Breakfast links: Home improvement

Anacostia flips

A non-profit organization is flipping historic homes in Anacostia and using the profit to restore other run-down properties. Some residents welcome the transformation, but others fear it will push out long-time residents. (Post)

The right to sunlight?

Residents of a street in Columbia Heights are lobbying to restrict pop-ups near homes with solar panels. They argue that the one-story additions block sunlight, increasing utility bills and decreasing the value of their investment. (Post)

Obama for statehood

When asked if he supports statehood for the District, President Obama said “I’m for it” but also acknowledged it will be “difficult” to get Congress to agree. Obama had not stood up strongly for DC rights during his first term. (WAMU)

Express Lane predictions

Carpooling only accounts for 9% of travel on the 495 Express Lanes. Will the new 95 Express Lanes boost ride sharing or end up like the 495 Express Lanes, which largely just created faster lanes for single occupancy vehicles? (WAMU)

Nixon-era biking

The DC Council’s transportation committee clerk in the 1970s, Carl Bergman, pushed for better bicycle laws that allowed bike racks on cars (they weren’t) or bringing bikes into buildings. DC’s highway department head opposed encouraging bicycling. Also, Carl Bernstein got, and fought, a ticket for running a red light. (Post)

Lanier on bike lanes

DC police chief Cathy Lanier, who once had a bike hit her car, thinks bike lanes are a “double-edged sword” and actually seems to misunderstand how to correctly turn right from a road with a bike lane.  (WashCycle)

How the ramp could look

A ramp connection for the Metropolitan Branch Trail to L Street could be wider than just a simple ramp. This matters because the NoMa BID wants to put some “playable art” in the easement, which won’t block a narrow ramp but might interfere with a better link. (WashCycle)

Positive externalities of cycletracks

UK residents who lived less 0.6 miles away from new, high-quality bike and pedestrian infrastructure exercised 27 minutes more per week than people 2.5 miles away. (Streetsblog)

And…

Eight Northern Virginia taxi companies are suing Uber and Lyft. (ArlNow) … The Arlington board approves the streetcar with the expected opposition. (WBJ) … Prince George’s approved the National Harbor casino which should open in 2016. (WAMU)