Photo by Chesapeake Bay Program on Flickr.

Did Gray know?

Jeffrey Thompson pled guilty to campaign finance violations and claimed that Mayor Vince Gray personally knew about the illegal “shadow campaign” funds in the 2010 election. The mayor says the allegations are “lies.” (Post)  

Catania’s in

In the wake of the revelations, David Catania plans to run for mayor in November’s general election as an independent. (NBC4)  

Good times for transit ridership

Public transit use in the US reached the highest levels since 1956, accounting for 10.7 billion mass transit trips in 2013. The growth was nationwide, with commuter rail gaining the most momentum. DC saw the biggest jump in bus ridership nationally. (NYT, Atlantic Cities)  

Is the FBI building hackable?

One architecture firm has a fairly radical concept for reusing most of the Brutalist FBI building on Pennsylvania Avenue. This is part of an emerging idea some call “hackable buildings.” (Post)  

Demolish or renovate?

Chevy Chase, DC residents are pleading with a developer not to tear down a classic house in the neighborhood. Neighbors overwhelmingly voted to turn down a historic district a few years ago that would have prevented it. (WTOP)  

Fence quarrel

The Chevy Chase homeowner who built a fence in the Purple Line right of way argues that contributor Wayne Phyllaier, who reported it to the county, “has no legitimate interest” in the fence issue and calls Phyllaier’s report a “personal attack.” (BethesdaNow)  

Is “rails to trails” history?

In an 8 to 1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that abandoned train easements cannot be reclaimed for the purposes of building a bike path. This could put the “rails to trails” program in jeopardy. (USA Today)  

To remain separate?

At the National Women’s Bike Forum, one day prior to the National Bike Summit, participants considered whether a separate event for female bike advocates empowered or segregated them. (Streetsblog)  

And…

An Arlington teen built a 12-foot snow fort. Is it out of scale with the neighbor­hood? (ArlNow) … More new housing in the United States is multifamily rentals than in over 40 years. In our region, it’s 33.4%, but could reach 37% by 2032. (UrbanTurf)