Breakfast links: What’s affordable?

Housing project not-so-affordable for DC

An affordable housing project backed by the city and HUD turned into a fiasco when the non-profit developer bought the properties at inflated prices, took on additional debt to renovate them and eventually went bankrupt. … This isn’t the only HUD funded project with troubles. (Post)

To close a tax loophole?

Mayor Gray proposed closing a tax loophole on corporate earnings estimating it would raise $22M. Jack Evans’s finance committee wants to leave it on the books if the CFO revises up his 2012 revenue forecast. (Examiner)

Growing groceries

As the Wisconsin Avenue Giant nears the start of redevelopment, neighbors look back at the decade-long journey leading up to a new grocery. … Meanwhile, Safeway is responding to positive resident pressure and planning a mixed-use store in Tenleytown. (Post)

Got Metro opinions?

WMATA wants people’s opinions about how best to close this year’s budget gap. They even have an an online survey! (Dan) … The DC Bicycle Advisory Council wants to know your thoughts about Metro’s bike parking facilities around the District. They will compile comments and submit them to WMATA.

Jury’s still out on Sulaimon

After more than a month of investigations and new revelations, it’s still unclear whether Mayor Gray’s campaign promised Sulaimon Brown a job in his administration in exchange for campaigning against Adrian Fenty. (WAMU)

A greenway isn’t enough

Three years after burying a freeway, the parks Boston created are still pretty devoid of people, showing how it takes more than just creating “green space” to make successful urban parks. (Boston Globe)

High(line) aspirations

Planners in Chicago have been inspired by New York’s High Line to reimagine the space below one of Chicago’s still-operable Els. (RPUS) … NCPC’s Witold Rybczynski says cities may be setting themselves up for failure with attempts to replicate the High Line. (NYT)

Double-edged referendums

While funding referendums and ballot initiatives can often make it harder to get infrastructure projects off the ground, once passed, they can insulate projects from political and economic troubles, ensuring ongoing support and completion. (RPUS)

And…

Jack Evans seems to think that kids can’t ride bikes or take Metro. (Georgetown Dish) … The DC DMV doesn’t understand the difference between tickets issued to cyclists and pedestrians, and those issued for the sake of bike and ped safety. (DCBAC) … Alexandria passed on-street parking restrictions for the neighborhoods surrounding the Mark Center. (WTOP)