Photo by Kaizer Rangwala on Flickr.

Return of the Main Street

Last week, the White House said that to end the nationwide housing shortage, we need to allow more density and cut back on building regulations and parking requirements. In other words, the United States needs to bring back Main Street, where we build retail at the street level with people living above it. (Post)  

Setback and slowdown

Maryland governor Larry Hogan’s new budget doesn’t include funding for the Corridor Cities Transitway, a long-planned bus route designed to ease the dense traffic of the I-270 corridor and connect the Metro and MARC in Montgomery County. (Post)  

Zoning czar

Montgomery County has a “people’s counsel,” but the position has long been vacant. One county council member wants to replace it with a zoning and land use officer to help with master plans and zoning decisions. (Bethesda Beat)  

Eyes on Metro

A new agency called the Metrorail Safety Commission will soon handle Metro oversight. The DC Council wants to add guidelines to ensure transparency via things like giving the public access to agency meetings and documents.(WTOP)  

Pulling the trigger

Tax revenues in DC are higher than expected, but a rule known as a “trigger” policy says most of that money has to go toward tax cuts rather than government services and programs like schools, housing, and health care. (DCFPI)  

Parking red alert

Right now, anyone can use DC’s red-top parking meters, which are supposed to be for people with disabilities. The city will soon will soon crack down to make sure only those with the required tags and placards use them. (WTOP)  

More affordable housing in DC

Construction on a new affordable housing complex in Ward 5 is underway. It’ll swap two vacant homes for 30 units, and is happening thanks in part to financing from DC’s public housing funds and tax credits. (WCP)  

And…

Car2Go now has 2 million users worldwide (Post)… DC residents save $7,000 a year on rent by living with a roommate. (DCist) … City council hopefuls in Manassas want residents to help update the city’s strategic plan (Potomac Local)…Developers and community members are trying to reinvent Rockville (NYT)