Morning links: Where to live, where to build
Houses houses everywhere…
Megan McArdle is having trouble buying a house because either sellers want too much, or they have renters they can’t get rid of, or banks are sitting on the properties. McArdle largely blames DC tenant laws. (The Atlantic via Eckington, way better than Spotslyvania) …
Geoff Hatchard says there are plenty of houses if McArdle would broaden her search and not say that Anacostia has no Metro access. (District Curmudgeon) … In Bloom looks deeper at availability in Bloomingdale.
2030 sprawl?
Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth says that the new 2030 Group is run by the same developers who’ve been pushing an Outer Beltway and sprawling suburban development for years. Housing Complex talks about CSG’s latest report, which looks at the effect of hypothetically moving various projects to more transit-oriented (or less transit-oriented) locations.
Bike, Smart Growth bills pass
At the last moment, the Maryland legislature passed two bills for cyclists, one requiring a 3-foot passing distance and the other letting cyclists choose between the shoulder and the travel lane. Another bill requires transportation spending decisions to factor in the state’s Smart Growth goals. (Getting There)
Post recommends wire-hybrid streetcars
An editorial in the Post urges wire opponents and supporters to work things out so streetcars can get going. It chides DC for not communicating better, and endorses the hybrid solution to use wires in some areas and not others (though most wire opponents wouldn’t consider this an acceptable compromise). (via Loose Lips Daily)
Southwest needs a playground
Southwest Waterfront moms want a playground on vacant DC-owned land around Waterfront Metro. However, DC plans to sell the land for residential. Southwest…The Little Quadrant That Could recommends putting a new library in the RFP for that land, then tearing down the old library for a playground.
Rewriting the crazy MoCoZoCo
Montgomery County is rewriting its zoning code, and DCmud listened to all the details at a blogger/press event yesterday. Single-family neighborhoods won’t change at all, like their residents want, but the code will simplify silly things like multiple different types of mini golf classifications, and facilitate compact development in commercial and industrial areas.