Photo by StreetsofWashington on Flickr.

Public housing demolition by neglect

DC’s Housing Authority has seen its federal funding cut in half while demand has soared. The agency is warning that some units could become permanently uninhabitable without a capital injection. (Atlantic Cities)  

Homeless in DC

Declining housing affordability has caused a surge in the number of homeless families in DC. Excluding the District, homelessness has declined in the region; the number of homeless people in Montgomery County, which has made a big push for permanent housing, is at an all-time low. (Post, BethesdaNow)  

Intersection of less-certain doom

Arlington County has approved changes where the Custis Trail crosses of Lynn Street just south of the Key Bridge. Bikes won’t get their own signal, but extended curbs and better sight lines are a start. (Post)  

The price of control

Arlington County will pay almost $2.4 million for a landlocked site near the Key Bridge to prevent future development. The site will stay empty for now, but could accommodate a boathouse or realigned Custis Trail in the future. (WBJ)  

Sticker shock

Why do costs always seem to go up from initial estimates on transportation infrastructure projects? Optimism, inflation, unexpected costs, and lately even China can all be to blame. (Post)  

Brookland bidding war

Developers are proposing apartments or condos over varying amounts of retail at the Brookland Metro. The area lacks a large grocery store, but the local civic association says that including one here would bring too much traffic. (WBJ)  

Hide your cans

DC’s Department of Public Works has gone from not taking away old trash bins to taking every can in sight, including new ones. In the absence of comment from DPW, hiding the cans you want to keep seems the safest option. (Post)  

Until it goes “click”

Glover Park has a new speed camera on Wisconsin Avenue. Residents requested the camera after complaints put a stop to a traffic-calming experiment that took away a travel lane on the same stretch of roadway. (WAMU)  

And…

The elevator in the recently reopened Washington Monument broke down twice yesterday. (Post) …What are the least crossable streets in America? (Streetsblog) … Looks like there will be no new hospital east of the Anacostia River soon. (Post)