Breakfast links: Alexandria and more

One Potomac Yard tax approved

Alexandria approved a special tax district for Potomac Yard to help pay for a new Metro station. Another, smaller tax for existing nearby residential properties is still under debate. (Dr. Gridlock)

Condo foreclosures up in Alexandria

Previously underrepresented in the real estate crisis, condominiums are increasingly entering foreclosure in Alexandria, though the trend is noticeable primarily in low-end units valued under $200,000. (WAMU)

DC wants online hotel sites to pay up

Online discount hotel websites apparently charge customers the 14.5% DC hotel tax based on the sale price paid by the customer, but only remit to the District that tax on the wholesale price the site paid for the room. The Council wants to change that. (Post)

Bilbray wishes freeways jammed down DC’s throat

Brian Bilbray (R-CA), who will take over the House subcommittee oveerseeing the District instead of Jason Chaffetz, once complained that “politics” stood in the way of tearing down many DC neighborhoods to build freeways. (Housing Complex)

School crime stats are misleading

Schools throughout the Washington area, and around the country, tend to underreport crimes, according to the discrepancies between official statistics and first-hand accounts from teachers, parents and students. (Post)

Bike sharing could get carbon credit revenue

Bike sharing schemes like Capital Bikeshare have the potential to generate secondary revenue by using trip and usage data to create of carbon emission offset credits, that can be sold to companies wishing to reduce their carbon footprint. (Discovery News)

TOD proposed at Laurel MARC

A 5-story mixed-use development has been proposed for the MARC parking lot on Main Street in Laurel. The project would would require the approval of MDOT, which owns the land. (Laurel Leader)

Where’s my lane?

Bruce McCall, a 75-year old New York Times opinion columnist, literally illustrates the age gap in support of sustainable city streets, decries the reallocation of road space to serve “every purpose except driving,” but mostly seems annoyed there’s not a “Bruce McCall lane.”

And…

Fairfax County is going on a school building spree, taking advantage of low prices to save $31 million. (WTOP) … The Tysons Connector midday shuttle service will stop running at the end of the year. (WTOP) … Maryland may define what qualifies to be advertised as “local” food. (WTOP)