Breakfast links: Who can afford to live in Alexandria?
Less than 6% of Alexandria’s housing is affordable
Affordable housing in Alexandria has decreased by 90 percent since 2000. The city recorded 18,000 affordable units in 2000, while there are only 1,749 today, leaving less than six percent of housing in Alexandria qualifies as affordable. (Sash-Ann Simons / WAMU)
DC is full of independent bookstores, but why?
Independent bookstores have managed to thrive in the DC region, despite competition from large chains and online retailers. Local business owners attribute this success to larger market trends and innovative ideas and programming. (Ally Schweitzer / WAMU)
DC has become a protest hub, but not for everyone
About 33% of DC residents report protesting the current administration, but only 16% of black residents did so versus 53% of white residents. Similarly, 50% of residents that make $100,000 or more report protesting, as opposed to 16% that make under $50,000. (Paul Schwartzman and Emily Guskin / Post)
A new development in Fairfax County would transform Richmond Highway
Kings Crossing, a proposed development in Fairfax County located at Richmond Highway and Fairview Drive, would transform the corridor by including mix use housing and parking for nearby Huntington Metro Station. (Michael Neibauer / Business Journal)
Bee-hive yourself! DC Water’s beehives are producing honey
The Blue Plains water treatment plant has an urban bee keeping program that has already yielded honey for us humans and habitat for the ever-threatened honey bee. The Blue Plains hives join the more than 300 other hives registered in DC. (Lori Aratani / Post)
Housing availability and uncertainty are big issues in the real estate industry
The real estate industry says infrastructure, available housing and jobs. and general uncertainty are the largest challenges facing the sector, but new technological opportunities and new areas of growth, like building health care facilities, may help. (Camilla McLaughlin / Urban Land Magazine)
What’s causing poverty in suburbia? (Un)Surprisingly, it’s very complicated
Metro regions are struggling to assist low-income residents and break the cycle of poverty in the suburbs. A new book looks at how the lack of available services, fewer well paying jobs, and new low-income residents are all contributing to the issue. (Tanvi Misra / City Lab)
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