West Hyattsville Baptist Church in 2013 by Elvert Barnes licensed under Creative Commons.

Faith-Based Development Initiative is expanding its efforts in Prince George’s County to promote church land-to-housing conversions

Enterprise Community Partners’ Faith-Based Development Initiative is expanding its efforts in Prince George’s County to promote church land-to-housing conversions. New funding and technical assistance provided by the county will help churches build new affordable housing units when they develop on their land. Seven churches have joined the program, which will yield 700 new affordable housing units in the county.  (John Domen / WTOP)  

DC policing bill receives House scrutiny in morning hearing

On Wednesday morning, officials represented DC at a US House of Representatives hearing on DC’s police accountability legislation. DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen stressed the lack of coordination in DC between federally appointed prosecutors and local police. DC’s federally appointed prosecutors decline to prosecute a majority of arrests in the District.  (Meagan Flynn / Washington Post)  

Fairfax County begins designing Connector bus stop improvements on Wiehle Avenue

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is designing bus stop improvements at the intersection of Wiehle Avenue and North Shore Drive in Reston, near the Forest Edge neighborhood. The project may also include a new bus stop easement, pending cooperation from the Reston Association.  (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)  

Will DC’s Capitol Gateway project move forward this year?

Last week, Ward 7 councilmember Vince Gray questioned the Bowser Administration’s budget provisions for the troubled Capitol Gateway project in Ward 7 and a proposal hearing. The project was intended to bring a new grocery store to Ward 7, where fresh food access is particularly limited. However, disputes between the DC government and the DC Housing Authority have delayed progress for over a decade.  (Alex Koma / Washington City Paper)  

Heat exposure disparities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection has found that urban parts of the county experience temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than rural areas. They also found that communities of color and low-income neighborhoods experience higher temperatures due to a lack of green space.  (Jenna Bloom / Montgomery Community Media)  

Fairfax County prioritizes several transit investments in long-range plan

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has named six projects to be added to its long-range transportation plan, including bus rapid transit on Route 7 and Metrorail extensions on the Orange and Yellow lines.  (Vernon Miles / FFXNow)  

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