Development
Tregoning may be Committee of 100's best friend
Harriet Tregoning is the subject of this week's City Paper cover story, penned by Lydia DePillis. Besides a lot of great background information, what's most interesting is who's not happy with some of her decisions: ANC commissioners and city officials who think she should be more aggressive in pushing development.
Photo by Thomas Le Ngo on Flickr.
People familiar with her work in DC might not know how influential she was in starting the smart growth movement 20 years ago. It's interesting to see how little driving experience she has. It's probably little surprise that she had a far more detailed vision for DC's growth than Adrian Fenty, at least when he first hired her and before she educated him.
One of the biggest criticisms came from Ward 3 ANC commissioner Tom Quinn, who argued, "The Office of Planning has ceded planning in Ward 3 to the Committee of 100 types."
Tregoning hasn't pushed much on development plans on Wisconsin Avenue, partly because a bolder plan under prior planning director Ellen McCarthy riled up neighborhood activists who then pushed Fenty to replace McCarthy. That didn't stop them from also trying to get rid of Tregoning when Mayor Gray came to town, though.
Another critic, at least for a while, was Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins, who wasn't sure he supported OP's approach to historic preservation. A fascinating email DePillis acquired through FOIA shows that Hoskins worried about "an unreasonable level of desire to keep things the same" in some preservation decisions.
Those decisions come mainly from the Historic Preservation Review Board, whose members the mayor appoints. At a confirmation hearing, several people warned that recent Gray appointee Nancy Metzger takes more of a "keep things the same" view.
The Council just confirmed 6 appointees, only 2 of whom are reappointments, so we will soon see what balance the new board strikes between "keep things the same" and helping the city grow and change.
On the zoning update, the Office of Planning has tread very lightly on policy changes, to the point that many commenters and bloggers criticized them as "too timid."
At a recent Federation of Citizens' Associations meeting, many local activists (almost all from Ward 3) railed against the zoning update, but the fact is that it does almost everything skeptics want. It takes great pains to keep single-family home neighborhoods essentially unchanged; the new "corner store" rules, for instance, won't apply there. Some side setback requirements are actually getting larger. And so on.
The other policy changes aim to achieve exact Committee of 100's stated goal: "safeguarding and advancing Washington's historic distinction, natural beauty and overall livability." Tregoning has upheld historic preservation's strong role in DC planning. OP proposed Green Area Ratio largely to promote natural beauty, along with environmental sustainability.
As for livability, corner stores, accessory dwellings and reducing mandates to build unnecessary parking lots all enhance livability. In fact, nearly every decision from OP and every speech Tregoning makes has livability at the core. When Tregoning pushes back against DMPED, it's usually when a development project neglects livability in its quest to get a project in the ground.
Nevertheless, many neighborhood activists continue to push back forcefully against OP. They might want to consider that had they succeeded in replacing Tregoning, or if Hoskins got his way, the policy outcomes might be even less to their liking.
 | David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.   |
Comments
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A couple point on DA's article:
1) Is there a link to the previous Wisconin Ave plan? Or is that pre-GGW? i.e. hunt it down on the google.
2) The bit about Hoskins vs. Tregoning vs. HPB vs. Mayor gray is way too inside baseball for me. Perhaps someone can clarify? She is bad because she want HP? Or bad because she doesn't?
3) After seeing what has happened with 18th st in Adams Morgan, as well as U street, I can see why Ward 3 residents panic. (that isn't about DA, but about the orginial article)
by charlie on Mar 9, 2012 12:08 pm • link • report
by TM on Mar 9, 2012 12:28 pm • link • report
But the part about her not being familiar with a car does strike me as odd.
by HogWash on Mar 9, 2012 2:14 pm • link • report
I'd like to believe this is an accurate assessment of Ward 3 resident attitudes, but I am concerned that the "no historic district" attitude is the same attitude that objects to any type of changes. A historic district would have been a change in the way each resident would need to conduct their affairs. So would be new development in Ward 3. It's the fear of change for the individual that drives both concerns. I know that is not logical, but the historic preservation department can make life very difficult for people.
That said, OP has no idea what the majority of residents in Ward 3 would want to have happen since they have decided not to ask. Harriet attended a recent smart growth forum at the Tenley Library and knows that over 75 people who sat in that room are interested.
OP has done some good work over the past year in supporting AU expansion, particularly with the proposed move of the AU law school to Tenley. But this is not the same as engaging the residents to create an area plan that would make the DC side of Friendship Heights the place where the tax dollars and great stores will want to locate. More can be done.
by fongfong on Mar 9, 2012 2:16 pm • link • report
It's not just a matter of establishing a vision or a policy - the process and the implementation are where the changes actually hit the ground.
by Alex B. on Mar 9, 2012 2:22 pm • link • report
by Tina on Mar 9, 2012 2:55 pm • link • report
There was also a City Paper article entitled "Wisconsin Badgers" that might provide some insight.
by William on Mar 9, 2012 3:54 pm • link • report
I know it's a timeworn tactic to deride opposing viewpoints as just being those of a "vocal minority." But on Klingle Road, let's be real. I have no idea where a majority or a minority of residents are on the question of rebuilding Klingle Road, although I suspect that the answer depends a lot on geography and how the question is asked (initial and maintenance costs, who pays, alternatives, etc.) What I do know is that a pretty lopsided number of DC council members have voted not to build a road there, so if that's any indication of where public opinion is, then you have it.
by Bob on Mar 9, 2012 4:00 pm • link • report
My point about Klingle was not to discern public opinion on the issue, or if someone is in the minority or not. What I do think is true is that a minority of folks are the ones stalling any progress via litigation.
That willingness to go to the mat and draw the proceedings out is what I think is relevant.
by Alex B. on Mar 9, 2012 4:50 pm • link • report
Perhaps it's your definition of 'livability' that gets in the way of your seeing eye to eye with those who've been at this a long time ... I mean, you for example think not having sufficient parking enhances livability. I think most people in this country would argue otherwise.
i.e., to say:
"The other policy changes aim to achieve exact Committee of 100's stated goal: "safeguarding and advancing Washington's historic distinction, natural beauty and overall livability."
means you haven't considered that maybe others may disagree that those things you advocate for 'where the rubber meets the road' will actually bring about the shared goals.
by Lance on Mar 9, 2012 5:07 pm • link • report
by William on Mar 9, 2012 6:27 pm • link • report
She also talks about tear downs and pop-ups. Three cheers.
Listening to her on Kojo last year is worth it for those who care about aesthetics and good design.
More good news. From the article, "The earliest example was Florida Avenue Market, the historic but run-down (CityPaper, natch) collection of food wholesalers that developers and then-Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. wanted to demolish to make way for a new office and residential complex. Tregoning insisted on studying the area and putting together a small comprehensive plan, which she credits with bringing in a few other developers and neighboring Gallaudet University. The group Tregoning attracted is instead planning a food-focused concept that will retain much of the historic market." I say more good news. What it sounds like is good news, but to be honest, I have not seen or read the particulars.
Total amateur opinion: I see lots of daylight between Harriet Tregoning and Cheryl Cort.
by Jazzy on Mar 9, 2012 7:08 pm • link • report
Driving is like riding a bicycle; you don't forget how to do it. Once you become re-accustomed to moving by bicycle or on foot, however, driving a car is an excruciating exercise in getting stuck. Distaste for it is a sign of good mental health.
by Gridlock Averse on Mar 9, 2012 7:13 pm • link • report
by HogWash on Mar 9, 2012 9:57 pm • link • report
And it doesn't need to. Design review hasn't much helped the areas under the watch of the CFA and the NCPC. No, they've become more bland and homogeneous. Cookie-cutter, if you will.
It's easy and common for these boards to be fixed to one ideological position, and often crush diversity, in order to maintain an arbitrary style that may not be the most appropriate. Santa Barbara suffers from this problem, for example.
by Neil Flanagan on Mar 10, 2012 9:15 am • link • report
by Jazzy on Mar 10, 2012 11:17 am • link • report
by Neil Flanagan on Mar 11, 2012 5:53 pm • link • report
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