Breakfast links: Afford to live here

Beauregard to change

Planned development in the Beauregard area of Alexandria will increase density and give the city many amenities, but some neighbors fear they won’t be able to live there after the changes and are tring to stop it. (Post)

Less housing, less affordable

Affordable housing in DC is rapidly vanishing, says a new report from DCFPI. DC needs to adequately fund programs, but should affordable housing advocates also talk about the supply side—too many limits on building housing? (City Paper)

Whole change

A Whole Foods opening up in a neighborhood often means gentrification is not far behind. One reason is that later hours of a Whole Foods keeps activity in a neighborhood longer, attracting other retails to the area. (Salon)

LaHood to the rescue

The McDonnell administration’s opposition to union labor, costs, and an audit of MWAA have all threatened the Silver Line phase 2.  DOT Secretary Ray LaHood has kept the project moving, but he’s retiring soon. (Post)

Few helmets on CaBi

Few Capital Bikeshare users wear helmets, but there were only 20 crashes in 1.9 million rides, and the positive health benefits of bike riding may also outweigh the danger of riding without a helmet. (NPR)

Pedestrian malls through time

Pedestrian malls have a mixed history of success in the US.  Some malls have thrived while others have reopened to traffic, including the country’s first in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which was initially successful.  (Atlantic)

Can’t change gas prices

Both political parties want to lower gas prices, but take ineffective steps to try to do it. Democrats go after speculators, while Republicans want to soften clean air regulation.  (Streetsblog)

The hero we deserve

Thinking that that urbanism lacked a superhero, one urban planner has started an anonymous Twitter account, @UrbanismAvengers.  (Atlantic)