Weekend links: Tall poles and walkability

by Erik Weber and David Alpert • October 30, 2010 9:53 am

Image from Beyer Blinder Belle via Washington City Paper.

Giant stone pole needs massive security?: How do you build a giant security screening facility at the Washington Monument? (Housing Complex) ... Better yet, how about not having the screening at all? It's already got a vehicle barrier.

Really tall pole for your phone?: Montgomery County planners are evaluating whether to allow AT&T and the International Monetary Fund to build a 155-foot "Frankenpine" cell tower along the Potomac. (Historian for Hire)

Non-ugly building joining 14th Street: The HPRB has approved an infill project on 14th between P and Q. The original design had Frank Gehry-like skewed angles; personally, I [David] am glad HPO was there to put the kibosh on that plan.

DC's good for more than just politics: Christopher Leinberger says that the Washington metro area is a model for redevelopment of cities into walkable communities. Similarly, Richard Florida says DC is the 5th best place in the US to trick-or-treat, citing walkability, high median incomes, and interesting destinations like Embassy Row. (TreeHugger, Daily Beast)

Walkable is desirable: A decade ago, car-dependent suburbs commanded the highest housing prices per square foot. Now the title goes to Dupont Circle and other close-in, walkable communities. (Washington Monthly, Eric Fidler)

LaHood on livability: U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood defines the term 'livability' and highlights DC and Chicago as examples of livable cities. (Grist, Eric Fidler)

Remaking the market: Pittsburgh reopened its downtown market square. The city created one unified space by closing the two streets that previously quartered the square. (PPS, Eric Fidler)

From seedy to trendy: Inspired by a story about transformed retail streets in New York, the Commercial District Advisor takes a look at what it takes to create a trendy street. (Crain's New York Business, Commercial District Advisor)

Flat roofs: DC has height limits, but Los Angeles skyscrapers are required to have flat roofs for airborne firefighters. So much for spires. (City Block, Eric Fidler)

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Erik Weber has been living car-free in the District since 2009. Hailing from the home of the nation's first Urban Growth Boundary, Erik has been interested in transit since spending summers in Germany as a kid where he rode as many buses, trains and streetcars as he could find. Views expressed here are Erik's alone.

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.