Bonus links: Parking extravaganza
$80,000 a space for another DC USA?
ACT and the Sierra Club are calling on Montgomery County to scale back the $89 million, 1,100-car garage it plans to build up to seven stories below the current surface lot across from the Barnes and Noble. This will cost $80,000 a space, and assumes a greater percentage of people driving to work than currently, even before the Purple Line stops a block away.
Tenleytown Safeway too suburban
The large, suburban parking lot behind the proposed Tenleytown Safeway was one of the resident objections raised at last month’s ANC meeting. Also, while the plan has stores along 42nd Street, they will face the inside of the store. ANC members also suggested adding some housing above and possibly townhouses in the rear. (Цarьchitect)
Three parking bills, one hearing
There’s another DC Council hearing December 10th on the parking bills to reserve one side of the street for residents only. This hearing includes the Ward 5 bill not covered previously, in addition to the Ward 1 and Ward 6. I’ve previously written about it here and here. (JDLand)
Free holiday meters?
Salt Lake City is making all meters free for the holidays, which costs them about $225,000. Spokane’s Public Parking and Policy Manager responds to a letter calling for the same there, the noting that most cities simply found the meters filled up all day by employees. (Deseret News, Spokesman-Review)
Free transit for some Chicago shoppers
The transit-accessible Andersonville district in Chicago provides free transit rides to shop there in addition to free parking. Shoppers just have to print out a page from their Chicago Card Plus account (whose website allows users to see their ride history) and send it in with the receipt. (Michael P) (Tip: Michael P)
Potomac Yard station still just out of reach
Alexandria is still about $32 million short in public and private money to finance a $240 million new Metro station at Potomac Yard. Even that figure is for a station along the current line, which isn’t the ideal location. Planners and officials are still optimistic they can make it happen. (Examiner)
A Green City but without green transportation
Developers hope to rebuild St. Charles, a planned community in Waldorf, to enlarge it and make buildings much more energy efficient. Still, it’s 22 miles from DC, an dcan’t be a true “Green City” if everyone drives in single cars to central jobs. Scott points out, why not do the same for other older communities in inner Prince George’s County? But if you’re going to build in Charles County, this is at least a better way to do it. (Post, Scott, Cavan) (Tip: scott)