Breakfast links: Down by the river
Stop that train
The Committee of 100 filed a lawsuit to stop the CSX rail tunnel expansion, saying the environmental review wasn’t done right and should consider instead using the abandoned rail right-of-way through Anacostia. (DCist)
Art that wasn’t smart
Artists and DC government curators tried to encourage innovative art, but recent proposals in and east of the Anacostia, like the sunken gas station or debris in front of stores, have been tone-deaf; that the artists are from far away didn’t help. (City Paper)
More transit benefits?
Lame duck Congressional Democrats introduced a bill to equalize transit benefits and parking benefits. To be defecit-neutral, this proposal cuts parking benefits slightly while raising transit benefits. (Streetsblog)
Wizard Gray
Mayor Gray supports the idea of a practice facility for the Wizards in DC. Gray wouldn’t confirm a specific location, but nobody has denied officials are eyeing a current skate park. The proposal might pay for itself, but only if it woos high-income players to live in DC and pay income taxes. (City Paper)
Hidden blight
The Downtown BID put a fence with advertisements around the still-vacant historic bank building at 14th and G, where plans to open an Armenian Genocide museum faltered. The city could charge a “blighted” tax rate to spur action. (WBJ)
I-66 gets smart
Cameras, sensors, and digital signs will go up on I-66. VDOT hopes this “smart highway” program will inform drivers about when to slow down, change lanes, or take alternate routes to minimize congestion. (Post)
Wawhat will go in Loudoun?
Loudoun may turn down a proposed Wawa because the county had planned 4-story office buildings for the Route 606 area. Unfortunately, at least for now, nobody wants to build the office buildings. (WBJ)
From cheap to “vintage”
A worn-out building that offered small, low-cost apartments to poor residents got new floors and appliances and is now a high-end rental building for young people who want a “gritty”-looking building. This specific building is in Chicago, which is trying to set up laws to preserve the affordable housing. (Post)
And…
WashCycle summarizes future bicycle facilities in Arlington. … A libertarian think tank says DC has the most Uber-friendly regulations in the US. (DCist) … Capital Weather Gang predicts this winter will be “colder and snowier than normal.” (Post)