A mansion seen on N Street NW in Georgetown. Built more than a century ago as a retirement home for widows, the landmarked structure was converted into an eight-bedroom home in the 1990s. Image by NCinDC used with permission.

A quarter of 2024 home sales in DC have been cash

Since 2021, the rate of all-cash sales has hovered at around 25%, a marked increased from a rate of 17% from 2018 through 2020. More expensive neighborhoods tend to have higher rates of all-cash sales, with the West End at 60% and Georgetown at 56%.  (UrbanTurf)  

House GOP representatives push to undo DC traffic safety laws

As part of the House Appropriations bill that has passed out of committee, the House GOP is seeking to prevent DC from using automated traffic enforcement or banning right turns on red, undermining two locally passed laws. These are just two in a litany of riders attached to the latest bill that would undermine local DC decisions.  (Mitchell Miller / WTOP)  

VDOT to plant 135 acres of roadside habitats for pollinators

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) plans to add another 135 acres of habitats that attract bees, bats, butterflies, and birds along state-owned roadsides. In the last decade, the agency has planted 8,000 acres of pollinator habitat throughout the state. The greenery also serves to prevent run-off and erosion.  (Katie Bourque / WJLA)  

Beltsville condo owners struggle through heat wave with no air conditioning

The condo residents of Cherry Glen, which includes many seniors, have been without air conditioning for months, despite paying regular HOA fees. Management told residents they have been unable to acquire the chiller needed to fix the A/C.   (Carl Willis / WJLA)  

13-unit housing complex proposed in Old Town Alexandria

The proposed development includes nine townhouses and four semi-detached dwellings. The homes would replace an office building and warehouse in the Old Town Historic District, near King Street Metro station. City staff support the project because it advances the city’s goals of increasing the transit-accessible the housing stock.  (James Cullum / ALXNow)  

Maryland Senate president takes solar energy job

Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said he took the job at CI Renewables in part because of the importance of addressing climate change. He’ll serve as the company’s general counsel, focused primarily on transactional rather than political matters. Ferguson notes that his job hunt highlights the challenges part-time state legislators face in trying to earn a living while serving in their elected roles.  (Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters)  

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