American Legion Memorial Bridge from the south bank of the Potomac River by Famartin licensed under Creative Commons.

The American Legion Bridge faces an uncertain future at age 60

The bridge carries far more cars than intended, as drivers have few other options to travel between Maryland and Virginia on the west side of the city. Most agree the bridge needs to be replaced; the question is exactly how and whether to pay for it through federal funds or tolls. In addition, some are worried that proposed changes will simply move the existing back-ups to a few miles down the road.  (Katherine Shaver / Washington Post)  

“NOAA’s ARC” measuring Washington region’s greenhouse gases and air pollution

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) air research car (ARC) lab measures pollution from daily traffic across the region, as well as from fixed emissions sources like wastewater treatment plants. The goal is to understand how air pollution is created and moved around the region, with a particular eye on measuring air pollution in communities flagged as areas of environmental racism.  (Aman Azhar / Inside Climate News)  

Office building near Innovation Center Metro station could become apartment building

Developers are seeking approval from Fairfax County to turn a former corporate headquarters 0.7 miles from the Innovation Center Metro station’s south entrance into a 348-unit apartment building with 41 units of workforce housing. The developers hope to improve pedestrian connections, reduce the parking minimum and mitigate the site’s proximity to a 100-year floodplain.  (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)  

Alexandria Planning office releases priorities for 2023

Alexandria Director of Planning Karl Moritz has released his list of transportation, housing, recreation, and planning/zoning priorities for 2023. The list mostly covers projects already underway, such as the Landmark Mall redevelopment, but it also includes some new plans for parks and a new WMATA affordable housing feasibility study.  (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

Colleen Green appointed acting director for DC’s Department of Housing and Community Development

Colleen Green has been named the new acting director of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. She has previously worked at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition and CORE DC developing housing units. There is no word yet on her priorities for the agency’s $450 million budget.  (Jacob Wallace / Bisnow)  

DC Mayor Bowser makes explicit ask for federal government to fill or release empty DC office space

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also used her January 3rd swearing-in speech to ask the federal government to either bring its workers back downtown or release its under-used office space for other purposes as part of her next term’s plan to get more people, whether workers or new residents, downtown.  (Cuneyt Dil / Axios)  

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