Breakfast links: Urban features come to Montgomery

Streetcar to Silver Spring?

Montgomery Councilmembers Nancy Floreen and Hans Riemer are asking DC to consider running the streetcar to Silver Spring. It’s entirely logical, if only the various DOTs can work together. (South Silver Spring)

Berliner against anti-urban Walmarts

Councilmember Roger Berliner wants to stop the Walmart at Rockville Pike and Randolph Road because it will undermine the more urban form the county wants to foster in that area. (Patch)

Mall owner prefers a town instead

The owners of White Flint Mall want to replace the mall with a town.  The project would include 5 million square feet of offices, apartments, and shops and will take 25 years to complete. (Gazette, Mike)

Jobs outstrip housing

The region is failing to match job growth with housing growth.  Eventually, employers and workers may relocate to cities where housing is cheaper. (Post) … Building up, rather than out, is the best solution we’ve got. (City Block)

Parking meter aesthetics matter

DC just installed traditional parking meters on MLK Ave in Anacostia’s business district.  The fact the meters are coin-operated and scuffed up has one resident accusing the city of marginalizing the neighborhood. (CHotR)

HPRB nominees: 6 months later, no changes

Mayor Gray held off for 6 months on planned nominees to the Historic Preservation Review Board following pushback from businesses… but has gone ahead and nominated that same slate. (City Paper)

Food stamps down in DC, up in MD, VA

The number of food stamp recipients fell 10.5% in DC while jumping 10.2% and 21.2% in Virginia and Maryland respectively.  The shift may signal the displacement of poverty from DC to the suburbs. (Examiner)

WMATA questions 14-hour workdays

WMATA wants to reduce worker fatigue by limiting shifts to a maximum of 14 hours.  Several board members think even that is too long for a single shift. (Examiner)

And…

Prince George’s County will create “prostitution-free zones” along the DC border. (Patch) … This weekend the National Building Museum opens an exhibit on grand architectural proposals for Washington that never got built. (WBJ) … Do supermarkets still need tax breaks to locate in DC? (City Paper)