Breakfast links: Step up
Stood up by Walmart, again
Mayor Bowser flew to Las Vegas for a shopping center convention so that she could confront Walmart executives about backing out of two stores in low-income neighborhoods. But the company’s real estate representatives aren’t going to the convention this year. (Post)
Potomac Yard overhaul
Parking lots and big box stores will make way for walkable retail, office space, and over 700 residential units at Potomac Yard. The project should be at least partially complete before the new Metro station opens in 2020. (WBJ)
MVP MBT
There were a record 1,313 bike trips on the Metropolitan Branch Trail on Bike to Work Day last Friday, beating out the record for the Metro shutdown and the last Bike to Work Day. (City Paper)
Plaza plans too big?
The plans for the SunTrust Plaza in Adams Morgan keep changing. The latest changes will try to address the ANC’s concerns that the proposed building is too big. (Borderstan)
Planning pick in Montgomery
Here are the candidates for the open spot on the Montgomery County Planning Board. The board is expected to make some big decisions on the Bethesda Downtown Plan and a development impact policy this year. (Bethesda Magazine)
Metro couture
Show your appreciation for Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld with this t-shirt. Proceeds from the shirts, which are emblazoned with his image and the words “In Paul We Trust,” benefit two local non-profits. (DCist)
Building blocks for success
There’s a correlation between the neighborhood you grow up in and your future economic status. Does that extend even to the block you grow up on? (The Atlantic)
Rural recovery
Rural communities are not creating new businesses at the rate they used to. Unsurprisingly, this is not great for post-recession recovery. (Post)
And…
Here are some ideas for transit alternatives that Prince George’s and DC should consider during SafeTrack maintenance. (Prince George’s Urbanist) … Here’s what the swanky interior of the National Harbor MGM will look like. (Post) … With fewer people driving to grocery stores in London, many parking lots are transforming into apartments. (CityLab)