Breakfast links: Maryland to go forward with American Legion Bridge, I-270 toll lanes
I-270 by Adam Fagen licensed under Creative Commons.
Maryland DOT is applying for federal funds to widen I-495 and replace the American Legion Bridge
Maryland’s plans for the bridge, as well as its coordination with the 495 NEXT toll and road-widening project on the Virginia side of the river, had been unclear since Governor Moore took office. According to the plan announced yesterday, Maryland will first add toll lanes to the existing bridge and the western spur of I-270, which can be used for carpools and bus traffic. Officials say the widening will include a “shared-use” path across the Potomac River. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow, WTOP)
Plans for pedestrian bridge from Crystal City Metro station to DCA grow clearer
The Virginia Department of Transportation and Arlington County have released their environmental impact study for a proposed new pedestrian bridge directly from the Crystal City Metro and VRE station to National Airport. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority does not project that the pedestrian infrastructure will reduce vehicle traffic. Residents are invited to provide feedback on the environmental report through October 3. (Joe DeVoe / ARLNow)
“Build-to-rent’ project coming to Ashburn
The project, which will create approximately 200 townhomes, is unusual in Greater Washington because it is designed for people who want some of the features that are often only available when buying, such as more square footage and outdoor yard space, but are not in a position to buy. The high cost of buying property in the Washington region, both in terms of home prices and interest rates, has encouraged the McLean-based company, American Real Estate Partners, to begin including this type of property development in their portfolio. (Emily Wishingrad / BisNow)
Maryland officials discuss upping their game on disaster preparedness
The Maryland Association of Counties held a panel discussion last week about how Maryland should be preparing for winds, heavy rain, storms, heat, flooding, and other disasters, in the wake of the experience of Ellicott City, where there were two thousand-year floods in just two years, as well as the many national disaster headlines. The General Assembly passed legislation to create a State Disaster Recovery Fund, but it remains unfunded. (Josh Kurtz / Maryland Matters)
Office-to-hotel conversion underway in Georgetown
Douglass Development is moving forward on converting a Georgetown office building it has owned since 1997 and two adjacent townhomes into a hotel. The hotel will seek to be a similar, but lower-cost, option to other luxury hotels in Georgetown and is part of a larger strategy of building conversions Douglass Development is undertaking in buildings that aren’t performing well as offices. (This article is behind a paywall). (Daniel J. Sernovitz / Business Journal)
CityFest DC celebrates artists who reflect the city’s diversity
A festival in Southwest DC on Saturday provided a space for artists of color to showcase their designs and products, attract new customers, and build relationships with each other. The event, which was promoted mostly on social media and by word-of-mouth, was packed with vendors; organizers hope that next year they will find a space that can accommodate more artists and customers. (This article is behind a paywall). (Lateshia Beachum / Washington Post)
Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.