Breakfast links: You are what you eat

UMD’s East Campus rises from the ashes

The University of Maryland is negotiating with Baltimore-based Cordish Companies to develop the stalled East Campus development project. (Rethink College Park, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)

DC’s worst slumlord

DC has quietly shuttered it Home Again program that sold vacant city properties to people to renovate.  Despite years of boom-time real estate investment, the city still holds an embarrassingly large portfolio of unsold and still-blighted properties. (City Paper)

Soccer moms rejoice!

Nobody wants to steal your Toyota Sienna!  Then again, it’s hard to steal a car that suddenly drives off on its own. (The Economist)  (Tip: Website Address)

If you’re building in San Francisco

An affordable housing complex planned in San Francisco faces stiff opposition from neighbors upset that the building will only provide a total of five parking spaces for its 71 units. On average each parking space in SF adds $30,000 to the construction cost of each unit. (SF Chronicle via Planetizen)

Fare gate somersault

Usually smarter is faster, but the new, smarter SmarTrip readers take longer to process each transaction.  Slow down or you might somersault over the fare gates. (Washington Post)  (Tip: JB)

Drop that burger

Despite Sec. LaHood’s good intentions, the link between obesity and walkability is weak.  No amount of walking will counteract lunch at McDonald’s. (Next American City)