Breakfast links: Gimme shelter
DC shelter geography
Mayor Bowser won’t say how she chose the future homeless shelter locations. She says she doesn’t want to pit neighborhood against neighborhood but some vocal residents want to know if she looked at other locations. The District had to consider city-owned property or had to negotiate with land-owners. (Post)
Shelters as infrastructure
Kriston Capps writes that homeless shelters should be like basic infrastructure. He argues that Mayor Bowser is right not to divulge all the background and says the plan needs less community input so they can be distributed equally across the city. (CityLab)
This old city hall
City Hall and other old buildings in Alexandria are falling apart. Many municipal buildings in the city are 200 years old and need millions of dollars for repair. City Hall alone needs a new boiler, rafters, and masonry. (Post)
Dude, where’s my train?
Local data wonks created a free real-time app of Metro’s trains as a way to help riders. The problem is Metro’s data is unreliable and riddled with holes. The app’s developers are asking for better data on train locations. (Post)
Parents have a say
A new charter school in Ward 8 in DC isn’t ready for students yet, but it is already getting parents involved in the school. However, some nearby residents think the school’s location near Woodland Terrace is too dangerous for kids. (Post)
Scalia and DC’s gun laws
When Justice Antonin Scalia lead the ruling that overturned DC’s gun laws, he showed his philosophy as a strict constructionist. He argued that the constitution ensures the right for citizens to own guns. (WAMU)
DC construction map
Check out this cool map of all the new construction in the District since 2012. The map shows where new construction boomed, quiet historic areas, and where single family homes popped up. (City Paper)
Like a shiny new penny
Thanks to a multi-million dollar gift, the Lincoln Memorial is going to get a full renovation. The memorial needs some repairs and a new visitors’ space will be carved out underneath the monument. (Post)
Glover Park history
Mount Alto, between Wisconsin Avenue and Tunlaw Road in DC, is the site of the imposing Russian Embassy. But, before the embassy was there it was the location of the Veterans Administration hospital. (Post)