Morning links: More aftermath

by Steven Yates • July 2, 2012 10:53 am

Photo by Neil. Moralee on Flickr.

A week to power?: Hundreds of thousands still don't have power and it could be a week or more until its restored. That means no air conditioning on very hot days this week, many traffic lights out, and closings across the region. (Post)

Ads for CaBi: DDOT is seeking bids for an advertising contract for 128 Capital Bikeshare stations that would give them $1 million and 50% of advertising profits. The money would help pay for operations and expansion. (Examiner)

No streetcar for affordable housing?: Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Walter Tejada fears the proposed streetcar on Columbia Pike may eliminate affordable housing along the corridor and that "transit-oriented development has been cruel" to low income people. (Arlington Mercury)

How to succeed in public housing: Building community, including retail, and giving a sense of ownership to residents can help public housing succeed. (RPUS)

Fewer foreclosure sales: As part of a larger nationwide trend, recent data reveals that the number of foreclosure sales in the DC area for the first half of 2012 is down significantly versus the same period in 2011. (UrbanTurf)

VA police staying secret: Virginia lawmarkers don't seem very interested in opening up information about police investigations. Even years after any action, police refuse to divulge what they did or didn't find and the law seems unlikely to change. (WAMU)

Dominion dabs: Sand Box John documents the state of Silver Line construction. ... One reporter reviews and interprets public art in Arlington. (City Paper) ... Alexandria looks to sell a piece of city-owned land for a possible mixed-use redevelopment. (Patch)

Have a tip for the links? Submit it here.

9 comments

Tags: links

Steven Yates grew up in Indiana before moving to DC in 2002 to attend college at American University. He currently lives in Southwest DC.

Comments
Add a comment »

What is cruel to affordable housing is the inevitable nimby anti-density neighbors who fear for parking and shadows that comes with transit. These same neighbors fail to make the connection that there taxes must than increase to subsidize the affordable housing in the lower density buildings...

by Joe on Jul 2, 2012 10:56 am • link • report

Shadows come from the taller building obviously!

by Joe on Jul 2, 2012 10:58 am • link • report

If the CaBi advertising money is put towards more bikes then I'm all for it.

by aaa on Jul 2, 2012 11:02 am • link • report

I'm curious how kiosk advertising might relate (or not) to outdoor advertising controls in the Federal Aid right of way (I assume some, perhaps many, stations lie with Federal aid ROW), which DC has recently found itself running afoul of restrictions. This is for posted advertisements, and not system sponsorship... http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2012/06/25/wayward-billboards-could-cost-the-city-15-million/

by darren on Jul 2, 2012 11:05 am • link • report

I'm all for advertising supporting Capital Bikeshare.
I think they should follow London's lead with adverts on their Boris Bikes - http://changehere.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/4892983011_6e0bbb5817.jpg
Put all that money into expansion/maintenance not into other programs.

by andy2 on Jul 2, 2012 11:23 am • link • report

Everything I see in my experience and with others is that things aren't that much cheaper along columbia pike.

The best thing for Walter Tejada can do is help ensure that affordable units are replaced with the new TOD. Make transit better throughout the county. Whether they live on Columbia pike or wherever else. And let the county get taller. Arlington is one of the smallest counties in the nation. The only way to help relieve rental pressure is to build up.

A LOT of people want to live in Arlington (or DC) and the absence of the pike streetcar won't actually turn that around. What it will do is make it easier to get around south arlington without a car.

by drumz on Jul 2, 2012 11:23 am • link • report

To echo Darren's comments, I'm curious how this will go over in Arlington. The County's lack of outdoor advertising was one of the factors that prohibited SmartBike expansion.

by Jeff on Jul 2, 2012 2:09 pm • link • report

Jeff: It doesn't have to go over in Arlington. This is on the station kiosks, and this only applies to the ones in DC (not counting NPS property).

by David Alpert on Jul 2, 2012 2:12 pm • link • report

I'm curious how kiosk advertising might relate (or not) to outdoor advertising controls in the Federal Aid right of way

I don't think it does. The controls are about billboards, and that DC needs to have rules about street advertising. All DC needs to do is allow these under their own rules. Same as bus shelter advertising.

by David C on Jul 4, 2012 2:59 pm • link • report