Breakfast links: Saving the city
Self-policing DC
UMD researchers suggest that people with strong ties to a neighborhood are more likely to intervene on another’s behalf as a “responsible third party punisher”, which may mean less self-policing in transient cities like DC. (Atlantic Cities)
Best design of the year?
Is Montgomery County’s North Bethesda Market II the best building design in the DC area for 2013? The 300 foot tall building, which is ambitious architecturally, will be mixed-use and have 347 residential units. (UrbanTurf)
Shaw and Anacostia sites ready for development
DC is looking for a “catalytic project” for a site in Historic Anacostia to help revitalization efforts. The District also wants to encourage mixed-used development for a parcel in the heart of the Shaw corridor. (WBJ)
Pay-to-play meter deal
A deal over DC’s parking meter management is rife with questions over “pay-to-play” on the DC Council. Entities related to one of the bidding companies donated $50,000 to mayoral campaigns of 3 council members. (Post)
Defense of streetcar in Arlington
Arlington’s County Board Chair, Walter Tejada, vigorously defended the Columbia Pike streetcar, ruling out BRT and calling out opponents who he thinks are misleading the public. (Post, Canaan) (Tip: Canaan)
Urbanism from scratch
Hamburg, Germany is trying to change the way neighborhoods are built with a $14 billion project called HafenCity, a new mixed-use neighborhood that is being built almost from scratch near the city’s center. (NextCity)
1 car = 10 bikes
There is an emerging trend to create bike racks in the shape of a car. One design gracing the streets of Buenos Aires includes labeling that reads “1 car = 10 bikes.” Similar designs have been seen in Sweden and Seattle. (Atlantic Cities)
11-year BRT timeline
San Francisco’s 11-year timeline from feasibility study to completion of a bus rapid transit service is caused by frequent public meetings, environmental studies, citizen opposition, and a desire to ease into BRT. (NextCity)
Utah’s transit gem
Salt Lake City could be a model for building transit on budget and in a timely fashion. 3 factors that led to Salt Lake City’s transit success are bundling projects into one, being proactive, and using performance contracting. (Streetsblog)