Is auto use peaking?

DC’s Department of Housing and Community Development is moving to Anacostia, to a site about eight blocks from the Metro, in an effort to revitalize the area. Richard Layman thought this was a mistake in 2005 when officials suggested moving WMATA headquarters to Anacostia, and argues that the 1986 Reeves Center at 14th and Udoesn’t get credit for U Street’s success. (Plus, the Reeves Center is another example of bad urbanism, with an empty plaza and big garage entrances on... more

There’s now an event calendar on the right sidebar, listing community meetings and public agency hearings where you can participate in your community or see the decisions getting made that affect our city and region. It’s still incomplete, with some neighborhoods (for now) better fleshed out than others. If you’re interested in helping update the calendar, let me know. The first Wednesday of each month is a busy day; in addition to local ANC meetings in Logan Circle, Ad... more

The Teamsters have a campaign going to fire US DOT Secretary Mary Peters for continuing a program that lets Mexican trucks haul freight in the US with lower safety standards. It’s a good cause, but it’s not the only reason Mary Peters ought to be fired—there’s her dislike for bike paths, unenthusiasm for transit, and opposition to gas tax increases are all bad for the country as well.... more

Today, the community and creativity of cities—a consequence of many people interacting in all aspects of life—is widely recognized as one of cities’ greatest strengths. Naturally, then, Jane Jacobs’ celebration of the vibrant city seems obvious and Le Corbusier’s vision of the isolating city of huge towers and empty spaces seems ridiculous, the product of his ideas like L’Enfant Plaza widely reviled. But according to a thought-provoking article, The Antisocial... more