Breakfast links: Shape of the neighborhood

Modern and eastern

A CUA design studio has redesigned the Eastern Market metro plaza into a modern park interspersing walkways, wild gardens (similar to those on New York’s new High Line), and grassy areas for sitting. What do you think? (DCmud)

Housing very complex

Should DC relax the restaurant requirements on the Woodley and Cleveland Park overlays, as is likely to happen with the ARTS overlay? Should Barney Circle get a historic district? And who forgot to talk to neighbors before sending out a vague “notice of intent” to develop at 11th and Girard? (Housing Complex)

New bike laws in Maryland

WashCycle runs down the bicycle bills that passed the Maryland legislature. The bicycle 3-foot passing one is very weak, basically allowing vehicles to pass bicycles unsafely anytime there isn’t enough room to pass safely. However, if a driver acts negligently and kills someone, they can lose their license for a whole half a year, but isn’t guilty of a misdemeanor.

Listen to bloggers

Tonight is the second Montgomery County planning panel, on “Infrastructure,” featuring WABA’s Casey Anderson and Richard Layman … Today’s Kojo Nnamdi Show features some Prince George’s County bloggers including Rethink College Park’s David Daddio. The others aren’t yet named.

Housing and transportation costs around Boston

A ULI study expands upon the total cost of housing plus transportation data in the Boston area: the core and inner suburbs are cheap because of access, some areas are cheap because housing is cheap, and most areas are pricey either because of high housing prices, high transportation costs, or both. (FT Energy Source, charlie)  (Tip: charlie)

Railroads are good for roads

Maine is trying to decide if they should purchase or otherwise assist the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway. Loss of the railroad could divert 73,344 truck trips per year onto Maine’s highways and increase annual fuel consumption by 3.3 million gallons.  (Railway Age)

In other news

Congress is likely to vote on DC voting rights next week, which would come with the price tag of gutting most DC gun restrictions (Post) … Mayor Fenty may have accomplished a lot, but he’s broken his promise for open government, reversing course on CapStat, a program to post agency performance metrics. (Loose Lips)