Breakfast links: Statehood to a vote
One step closer to statehood
DC residents will be able to cast a vote for statehood in the November election. The Council voted unanimously to include the ballot referendum, which they hope will pressure Congress to a vote. (Post)
Prince George’s new perception
With upscale groceries, retail, hotels, and apartments coming to Prince George’s, County Executive Rushern Baker says it’s just the start of a shift in how businesses perceive the county. (Bisnow)
Grading the gondola
Many are skeptical of a gondola between Georgetown and Rosslyn, citing limited usefulness and the failure of other Arlington projects, like the streetcar. But supporters are looking to Portland’s success. (ArlingtonConnection)
Taxi turn in Arlington
In Arlington, dispatched cab trips have dropped by a third since 2013, likely due to people switching to Uber and Lyft. Taxi companies say the shift makes it harder to provide wheelchair-accessible service. (ArlNow)
Give me a brake
Another Metro operator may have run a red signal during Wednesday morning’s rush hour. A similar incident last week on the Red Line nearly resulted in a collision. (WAMU)
Originally office, now housing instead
A long planned office complex in Navy Yard will become 800 apartments instead as the area’s development pattern has shifted from office to residential. (WBJ)
Rural gentrification
Gentrification isn’t only for urban spaces. In rural Montgomery County, a new subdivision essentially erased the road that led to black-owned farmland, making it difficult for owners to sell their farms, which technically don’t exist because they don’t abut a legal road. (NCPH)
And…
Following Metro’s lead, MTA is shutting down a section of Baltimore’s subway for two weeks of repairs. … Philadelphia will go car-free for five hours in September, as the city shuts down nine miles of roadway to car traffic. (NexyCity) … Here are three big ways to improve pedestrian safety on the streets. (StrongTowns)