Photo by Tijs Zwinkels on Flickr.

Gray wants tall buildings EotR

Mayor Gray wants to explore removing the federal height limit east of the Anacostia. It’s farther from downtown than Rosslyn, and higher limits could help attract more development there. (Housing Complex)  

Upping security

Metro and MTA said they’ve stepped up their security in the wake of bin Laden’s death, though a Metro officer says it’s smoke and mirrors. (WTOP, Twitter) … VRE doesn’t have a police force so it relies on commuting armed federal agents, who are given free rides. (Examiner)  

What’s affordable?

In a new report, DC ranked the second most expensive state in the US for renters, though it doesn’t even break the top 10 priciest metro areas. (City Paper) … Housing non-profits in Fairfax County plan to ask the Board of Supervisors to exempt some affordable housing developments from property taxes. (Examiner)  

DC not really worst for business, redux

Natwar Gandhi debunks rankings putting DC last in business competitiveness. The rankings overly focus on taxes, plus taxes aren’t as high in reality. Lydia DePillis refuted a very similar set of rankings last December. (Post)  

Bike beats car and bus

In the first bike/bus/drive challenge, FABB chairman Bruce Wright and another FABB member beat both a driver and a bus rider on the trip from South Lakes High School to Reston Town Center. (WABA)  

The Anacostia is really dirty

DC Appleseed says the Anacostia is one of the most polluted rivers in the US, and repairing the watershed will take concerted efforts from local, state and federal agencies, which are laid out in a new report. (City Paper)  

Alexandria rejects add-on tax

The Alexandria City Council rejected a tax on commercial property to to fund transportation projects, but will dedicate most of their 2.2% property tax increase instead to the projects, including bike and pedestrian improvements and the city’s high capacity transit corridors. (JDTP, Froggie)  (Tip: Froggie)  

More on CaBi and bin Laden

After the bin Laden news broke, Capital Bikeshare recorded 558 rentals versus the typical 102. The Post interviewed Stephen Miller about how most people used bikes, since Metro was starting to shut down.  

And…

Mayor Gray will show off an urban farm in Ledroit Park to England’s Prince Charles today. (City Paper) … Please don’t leap through Metro train doors leaving your kid behind on the platform. (goDCgo) … Apparently MARC riders can be real slobs. (Baltimore Sun) … Silver Spring got its first street food cart this week. (Patch)