Perception costs Georgia Avenue
A series of break-ins and perception that the area is dangerous caused a restaurant to move away from Georgia Avenue in Petworth. Upshur Street, closer to the Metro, may benefit from the moves. (City Paper)
Bike lanes great for parking?
Some drivers are parking in the new cycletrack on First Street NE, and one driver tried to attack a cyclist who asked him not to block the lane. (DCist)
Height limit allows a camel
The House of Representatives approved a very minor change to DC’s height limit (to let already-legal penthouses include habitable space). Louie Gohmert (R-TX) warned this could be the “camel’s nose under the tent” to larger changes. (City Paper)
Oakville Triangle set for makeover
Oakville Triangle in Alexandria, an industrial area between Potomac Yard and Del Ray, could get mixed-use development, a park, and more. A citizen advisory group has been working on a plan for the area, which will rely on the new BRT line to Crystal City. (WBJ)
Pushing Silver Line over finish line
What actually needs to be done to complete the Silver Line? Problems that need to be resolved such as faulty signals, third-rail power reliability, and the “loss of speed read outs” could cause huge delays. (Post)
Don’t pass the bus
Montgomery County may double the fine for illegally passing a school bus to $250. New cameras on Montgomery County Public Schools buses captured 272 violations between January and March. (Gazette)
Breaking: our region is expensive
The Washington area is among the most expensive metro areas in the US, says a ranking based on expenses such as transportation, education, and rent. (Atlantic Cities)
Things are different in Europe
European and American cities have very different priorities. Leaders in Europe tend to worry more about unemployment and energy efficiency, while American mayors focus on government efficiency and urban sprawl or blight. (Atlantic Cities)
Worldly subways
Japan could privatize Osaka’s subway. Tehran just opened an extension to its metro, but it had to be scaled down due to Western sanctions. Madrid’s Metro is hoping to cut €120 million from its annual costs. (Next City)
And…
See new designs for the Georgetown condo project at the Key Bridge Exxon. (UrbanTurf)… A warehouse in NoMa near Union Market is potentially the area’s next redevelopment. (WTOP) … Does Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ofice orchestrate and review scenes from CNN’s Chicagoland? (NextCity)
Top image: Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr
West End Library finally moves forward
DC’s appeals court denied the final appeal from a Ralph Nader-backed group seeking to block the West End library project, which will create mixed-income housing and a new library and fire station. (Post)
Third Church offices going up
Another building delayed by years of contentious fighting had a groundbreaking ceremony: the office building to replace the Brutalist Third Church of Christ, Scientist at 16th and I NW. (WBJ) … Is this a “distinctive church giving way to a bland, ordinary office building” or an “underused, anti-urban shell giving way to a pedestrian-friendly building”? (@ghostsofdc, @beyonddc)
What DC can learn about alleys
Alleyways are making a comeback around the country and in DC, becoming inviting and walkable spaces. However, a Mount Vernon Triangle alley shows that regulations can make it hard to activate a space. (Elevation DC)
Van Dorn transformation in progress
The Van Dorn Street area could become a busy, mixed-use area instead of low-density industrial with 3 projects bringing around 800 apartments and 100 townhouses. (WBJ)
From rental to condos
In a city with a shortage of condo units, one 84-unit building at 16th and S NW is converting from rentals to condos. Will this be a trend to watch in the rest of the city? (UrbanTurf)
No to Bloomingdale and the District?
Is calling the area around 1st and Rhode Island NW “Bloomingdale” a form of Columbusing? Does referring to DC as “the District” disempower the people of DC? One long-time resident says so. What do you think?
No time soon for transit center
The much-maligned Silver Spring Transit Center won’t be complete until early 2015 as disagreements remain over the concrete beams, The project costs have already ballooned from $26 million to $120 million. (WTOP)
Post goes HOT
The Washington Post editorial board supports high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in DC, saying they could help alleviate DC’s traffic problems and add revenue for transportation.
And…
In honor of Earth Day, check out these 10 Earth Day-friendly homes in the region. (WBJ) … Here are 6 bike gadgets to help keep you safe, including a 112-decibel horn. (Guardian) … If you live in DC, you might need a new driver’s license. (WAMU)
Top image: Photo by Wayan Vota on Flickr.
Mounds of trash on the Mall
After Cherry Blossom Festival revelers left heaps of trash on the National Mall, the National Park Service admits it wasn’t prepared for the crowds. Not enough staff and no overnight workers plagued clean-up. (Post)
Metro hits a high note
With hundreds of thousands of visitors, Metro clocked 638,474 trips on Saturday, the highest
the most for a Saturday since 2010’s Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. (DCist)
Back to disruptions for Metro
Metro will resume track work now that Cherry Blossom crowds are gone. Crews will test new cars on the Green Line and shuttle service will replace trains on sections of the Orange and Blue Lines. (Post)
Not just one Bethesda
Where are the neighborhoods in Bethesda? To customize development to different areas, planners try to identify distinct neighborhoods such as Woodmont Triangle, Bethesda Row, and the area around the Metro station. (Gazette)
Underpass art
NoMa’s dark and uninviting underpasses will become “art parks” with contemporary installations. With a budget of $1.75 million, the NoMa Parks Foundation is looking for submissions, to be installed by 2015. (DCist, WBJ)
Clarendon tops for Gen Y
With its rents, income, and well-educated young population, a new ranking names Clarendon Washington’s best neighborhood for millenials. It placed the Washington area third nationally after New York City and Austin, Texas. (ArlNow)
‘Tis a silly crosswalk
In Norway, artists replaced a crosswalk sign with a Monty Python-inspired one that encourages pedestrians to cross in a silly way. (Fast Company)
They want you
Alexandria is looking for people to serve on its Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Advisory Committee. Meanwhile, WMATA still wants input on its late night bus service survey. (TheWashCycle, PlanItMetro)
Top image: Photo by daveynin on Flickr
Cab surge pricing for all
New legislation from Mary Cheh and David Grosso would let DC taxis charge Uber-like surge prices, adjusting prices in real-time, but only for people who hail the cabs using a mobile device. (Post)
“A” is for autonomous cars
DC’s DMV has proposed regulations to allow self-driving cars. The operator would have to get a special endorsement on his or her license and acknowledge liability for tickets or crashes. (DCist)
Silver Line by July 4? Maybe, maybe not
Some reports said the Silver Line could open by July 4, but WMATA head Richard Sarles can’t confirm anything until the Airports Authority turns over the line to WMATA. After that, they have committed to open the line within 90 days. (WTOP)
Vote today in Arlington
Today is Arlington’s special election for county board. We’ve endorsed Alan Howze. The hot-button streetcar issue may boost turnout; there already are high numbers of absentee ballots for a special election. (WAMU)
A less federal L’Enfant?
GSA wants a developer to renovate three historic buildings on the St. Elizabeths campus for the Department of Homeland Security. In exchange, GSA would give up two federally-owned sites at 7th and D SW. (WBJ)
Relief for epileptics and others
Doctors would be able to decide what conditions warrant medical marijuana rather than having a set (and narrow) list of conditions, under a bill by Yvette Alexander and David Grosso. DC’s medical marijuana program would still be one of the nation’s most restrictive. (WAMU)
Pushed out to the exurbs
High housing prices are pushing middle class families to the exurbs, research shows. The city centers of several major US cities and close-in suburbs, most likely to have transit options, are the least affordable. (Atlantic Cities)
Ukraine’s revolutionary design
Did the design of Kiev’s Independence Square help overthrow Viktor Yanukovych? Once used to support the Soviet system, Kiev’s wide boulevards and immense center square may have helped stoke revolution. (Guardian)
And…
Vandals have started flipping Smart cars in San Francisco. (Patch) … How about a suitcase sink for your tiny apartment? (Atlantic Cities) … Virginia Governor McAuliffe vetoes a bill that would allow appeals for red-light tickets in court. (WTOP)
Top image: Image from Uber.
NYC power politics
New York’s Assembly speaker blocked development in the Lower East Side for 47 years, as the area’s Orthodox Jewish population worried new affordable housing would bring in black and Latino people and dilute their power. (NYT)
Bethesda worries, too
One of many arguments residents have made against building some new housing in Bethesda is that it will “reduce the political power of the existing residents in future decisions.” (Robert Dyer@BethesdaRow)
Pols pander on parking
Mayor Vincent Gray says he doesn’t like new residents calling parking enforcement against churchgoers who park illegally on Sundays. Tommy Wells calls the issue a “metaphor” for other tensions. (City Paper)
Renewed FBI push
Maryland lawmakers team up to push for the FBI headquarters to relocate to Greenbelt. Economists say that the relocation could bring in $180 million in annual tax revenue for Maryland. (CBS, Baltimore Sun)
Judge says no to recreation centers
A DC Superior Court judge ruled that the city cannot house homeless families in recreation centers on freezing nights. DC must provide a private room if there is not an apartment-style shelter available. (DCist)
You can park inside
Buildings would have to provide secure indoor bike parking if any tenant or unit owner requested it, under new proposed regulations. Assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, and senior housing would be exempt. (WBJ)
Cheap parking pushes driving
Cities with more expensive downtown parking also had 2.3 times as much public transit ridership, a Drexel University study found after looking at data from 107 US cities. (Phys.org)
And….
Tim Krepp publicly shames ShamrockFest revelers (possibly NSFW) who used his alley like a toilet. (City Paper) … Sen. Marco Rubio criticizes over-regulation in a talk at Uber’s DC office. (MarketWatch) … Dan Snyder creates an organization to help Native Americans rather than change his team’s name. (WTOP)
And and…
A DC woman takes Metro to the hospital after EMS and Fire Department responders have an argument. (NBC4) … A Chicago train derailed, injuring 32, possibly because the operator worked too much overtime. (US News) … Why your grandma is moving to Denver rather than Miami. (Sustainable Cities Collective)
Top image: Photo by rachfog on Flickr.
Development for College Park Metro?
Despite Prince George’s County poor job of developing properties near its Metro stations, there’s a chance to attract development on 9 acres around the College Park Metro station. (WBJ, Jason Stanek)
PG gets competitive
Prince George’s County wants a new science and tech business district in College Park, Greenbelt, and Beltsville. The district would have tax incentives and streamlined permits and approvals to attract businesses. (Post)
Bikes to get Royal treatment?
Now that King Street bike lane fight is past, Alexandria officials are considering making a bicycle boulevard on Royal Street, with mini-circles, speed bumps, and more to lure cyclists away from a crowded Union Street. (WAMU)
Walter Reed grocery store bids
Whole Foods steps up its push to become the anchor grocery store at the redeveloped Walter Reed site. Safeway and Wegmans have also expressed interest. (WBJ)
Is Baltimore the next foodie paradise?
As the DC restaurant scene becomes saturated, restaurateurs like celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio look to Baltimore as a city ready for growth. (Baltimore Business Journal)
Can transit fix food deserts?
Atlanta, the country’s 9th-biggest metro area, is also its 3rd worst food desert. Half of grocery stores in one survey carried no produce. Can addressing transit and income inequality help alleviate the issue? (Guardian)
Better for the planet?
Researchers say urbanization is better for the environment in developed countries. Doubling a city’s population means 115% more CO2 emissions in developing countries but only 80% more in rich countries. (MIT Technology Review)
And…
An Arlington snow plow driver going the wrong direction nearly hits oncoming traffic. (Washingtonian) … Ever wondered what your city would look like as an apocalyptic jungle? Here’s your chance. (Atlantic Cities) … Too many people are chasing too few houses, driving housing costs up in DC. (Sustainable Cities Collective)
And and…
Appeals judges won’t block White Flint’s redevelopment for Lord & Taylor. (WBJ) … Now there are bike bags specifically to fit CaBi bikes. (WashCycle) … Senator Claire McCaskill buys a $2.7 million condo in CityCenter DC. (WBJ)
Top image: Photo by Rich Renomeron on Flickr
Did Gray know?
Jeffrey Thompson pled guilty to campaign finance violations and claimed that Mayor Vince Gray personally knew about the illegal “shadow campaign” funds in the 2010 election. The mayor says the allegations are “lies.” (Post)
Catania’s in
In the wake of the revelations, David Catania plans to run for mayor in November’s general election as an independent. (NBC4)
Good times for transit ridership
Public transit use in the US reached the highest levels since 1956, accounting for 10.7 billion mass transit trips in 2013. The growth was nationwide, with commuter rail gaining the most momentum. DC saw the biggest jump in bus ridership nationally. (NYT, Atlantic Cities)
Is the FBI building hackable?
One architecture firm has a fairly radical concept for reusing most of the Brutalist FBI building on Pennsylvania Avenue. This is part of an emerging idea some call “hackable buildings.” (Post)
Demolish or renovate?
Chevy Chase, DC residents are pleading with a developer not to tear down a classic house in the neighborhood. Neighbors overwhelmingly voted to turn down a historic district a few years ago that would have prevented it. (WTOP)
Fence quarrel
The Chevy Chase homeowner who built a fence in the Purple Line right of way argues that contributor Wayne Phyllaier, who reported it to the county, “has no legitimate interest” in the fence issue and calls Phyllaier’s report a “personal attack.” (BethesdaNow)
Is “rails to trails” history?
In an 8 to 1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that abandoned train easements cannot be reclaimed for the purposes of building a bike path. This could put the “rails to trails” program in jeopardy. (USA Today)
To remain separate?
At the National Women’s Bike Forum, one day prior to the National Bike Summit, participants considered whether a separate event for female bike advocates empowered or segregated them. (Streetsblog)
And…
An Arlington teen built a 12-foot snow fort. Is it out of scale with the neighborhood? (ArlNow) … More new housing in the United States is multifamily rentals than in over 40 years. In our region, it’s 33.4%, but could reach 37% by 2032. (UrbanTurf)
Top image: Photo by Chesapeake Bay Program on Flickr.
Metrobus (kind of) back in operation
Metrobus will be operating on a moderate snow service plan with some detours around problem areas. Metrorail, VRE, and MARC trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule. The Circulator and Ride On are running normally. (Post)
Bury the power
Mayor Gray signed a bill to bury DC’s power lines. It will spend $1 billion over a decade to bury lines, starting with the 60 most vulnerable. (WTOP)
Think DC’s bidding wars are bad?
A house in San Francisco sold for $530,000 above asking price. San Francisco’s housing supply cannot support the influx of highly-paid young professionals. Are bidding wars like this in DC’s future? (UrbanTurf)
E-bike CaBi?
Tired of pedaling your CaBi bike? A new portable electric motor drive designed especially for bikeshare systems instantly makes the bicycle an e-bike. The ShareRoller starts at $995 and has a 12-mile range. (Atlantic Cities)
More roads though we drive less?
As vehicle miles traveled (VMT) drop in the region, is it time to focus less on building roads (WAMU) … The US DOT’s forecasting still assumes VMT will grow at a fast clip, despite recent trends.
Washington vs. DC in film
The portrayal of DC in House of Cards is an example of how movies and TV miss the reality of everyday life in the District, instead choosing to show the city solely as a seat of politics and power. (The WheelHouse, Ryan M)
Support for BRT in Montgomery
According to a new poll, over 70% of Montgomery County voters support the county’s BRT plan after hearing arguments for and against the system. (BethesdaNow)
Instant runoffs for DC?
DC councilmember David Grosso plans to introduce a bill to use instant runoff voting in DC elections system. Voters rank preferred candidates, ensuring the ultimate victor wins with over 50% of votes. (WTOP)
Safeway’s suitor
That Safeway near you may become a Kroger’s. Kroger Co. is one of the companies expressing interest in purchasing Safeway, the second largest grocery store chain in the Washington area. (WBJ)
Top image: Photo by J-Blue on Flickr.
Dooring still legal
An anti-dooring bill died in Virginia’s House of Delegates Transportation Committee again. Scott Garrett, the subcommittee chairman, was unwilling to allow drivers to be at fault for dooring a cyclist unless they intended to cause harm. (Post)
Tough on snow?
Montgomery Councilmember Hans Riemer believes the current 24-hour snow removal law isn’t enough and wants the county to create a Sidewalk Snow Removal Plan. Council president Craig Rice doesn’t think new laws are necessary. (WAMU)
MD and VA drivers owe DC big bucks
A DC DMV report shows Maryland drivers owe a whopping $15.4 million to DC in unpaid traffic citations while Virginia drivers owe about $7 million. (DCist)
Community garden or parking?
Developers of a condo building on H Street NE may soon pave over a community garden to get 5 parking spaces, because neighbors fearful about street parking asked for more parking as part of the project. (City Paper)
Getting the vote
How can DC get voting rights? Expert suggestions include amending the Constitution, generating international pressure, and giving up. (City Paper)
Another try for gas station condos
Eastbanc will try again to propose condos at the site of the Key Bridge Exxon. Should residents be able to veto a building below them which might block part of their view? (Georgetown Metropolitan)
Don’t count on the feds
WMATA might not be able to count on federal dollars to solely fund capital improvements. The federal share of its capital budget is declining, and there’s less money nationwide available for transit. (PlanItMetro)
Third Church coming down
After a long historic preservation battle, the Brutalist Third Church of Christ at 16th and I is actually coming down with demolition starting yesterday. A new office building will includes meeting space for the congregation. (PoPville)
Is Google for distracted driving?
Does using Google Glass constitute distracted driving? Some state lawmakers think so, but Google is lobbying to stop proposed laws against driving while using Glass. (NYT)
And…
Union Station’s bus pavilion will open this spring with Death Cab for Cutie lyrics in Morse code. (DCist) … Ben’s Chili Bowl will open in Rosslyn in March. (ARLNow) … DC’s buildings are some of the most energy efficient in the country. (City Paper)
Top image: Photo by Quinn Dombrowski on Flickr.
A park for Silver Spring?
Momentum is building to turn a 2-acre WMATA-owned lot next to the Silver Spring Transit Center into a park. The property was slated for a mixed-use development but negotiations fell through. (Post)
Plow the trails, Arlington!
Why doesn’t Arlington plow its trails? WABA wants residents to ask the County Board to make sure that’s part of the snow response.
Pause for Montgomery’s urban roads bill
A bill by Roger Berliner and Hans Riemer to stop Montgomery DOT from building excessively wide roads in urban areas was put on hold. Instead, there will be a working group to study the issue. (Bethesda Now)
Democrats embracing urbanism?
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is pushing Democrats to get on board the pro-density bandwagon. CAPs new report recommends that cities change zoning codes to encourage transit-friendly development. (NextCity)
Historic and empty
The former home of civil rights leader Mary Church Terrel is designated historic but sits crumbling and empty on a block where many of the other houses have been renovated. Howard University owns the house, but the Great Recession has hampered its upkeep. (Post)
How boring
Meet Lady Bird, the tunnel boring machine DC Water is using to dig massive underground water storage tunnels. There will also be two large new vats at the Blue Plains treatment plant. (Post)
No biking for you… ever
After a driver hit a cycling constituent, a Long Island lawmaker says no one should ride a bicycle or motorcycle. He said bike lanes and signs won’t work and most drivers would ignore them. (Patch, David Kaplan) … A regional transportation group rebuts his arguments. (TSTC)
Camera clips
This bicycle camera attempts to encourage better driving by letting drivers know they are being watched. (TechCrunch, Brad Peniston) … Meanwhile, privacy advocates worry what Maryland is doing with 85 million license plate scans each year, and Homeland Security wants to start storing license plates as well. (Patch, WTOP)
And…
Check out the layers of tunnels under Dupont Circle. (Dupont Underground) … Taxi drivers hits two pedestrians in Woodley Park. (WTOP) … A new mobile parking payment system comes to College Park. (Gazette)
Top image: Photo by Elvert Barnes on Flickr.