy an emergency roll of toilet paper, can you do so conveniently without using a vehicle? Keep reading…
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Could putting a park on top of an underpass work in Bloomingdale too?
This April, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented initial design ideas for the long-awaited “deck-over” project that would cover Connecticut Avenue’s open-air underpass north of Dupont Circle. Residents proposed the idea in 2010 and the Council allocated $10 million in the fiscal year 2015 budget to realize it. Keep reading…
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Events: Help move 25% of DC commuters to walk, bike, or scoot!
Do you care about smarter, more sustainable commuting? DC has set a goal in its sustainability plan for 25% of trips to happen by walking, bicycling, and scooting. How can we hit this target? Keep reading…
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No, Reston is not going to be denser than Manhattan
Reston is set to grow a lot over the next couple of decades as Metro's Silver Line is completed, transforming parts of the area from quiet, isolated office parks to denser office and apartment buildings. However, it's important to remember that density is just one measure of what a community feels like, and there are many ways to arrive at the same numbers of people per square mile. Keep reading…
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Arlington Cemetery is expanding to the south. That could help cyclists.
Arlington National Cemetery is expanding by 70 acres because it expects to run out of room in about 25 years. Southgate Road will close, and Columbia Pike will be realigned further south. The cemetery will get the land where those streets are now, and Columbia Pike will get a fresh design that's hopefully more multimodal. Keep reading…