Breakfast links: Affordable housing

Affordable housing debate

The second mayoral debate primarily focused on affordable housing. Muriel Bowser highlighted her role in creating DC’s “New Communities” program, but David Catania criticized her for not doing enough on the issue. Listen to the full debate on WAMU (Post)

What affordable housing?

A tenant is fighting a massive rent increase at a rent-controlled building in Columbia Heights. Does the new landlord need to charge more to make necessary upgrades, or is the landlord trying to push out low-paying tenants? (City Paper, WAMU)

No more Half Street

Ten years after purchasing land near the Navy Yard and planning the mixed-use Half Street project, the lead real estate developer is selling its stakes and leaving an empty pit across the street from Nationals Ballpark. (Post)

Closing sidewalks in Bethesda

Several construction projects in Bethesda are closing sidewalks, an apparent violation of county law. The Montgomery County DOT claims to have little enforcement power to stop this from happening. (BethesdaNow)

“Woods” against the bus

The Corridor Cities Transitway is getting fierce opposition from residents of the Washington Woods area of Gaithersburg. Complaints included noise, safety, and taking away space from car traffic. (Gazette)

Cycling incidents go down

Two high-profile pedestrian deaths in New York City have drawn media scrutiny to cycling recently. However, the data shows that injuries caused by cyclists hitting pedestrians have gone down over the past decade. (CityLab)

America’s changing suburbs

A study of movement patterns around New York City shows peak sprawl is behind us as people move back into cities. However, the inner suburbs are fighting back and transforming in radical ways to attract new residents. (Streetsblog, Bacon’s Rebellion)

Metro pedestrian bridge coming in January

A new pedestrian bridge from the Rhode Island Avenue Metro stop was set into place this week, and DDOT officials plan to have the bridge open for use in January. (WAMU)

And…

The National Capital Planning Commission approved the latest Eisenhower Memorial design. (WBJ) … DDOT will extend Circulator hours for Nationals home playoff games. (Post) … The International Spy Museum got its Carnegie Library renovation plans shot down again. (Post)