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"It also makes solving many of the problems people have with development possible, as counter-intuitive as it may seem. Density might generate more trips, but it can actually end up generating fewer driving trips because the density provides a market for on-site retail, which means more trips are met via walking on-site, etc."

First, most people who live in the densest areas of the city still have cars. And they drive them (that's why even the Whole Foods on P Street has a parking lot). DC is not (and never will be) NYC where you literally do not need a car for anything.

Second, I think that the development would be hella convenient for people actually living on the site, but provide very little convenience for people not living within its immediate vicinity. Someone living at 1st and Seaton will drive to a grocery store at McMillan just like they drive to the Giant on Rhode Island. The majority of folks not living at McMillan will be driving to a grocery store either way.

"We also have lots of neighborhoods in DC right now that are just as dense, not near a Metro, and somehow don't descend into traffic armageddon."

Those neighborhoods also don't have people commuting there for work.

by D.C. Citizen on May 8, 2012 11:08 am • link • report