Breakfast links: Flood’s fury
Photo by Todd on Flickr.
Devastation in Ellicott City
A severe flash flood claimed the lives of two and destroyed homes and businesses in historic downtown Ellicott City. A historic preservation group is pledging to help with the rebuilding effort. (Post, WTOP)
Derailment investigation
Orange and Silver line service is back between Ballston and McLean stations this morning after a Friday morning derailment prompted a shutdown. The track shifted during the derailment, the cause of which is still unknown. (WTOP)
SafeTrack comes to the Red line
SafeTrack Surge 6 (single-tracking between Silver Spring and Takoma) begins today, meaning fewer Red Line trains spaced further apart, more crowding, and a parking pinch. (Post)
More respect for Metro workers
Metro employees are sick of being scapegoats for WMATA’s problems, and at a recent rally they demanded more respect from the agency and riders. They also emphasized the need for dedicated funding. (WTOP)
The Flats at WMATA HQ?
WMATA will try to sell its building at 5th and F NW in downtown DC, an area that has changed a lot since 1974. No word yet on where the HQ could move; last time, Anacostia was a possibility. (WBJ)
Questionable urbanism
Many “New Urbanism” developments with mixed-use, walkable designs, like the Mosaic District in Fairfax County, are far from walkable outside their borders, making it harder to walk or bike outside or to transit. (Strong Towns)
Fired up over fire station
Arlington needs more fire stations to keep up with a growing population. But finding the right location is tough, and residents near one proposed site in Rosslyn are worried about losing green space. (Post)
Millennial affordability
Millennials have a tough time affording apartments that were built with them in mind, and cope with higher rents by having roommates, living in smaller units, and spending a larger portion of their income on rent. (Bisnow)
AC catch-22
Air conditioning has hugely influenced post-World War II community development. It’s also expensive and directly contributes to climate change, which in turn ups the demand for air conditioning. (Grist)
And…
20% of DC homes sold so far this year were bought with cash. (UrbanTurf) … DC hospitals could do more to help the city’s poorest residents. (The Atlantic) … Even Billy Joel cracked some jokes about Metro during Saturday’s concert. (Post)