Weekend links: Down, not out

Gray blasts critics

In a lengthy interview, Mayor Vincent Gray responded strongly to his critics, particularly the three councilmembers which have called for his resignation, citing their criticism as based by their own political objectives. (Post)

BRT decades away?

Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett thinks that the county’s bus rapid transit system could take 20 to 30 years to complete. A county task force suggested that the system could be built in nine years. (Post)

Height limit rising?

DC’s House oversight committee is holding hearings on whether to ease the District’s century-old height restriction. Mayor Gray has called for moderate height increases away from the city’s historical core. (Post)

Thompson leaves his firm

Under investigation for his involvement in Mayor Vincent Gray’s 2010 campaign, Jeffrey Thompson has stepped down from his position at the accounting firm he founded. The firm’s CEO purchased Thompson’s 79% stake. (Post)

New York goes further up

New York City released plans to upzone a large part of Midtown Manhattan. These increases in allowable density would permit buildings as large as the Empire State Building, still the tallest building in Midtown. (Observer)

Council approves Walter Reed plan

The DC Council has voted to approve the redevelopment plans at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. DC still needs to acquire the land from the Army before finding developers. (WBJ)

Making a new Southwest

DC’s Southwest ecodistrict may include up over 5 million square feet of new space while reducing environmental impact. The plan calls for major changes like covering the Southwest Freeway with new development. (WBJ)

And…

Will Fairfax County decide the presidential election? (Post)… The Adams Morgan streetscape project is finishing up. (DCist)… DC picks a company to run the first streetcar line. (WBJ)