Breakfast links: Good news in MoCo

Hans Riemer for better transit, smart growth

Montgomery County Councilmember-elect Hans Riemer says he will focus on smart growth, walkability, and improved transit options, including the Purple Line, stronger Ride-On service and busway corridors. (Wheaton Patch)

New central MoCo middle school

The Montgomery County Board of Education voted last week to move forward on a new middle school in the Chevy Chase area to help relieve overcrowding, marking one of the first new schools to be build for residents inside the Beltway to accommodate urban growth around Bethesda. (Post, Cavan)  (Tip: Cavan)

First look at DC Wal-Marts

Initial renderings of a proposed Wal-Mart at New Jersey Avenue and H Street NW reveal a relatively promising urban form that seems to take some architectural inspiration from the GPO buildings one block east. The Post also has more details about all four proposed locations. (UrbanTurf, Post)

Arboretum to destroy azalea exhibit

The National Arboretum has revealed plans to remove the mature azalea display on Mount Hamilton. The plants are among the oldest azaleas in the country, and are one of the Arboretum’s biggest attractions. In fact, one of the reasons given is that they attract too many visitors and there is not enough parking or restrooms to accommodate them. All the more reason for better transit access. (WashingtonGardener, Julianne F-M.)  (Tip: Julianne F-M.)

Flood wall on Mall not enough

The planned flood wall at 17th Street may not be enough to fully protect the city from future flooding. It will not prevent all flood scenarios, particularly those arising from the Anacostia instead of the Potomac. (Post)

Third Church project gets JBG money

Hopes of replacing the Third Church of Christ Scientist at 16th and I with a mixed-use project are again moving forward after JBG signed on to provide capital. Any plan still has to pass historic review, which will surely apply close scrutiny to any plans. (Capital Business)

TSA policies could have deadly consequences

Since it is likely that the discontent over more invasive airport security measures will push more holiday travelers to drive, one economist suspects an indirect result will be more highway deaths. (Raw Story)

Bike hate in the Big Apple

Even the New York Times is prone to writing anti-bike “news” pieces that sound like some of the reporter’s neighbors whined to them about the issue. Ben Fried takes apart the Gray Lady’s reporting that gives prominent billing to a “protest” that drew more reporters than protestors. (Streetsblog)

And…

Will heightened security measures make the leap from airports to rail and bus stations? TSA head says its an “equally important threat area.” (WUSA) … Springfield Mall is just one of three malls in the DC area with a vacancy rate over 30%. No other metro area has more than one mall in such condition. (Post, Eric Fidler) … NYC will solicit proposals for the soon-to-be largest bike sharing system in the US, 10 times the size of DC’s own. (Transportation Nation)