West End - Greater Greater Washington

And...

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:26:00 EDT

Take a look inside Metro's elevator and escalator lab. (Post) ... DC shifts around some funds to pay for $7 million in affordable housing in EastBanc's West End project. (WBJ) ... After 8 months, there is still no replacement for Beverley Swaim-Stanley as Maryland's Transportation Secretary. (Baltimore Sun)

Comment

Take Metro in a wheelchair, just once (Apr 14, 2011)
Metro's escalator repairs are unlikely to work, part 2: The news cycle is driving maintenance (Dec 13, 2010)
What should we expect from elevators and escalators? (Oct 13, 2010)
Confusing Metro elevator signs simple to fix (May 26, 2011)
It's not the (escalator) crime, Metro, it's the cover-up (Nov 9, 2010)

Library group hurting libraries?

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:23:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The Ralph Nader-founded DC Library Renaissance Project is getting in the way, say West End community groups, by opposing the public-private partnership to build a new library and some affordable housing. The library group says there isn't enough affordable housing in the project. (Post)

Comment

A new West End Library is a good deal for DC (Jan 6, 2012)
The many definitions of a "modern library" (Jun 4, 2008)
Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
Cheh, Brown ask to shelve Tenley library PPP (Oct 29, 2008)
Ask Kwame to keep the West End housing deal affordable (Jun 1, 2012)

Ask Kwame to keep the West End housing deal affordable

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:13:00 EDT

by Cheryl Cort

Unless DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown reverses course, the long-awaited replacement of the West End Library and fire station will move forward without the originally-promised affordable housing. Please Tell Chairman Brown to fund West End affordable housing.

Rendering courtesy of TEN Arquitectos.

Long planned as a 52-unit project of very affordable apartments for those earning up to 60% of area median income (AMI), the fire station project is in danger of losing its affordability. If unfilled, a $7 million budget gap will leave a market-rate building with only 5 affordable units for people earning up to 80% of AMI.

Recently, Mayor Gray committed to the needed funds and asked Council Chairman Kwame Brown to add the budget authority to the Budget Support Act (BSA) which the Council votes on next Tuesday. Chairman Brown declined the Mayor's request. This is a mistake. The Chairman should reconsider his decision and seize this rare opportunity to provide very affordable housing in a job- and amenity-rich part of town.

Even with the additional costs of these very affordable units, the planned redevelopment that replaces these aging facilities and adds housing and retail is a good deal for the city.

While the cost of the affordable units isn't cheap, it's on par with similar efforts in the region. Moreover, its location is unparalleled. Rebuilding "One City" requires investing in rare opportunities like this one. Offering low income DC residents the chance to live in such a well-located mixed-use neighborhood builds a better future for our city, where everyone can share in the District's rising prosperity.

The West End and nearby Foggy Bottom are home to some two dozen large and medium-sized hotels, as well as George Washington University and its hospital center. These institutions are all major employers, in particular providing a concentration of entry-level and moderate-wage jobs, often filled by people who are likely to be eligible for very affordable units.

By committing to this project, the chairman can indicate that he recognizes the importance of giving low income households the chance to live and possibly walk to a nearby job in West End, Foggy Bottom, or even downtown.

With this project and future ones like it, we can help share the success of the city with those who find it increasingly difficult to stay and enjoy the new libraries, parks, schools that are made possible by DC's growing popularity.

We applaud Chairman Brown for restoring critical housing programs in the 2013 operating budget. However, this West End affordable housing project would be paid for through the capital budget and requires separate action. It is another essential part of ensuring our city's growing wealth gives better opportunities for the DC residents who are struggling to keep up.

With a waiting list of 20,000 for subsidized units, it's time for the District to make another major commitment to conveniently located, affordable housing.

Before next Tuesday, send Chairman Brown a message and ask him to include the budget authority in the Budget Support Act for the long-promised West End affordable housing deal.

41 comments

A new West End Library is a good deal for DC (Jan 6, 2012)
DC poised to relax affordable housing in Waterfront deal (Dec 20, 2010)
DC budget unfairly hits affordable housing and more (May 4, 2011)
Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
How will Gray's budget address affordable housing? (Mar 19, 2012)

A new West End Library is a good deal for DC

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:30:00 EDT

by Cheryl Cort

Last night, the DC Zoning Commission considered the proposed new West End Library and fire station development project. Despite broad support in the community, some activists now object to the plan because it doesn't contain as much affordable housing as hoped. But residents and the Zoning Commission should support this important project.

Photo by M.V. Jantzen on Flickr.

The project will rebuild the outdated West End Library and nearby fire station at no cost to the DC government, using the air rights of the public parcels combined with some private land. The new library will provide benefits to the community, including a café and public meeting spaces.

Retail and housing will fill out the block and help make the place a lively place to walk. In all, about 164 residential units will be built above a new library, and a new fire station will be built with housing above.

There is no government budget to replace these obsolete public facilities. If this mixed-use project doesn't move forward, there will be no new library and no new fire station. The decrepit buildings and parking lots will stay as they are.

In its Planned Unit Development (PUD) application, the developer has asked for an exception from Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) on the library site (but not the fire station site), along with several other exceptions which often happen in PUDs. IZ requires offering 8% of housing units to households earning 80% Area Median Income (AMI) or less.

The developer, Eastbanc, and the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) claim that the entire value of the development rights are being used to pay for the new library and fire station, and there's no additional subsidy left over for the IZ units on the library site or more affordable units on the fire station site.

Originally, the District had promised 52 affordable housing units for very low income households (at 60% AMI) above the fire station site, but DMPED doesn't appear to be offering the needed additional subsidy for this component.

This is a big disappointment. We would prefer to see the District provide the financing to create the 52 very affordable units above the fire station. That would be far more beneficial than simply following IZ. At this point, unfortunately, the proposal is to give the library development with the 164 units above an IZ waiver, and to build housing above the new fire station, including the IZ units required for that fire station parcel alone.

The question of how to deal with the shrinking footprint of affordable housing in this complicated public-private development deal is a hot topic. Chris Otten, an organizer with the DC Library Renaissance Project, sent an alert asking people to attend tonight's hearing and oppose the project because of the affordable housing exception request.

We think this is short-sighted, and dismisses the value of the new library and fire station as major public benefits. A good compromise would be to move the IZ units to the fire station site, if DMPED does not come through with the financing for the preferable 100% affordable project above the fire station.

The PUD process does allow for outstanding public benefits, like a new library, to enable relief from IZ standards. The DC Office of Planning has accepted this, calling the new library and fire station exceptional amenities that fulfill the PUD's standard for allowing relief to some zoning requirements. We think it's possible that IZ could be part of a feasible project at the fire station site, if the Zoning Commission presses for it.

Some DC activists are fundamentally opposed to public-private partnerships, which leverage private development to help pay for public benefits. We share the concern that the public land valuation process should be more transparent so we can ensure city residents are getting a good deal. But better utilizing scarce land with great public facilities, new housing, and commercial space should also be recognized for the benefit that it is.

DC lost the opportunity to build mixed-use libraries at Benning Road and Tenleytown, both of which offered affordable housing and other amenities. These projects would have used funds budgeted for renewed public facilities and private development rights. In the West End case, where there's no budget to fix the library, the public benefits couldn't be clearer. If we do not advance this mixed-use project, we keep the obsolete library and fire station and wait for the city to find the money to pay to replace them one day.

We also lose the benefits a mixed-use building offers: a café connected to the library and separate community meeting space that can be used outside of library hours. These features were sought by residents discussing other library projects, but were unrealized as all other libraries were rebuilt as single-use, stand-alone buildings. A mixed-use building also better utilizes precious city space with hundreds of new homes and shops, within walking distance of downtown.

This is the essence of the notion of public land for public good. Rather than building a small replacement library on a city-owned plot, let's take full advantage of the site and add housing (especially affordable housing), a café, and other community amenities. On future public land deals, the Gray Administration should continue to ensure that the full value of a city-owned site is used—to create exciting new public facilities, and to create new places to live and work, especially more affordable places for those with limited incomes.

We have an important opportunity to create a state-of-the-art public library and fire station, save the city tens of millions of dollars, and deliver added benefits through an innovative mixed-use building design. That's why we should support this innovative project. For more, read my testimony to the Zoning Commission in support of the project.

29 comments

DC poised to relax affordable housing in Waterfront deal (Dec 20, 2010)
Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
What should DC do with Walter Reed? (Jun 4, 2010)
The many definitions of a "modern library" (Jun 4, 2008)
West End projects bring architectural flair to DC (May 4, 2011)

Watergate Safeway, 1966-2011

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:48:00 EDT

by Moira Gillick

The store closes this week, leaving elderly residents without accessible groceries and college students without affordable groceries. Are Whole Foods and Trader Joe's the only urban model grocery? (Post, GW Hatchet)

Comment

Grocery stores scarce for many DC residents (Jan 22, 2009)
Dedicated parking not optimal for Clarendon Trader Joe's (Sep 22, 2010)
Grocery stores disappearing in NYC (Feb 19, 2008)
Pimp my Safeway: Redevelopment potential for the Capitol Hill Safeway (Jun 30, 2009)
Tenleytown Safeway plan shows no signs of improving (Dec 16, 2009)

West End library not quite as affordable?

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:35:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Eastbanc would like a break on inclusionary zoning for the West End library development. There will be more affordable housing on the companion fire station parcel, but that's not yet fully funded. (WBJ)

Comment

Delay scuttles affordable housing at 14th and U (Jul 28, 2008)
Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
West End projects bring architectural flair to DC (May 4, 2011)
Forty days and forty nights without inclusionary zoning (Mar 19, 2009)
Chapin Street rezoning requested for affordable housing (Nov 17, 2009)

Architecture should create sense of place, not "flair"

Mon, 09 May 2011 12:39:00 EDT

by Ryan Velasco

Erik Weber wrote enthusiastically about two designs by the Mexican architecture firm of TEN Arquitectos. Pieces of flair are appropriate in certain settings. But in historic neighborhoods, architects should ground new construction, especially if it is large, in a "respect of place."

Image courtesy of TEN Arquitectos.

Certainly there is a place for "modern" design in our built environment. There is a curatorial value in preserving definitive examples of a particular style as part of our cultural record. The MLK Library, for example, had its place in time and is the only Washington building by modernist master Mies van der Rohe.

It should be preserved, but it's not an endearing place. It doesn't ask me to linger, to settle in with my book. It lacks what the architect and theorist Christopher Alexander calls that "quality without a name."

Without its august associations with its namesake and its designer, the MLK Library would have been demolished or gutted during the last real estate boom. That would never happen to the Old City Library, regardless of its historical merit as one of Andrew Carnegie's.

Left: MLK Library. Photo by ElvertBarnes on Flickr.
Right: Old City (Carnegie) Library. Photo by The Great Photographicon on Flickr.

That building endures because there is something attractive and innately human in its scale. It elicits a sense of reverence and respect appropriate for its purpose. One cannot say the same for the MLK Library or the projects designed by TEN Arquitectos.

Of the West End project, Weber approvingly writes the viewer perceives the structure as a "pixilated glass amoeba," which is nearly as good a simile as that used by an architect who once appeared before ANC 6C who described his project as "two tectonic plates colliding." The Glass Amoeba overhangs the public space—an expedient trick that is about maximizing profit rather than design.

It reminds me of the J. Edgar Hoover Building. It's mass looms above the pedestrian, which always gives me a sense of unease as I walk down Pennsylvania Avenue. What they lack in an architectural idiom grounding them within an historic setting, neighboring architectural blunders aside, they make up for in shock value. They are stunning, but so is much of pop culture and neither will stand the test of time.

There are very few examples in DC where "new" (post-World War II) traditional design is done well. The Ronald Reagan building approaches it. The Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building alludes to it.

But in the wrong hands traditional architecture becomes kitsch. Some of the most vocal opponents of the current Amy Weinstein design for the Hine School site are neighbors that live in the 300 block of 8th Street SE, an example of 1970-ish infill where misapplication of traditional form is on display.

Turn the corner at 8th and C Street, SE and it continues, complete with curb cuts and garage entrances the degrade the pedestrian experience. Were these structures to be subjected to design review today, they would not be permitted.

Houses at 8th and C, SE. Image from Google Street View.

Architecture can be a restorative act. When an architect takes cues from community and not her or his creative impulse, the design result can reconcile the built and natural environment, healing the mistakes of previous generations. I often think of what was lost—and what we were given—in the Southwest waterfront during the Great Society endeavors of the 1960s.

Architecture and urbanism in practice should seek to form a whole, to make something complete. Each element, be it a room, a house, a porch, a garden, a block, a neighborhood, or a city, provides transition and each element relies upon the previous.

This shared state of transition is the underlying principle of unity found in all things. It applies to cities, to ecosystems and agriculture, to art, to human systems of organization as bureaucratic and inefficient as Congress and to things as natural and enduring as families.

I think about this in the case of Hine School project at Eastern Market. I sympathize when I hear residents say they want something that is in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. Those parts of the Hill we love the most, we love for their "completeness."

Eastern Market is already "complete", not simply because of the attention Adolf Cluss gave to brick course and cornice (and, after the fire, the careful hands that restored it), but of the neighborhood that exists around it; the activity and personal connections formed through commerce and community across generations.

Paraphrasing architect Steven Mouzon: "If a building cannot be loved, it will not endure. And if does not endure, it is not sustainable." Progressive planners and some architects get this concept of sustainability. We demand it in our transportation systems, in our food systems. There is an interest in all things local. Why not in our buildings? Why is it that an architects practicing in the early 20th century understood this balance better than many practicing today?

45 comments

Architecture begins its road home (Dec 8, 2008)
Architecture criticism: the good and the bad (Jan 22, 2008)
West End projects bring architectural flair to DC (May 4, 2011)
National Gallery East Wing crumbling from Pei's inflexibility (Dec 11, 2009)
Architecture as culture, not art (Apr 2, 2008)

West End projects bring architectural flair to DC

Wed, 04 May 2011 13:03:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

Last week, Mexican architect Enrique Norten of TEN Arquitectos presented his designs for two new major mixed-use projects in the West End. The two buildings will infuse a neighborhood bordered by classic but staid rowhouses and filled with boring or even depressing institutional architecture with some creativity of design.

All images courtesy of TEN Arquitectos.

The two separate projects, from Georgetown development powerhouse EastBanc, are part of a deal with the city to replace the neighborhood's aging public library and fire house. EastBanc will get the development rights to the city-owned parcels in exchange for incorporating a new library and fire station into the mixed-use developments.

The library project, to be built on three adjacent parcels along L Street NW between 23rd and 24th Streets, will devote about half of the first two floors to the library, leaving the rest of the ground floor for retail spaces, and will be topped by 10 floors of high-end residential units.

The fire station project, on a smaller single parcel at the corner of 23rd and M Streets NW, puts the fire house on the first two floors, reserves the next two for a squash club, and will be topped by four stories of workforce affordable housing.

Reactions to the building design have been positive and negative, though few would argue with Norten's characterization of these dilapidated sites as the "missing teeth" in a neighborhood which is otherwise filled with high-end residences, hotels, and offices.

Norten interestingly described the West End as a neighborhood ripe for architectural individuality. Wedged between the pomp and formality of downtown and the quaint nostalgia of Georgetown, the site calls for "freshness, energy and dynamics" that the other two, and even the West End itself to some extent, lack.

The library is certainly eye-catching at first, but a closer look reveals what is, at its heart, a relatively standard glass-box building. Still, there's intrigue in the design which allows the developer to build close to the maximum allowable square footage yet uses setbacks and overhangs to evoke something far more interesting than the glass, steel and concrete boxes that fill the entire development envelope of countless parcels throughout the city.

The exterior at first strikes the viewer as a pixelated glass amoeba, undulating in a seemingly arbitrary fashion. At second glance, the patterns become clearer as each side of building creates a 3 dimensional arrow drawing the viewer's eye around the building. Unfortunately, this pattern which repeats itself on each side makes the building loom at each left-hand corner where the top floor appears to overhang the rest of the mass, particularly in comparison to the right side which presents increasingly deep setbacks as it rises from the 6th floor.

While the the step-backs create some balconies throughout the fa�ade, there are just as many step-outs where, not only are there no balconies, but the unit above blocks sunlight to the unit below. These step-outs rankled at least one neighbor in the building to the north. The woman was distraught that, while she bought her condo knowing that the site would be redeveloped and she would lose her southward window view, the overhanging levels on the proposed design would even eliminate the view from her patio, something she never anticipated.

Initial renderings show a street-level façade that is far more ordinary than the building above it. Luckily this is counteracted by the views into the library, which will feature a block-long "undulating wall of books" that runs the length of the interior. This design allows the library to be transparent and inviting, Norten said, while enlivening the façade from a distance with the amalgam of colors from the books.

The fire station project presents an even more engaging design. It stands as a stark contrast to the monotonous boxes that crowd the street behind it. Where large street-facing projects sometimes attempt to break this monotony horizontally, mimicking contiguous small-parcel development, here Norten engages the viewer vertically, differentiating each of the uses with a new facade styles, colors and sizes. The negative space within the parcel envelope provides a much need reprieve from the standard Washington office cube.

Architectural merits aside, the projects boast a number of outstanding urban features that will contribute to the vitality of West End and the larger neighborhood. The squash club above the fire station building will be open to the public on an hourly basis as opposed to requiring costly memberships like most sports clubs. Among the half-dozen courts will be several with designated spectator seating to accommodate squash matches and tournaments of local schools and universities.

The stories above will provide 52 units of affordable, workforce housing in a neighborhood otherwise awash in luxury condominiums, apartments and row houses. Household income for those units will be capped at 60% AMI, around $62,000 for a family or $48,000 for a single renter. Full-time students will not be eligible for these units, allaying some community members' fears that they would quickly be filled with students from neighboring Georgetown and George Washington Universities.

The library will get a new home, in an open, airy space which, Joe Sternlieb of EastBanc emphasized, will attract a much broader segment of the community. In response to neighbors' observations that the current building is often mistaken for a homeless shelter, Sternlieb responded that, in a bustling, open library the predominance of the homeless is significantly diminished, making a safer place for all users.

To maintain the library, 85% of the deed and recording taxes on sales of units in the building will be placed in a maintenance fund designated for the West End Library.

Parking for residential units is provided in a 202-space, below-grade garage. At approximately one space per unit, this is high for a building within blocks of a metro stop and every other imaginable neighborhood amenity. But, the project will replace 114 current surface spaces, and, considering the high income brackets of future residents and units sized to accommodate even couples with small children, may encourage relatively low per-capita car ownership for the target demographics.

The building will also boast 108 bike parking spaces in the garage as well racks along the property frontage. One of the ANC commissioners asked if Mr. Norten would be willing to design special bike racks to fit the style of his building design, which Norten readily agreed to. Sternlieb also pointed out that EastBanc is in discussions with DDOT about incorporating a future Capital Bikeshare station. Both projects will seek a minimum LEED Gold certification.

If any remaining qualms of the neighbors can be allayed without major changes to the design, the West End could soon become home to two of DC's more interesting architectural specimens.

49 comments

Chapin Street rezoning requested for affordable housing (Nov 17, 2009)
Families, community, and the West End (Jun 17, 2008)
Georgetown, Tenleytown post offices good opportunities for Smart Growth (Nov 16, 2009)
Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
Do you have a legal right to a cliffside view? (Apr 7, 2011)

And...

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 09:44:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

There are several oft-overlooked monuments and markers among the major attractions on the Mall (WAMU) ... DC Top Chef Carla Hall wants to open a cafe in the Stevens School at 21st and L once it's redeveloped (Young & Hungry) ... DPW might have broken another law in procuring the infamous Lincoln Navigators. (Loose Lips)

Comment

Washington's good streets and bad streets (Jul 11, 2007)
84-year-old zoning fight foreshadows those that follow (Feb 18, 2011)
When you gotta go, where do you go? (Apr 28, 2009)
The Circulator was my idea (Aug 24, 2010)
Don't call it a park (Apr 28, 2008)

Walk the West End tomorrow

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:24:00 EDT

by David Alpert

Looking for a fun urbanist way to enjoy the nice weather tomorrow? Learn about the West End neighborhood of DC, its history and upcoming development with the Coalition for Smarter Growth. The tour starts at 10 am at the Trader Joe's.

Comment

More WalkingTown tomorrow (Sep 20, 2008)
WalkingTown tomorrow (Sep 19, 2008)
Families, community, and the West End (Jun 17, 2008)
On the calendar: Lockwood, Gray, Walter Reed, McMillan Sand, Lincoln Park CaBi, retro bikes and much more (Oct 14, 2010)
On the calendar: Happy hour, NYC panel, Greenbelt bike tour, festivals and many more tours (Sep 24, 2010)

On the calendar: Lockwood, Gray, Walter Reed, McMillan Sand, Lincoln Park CaBi, retro bikes and much more

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:39:00 EDT

by David Alpert

The next few weeks have copious opportunities to weigh in on the future of DC neighborhoods. Please consider attending some of them!

Image from Wikipedia.

Tonight alone has three great events competing for your time. The Coalition for Smarter Growth is hosting "transportation celebrity" Ian Lockwood for a talk tonight at NCPC, 401 9th Street, NW. Lockwood designed the Gilbert's Corner roundabouts, which allowed smooth traffic flow for a tiny fraction of the cost of VDOT's plans for wide highways and grade-separated interchanges. He also designed the boulevard concept for Rockville Pike that will be part of the White Flint plan. It's free, but an RSVP is required.

Vince Gray is also holding the Ward 2 iteration of his town halls, this one at Foundry United Methodist Church at 16th and P, NW. Tuesday is the one in Ward 1, at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, 1100 Harvard Street, NW in Columbia Heights. The final three town halls take place in Ward 8's Barry Farm, Ward 4's upper 14th Street, and Ward 6's Hill East.

Finally, planners will present their final concepts for reusing much of the Walter Reed site. The details have already been reported, including a number of nonprofits and a good amount of retail which the local ANC nonetheless opposes. The Post has a map. And how much parking will it need?

Meanwhile, planning for another large parcel of land in DC's northern section is just getting started: the McMillan Sand Filtration Site at North Capitol and Irving. Stalled for a while due to the economy, the developers are starting a series of public meetings Saturday at 10 am. I'd expect the community opposition to building anything to come roaring back in force, so if you live nearby, stop by to weigh in.

Speaking of community controversy, the debate over a Lincoln Park CaBi station will feature prominently at the local ANC's meeting on Monday. A lot of us were unhappy DDOT's bike planners simply deleted the station from the map after a few people complained instead of soliciting input from others, many of whom were excited about the station.

Now, the ANC is giving everyone that chance, at 7 pm Monday at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G Street, NE. If you support the bike sharing station (or if you don't), show up to make your voice heard. Otherwise, DDOT will likely decide based on the opinions of others.

Wednesday is another bevy of community presentations on local projects for residents of the upper half of DC, this time about streets in upper Northwest and upper 14th. West of Rock Creek, DDOT will present its findings on its Rock Creek West II Livability Study, which looks at transportation safety on key streets. East of the park, the Office of Planning will discuss retail revitalization on 14th north of Spring Road.

There's also a public forum on Maryland transportation priorities at 2:30 pm at SHA's ~~headquarters~~ district office in Prince George's, but based on the time of the meeting, SHA doesn't seem to really want you to go.

After all those meetings, it's time for some fun. The NoMA BID and Dandies & Quaintrelles (who ran the Seersucker Social) are holding a Retro Day as part of NoMA's three-week public festival Zestfest. Retro Day, on Friday, October 22, features a classic bike show, badminton, and a Beatles rock band at the Loree Grand, 2nd and L Streets, NE. We hear Tommy Wells is going to be one of the judges of the retro bike show.

And the next day, tour DC's West End neighborhood in the lastest CSG walking tour. It's Saturday, October 23, 10 am at the Trader Joe's. The tour will show off a number of exciting developments, a gas station with a green roof, and even the place Michael Jordan once lived.

If you live in Northern Virginia and are wondering why there aren't more events in your areas on the calendar, you've got one: the Northern Virginia Streetcar Coalition annual meeting, Thursday, October 28 at 7 pm at NVCC Alexandria.

But if you'd like to see more Northern Virginia events on our calendar, or more of anything, submit them as tips or email tips@ggwash.org and we'll add them.

3 comments

On the calendar: Lincoln Park CaBi tonight, tons Wednesday (Oct 18, 2010)
On the calendar: Happy hour, NYC panel, Greenbelt bike tour, festivals and many more tours (Sep 24, 2010)
Lincoln Park CaBi station decision imminent (Oct 19, 2010)
On the calendar: Fort Totten, Virginia streetcars, and ballpark performance parking (Nov 17, 2009)
On the calendar: Happy hour tonight on H Street, plus Alexandria tour, open data, BRAC, Connecticut Ave (Jul 14, 2010)

Why are Rosslyn-Dupont Circulator stops where they are?

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:23:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

On Tuesday, I discussed why the Circulator uses lower K Street routing for the Georgetown-Union Station line. I also had the opportunity to ask DDOT for their rationale for decisions around the Rosslyn-Dupont Circulator line.

Why not stop on 19th Street directly in front of the Dupont Circle metro exit?

By traveling up New Hampshire onto Dupont Circle and taking an immediate right onto 19th Street, the Circulator could stop directly at the Metro Station, something it only does in a few places (e.g. Navy Yard, Eastern Market) but which is extremely effective in those locations.

Unfortunately, DDOT tested this option and decided against it. According to Aaron Overman, who heads up the Circulator for DDOT:

We tested out various routing patterns at Dupont Circle before deciding the existing route was the most efficient. Buses lost up to 6 minutes per trip by traveling up New Hampshire, onto Dupont Circle, and back onto 19th Street. Customers can walk to the Metro escalator in 30-60 seconds versus waiting for the bus to navigate 6 minutes of traffic congestion on Dupont Circle.

It's true that traffic on New Hampshire backs up entering Dupont Circle because of the lack of a green right turn signal. Another option would be to bypass that intersection by turning left onto 20th Street, right onto P Street and around the circle to 19th. This, too, apparently added significant time to the route. Accessing Dupont Circle at all, Overman maintained, would lengthen runs so much that there are not enough buses to maintain the 10 minute headway.

Eschewing the direct connection to the Dupont Metro entrance was likely the correct decision, but could be better reinforced by clear signage. For those riders who come up from the Metro when a bus is idling at the stop, it will be readily apparent where to catch the Circulator, but other times, it will be much less clear. Improving this wayfinding, though, may depend less on DDOT's efforts and more on those of WMATA, who would be particularly wise to direct Circulator seekers to the south exit with improved in-station signage.

Why move the Rosslyn Metro stop farther away from the Metro entrance?

The Georgetown Connection bus stopped at the bus bays immediately in front of the Metro entrance. Why move it, particularly when it means having to cross 19th Street and wait at a more secluded bus stop, a not unimportant safety consideration for nighttime riders? More importantly, if this change is absolutely necessary, is DDOT working to implement any permanent signage for metro riders to direct them to the more distant stop?

Very soon, construction of two 30+ story towers along N Moore street north of 19th Street will turn this block into an active, congested construction zone. The bus-only turnaround alley across from the Rosslyn Metro station will close permanently. Arlington County advised us of this.
We moved the stop across the street so that when construction begins, we will have claim to a permanent stop and not be required to loop far around the block to serve alternate locations that will move to different spots as construction phases change. It will keep buses out of the active construction area and reduce systemwide delays.

Here it seems DDOT had a good foresight, though they gave no indication whether signs at the old Georgetown Connection stop would direct riders to the new stop location. However, it's too bad the changes at Rosslyn can't keep allowing buses to stop right in front of the Metro.

Why eliminate the Key Bridge Marriott stop?

Several readers wondered why the Georgetown Connection stop at the Key Bridge Marriott hotel was lost in the switchover. While some readers questioned the necessity of the stop to begin with, others pointed out its utility to residents of the neighborhoods on the north side of Lee Highway. Overman explained the stop elimination:

The Circulator cannot stop on or serve private property for liability reasons. We must remain on public roadways.

This is certainly an inevitable downside to a private, business-funded jitney service being converted into a publicly-provided bus route, but not insurmountable.

But I'm not convinced people living north of Lee Highway and Marriott hotel guests are so inconvenienced by the additional 1004.98 ft (by Google Maps's estimation) they will have to walk to the now closer Rosslyn stop to outweigh the increases in route speed not having to double back to the Marriott will produce.

Why not connect the Rosslyn-Dupont route to Foggy Bottom?

Many options, none direct.

The Circulator stop at 24th and L Street is a completely new bus stop, at a rather obscure intersection that provides little connectivity to the rest of the transit network. At the same time, despite more than a dozen bus routes that criss-cross the Foggy Bottom/West End/Dupont Circle area, there is no way to get from Foggy Bottom metro to Dupont Circle or vice versa without walking several blocks on either end.

At just under 2/3 of a mile, these popular areas are just far enough apart that many people would not walk, but close enough that taking the Metro all the way to Metro Center to transfer lines is nearly absurd. Yet, unless you're familiar with the quirky L1 or H1 schedules, or are willing to walk 4 of the 9 blocks to catch the L2, there has been literally no way to get from one to the other.

While stopping the Circulator on 23rd Street directly across at the Foggy Bottom metro stop would require a significant detour, numerous bus and metro riders transfer between modes at the 24th and Pennsylvania, a popular stop for the entire 30s line, D5 and Georgetown-Union Station Circulator.

When asked about the possibility of making a better connection to Foggy Bottom, Overman has this to say:

We are stopping at the same places the old Blue Bus did—the only exceptions are the Key Bridge Marriott, moving the stop across 19th Street N in Rosslyn, and the 24th and L stop moved from nearside to farside because there was insufficient space for a safe bus stop nearside with the service driveway. The Union Station-bound bus still stops at 24th and Penn, why duplicate it when we could serve other destinations in the West End that aren't served by any public transit?

While there are arguments both ways, this "status quo" justification isn't really convincing given the differenct circumstances. The Georgetown Connection bus more closely approximated a jitney service, not a full public bus route. When the Circulator took over the route, it could have taken opportunities to enhance modal connectivity and strengthen the entire transit network.

To say 24th and L isn't served by public transit because there isn't a bus stop at the corner is like saying that Nationals Stadium isn't served by transit because riders have to walk three blocks from the Navy Yard Metro/Circulator stop. Spreading numerous bus stops thinly across a small area is more detrimental than helpful because it makes the transit network more difficult to understand. Trunk routes exist for a reason.

The benefits from having the Dupont-bound Circulator stop at 24th & Penn—where massive numbers of Metro riders are familiar with the easy connection to and from Foggy Bottom—are enormous because it fills in a major gap in the transit network. This would far outweigh any ridership loss resulting from a lack of a bus stop at 24th and L.

It's possible that traveling around Washington Circle would lengthen the run time, but I doubt the difference would be as significant as at Dupont Circle since the light cycles at Penn, 25th and L Street are relatively long and the light timing along L Street is not always beneficial to those driving east.

I asked DDOT whether this route was evaluated, but didn't receive an answer.

After numerous questions back and forth, it's clear that certain changes on the Circulator were both justified and well studied. Others might simply have been kept because DDOT was focused on moving the Blue Bus over to Circulator rather than reevaluating much of the line. On decision-making, DDOT's John Lisle said:

[I]t seems some people assume these decisions about routes and stop changes were made haphazardly, but in truth a lot of thought went into them and there are good, legitimate reasons for the decisions, even if they're not readily apparent to everyone.

Not good communication.

Certainly many people have a rudimentary understanding of the difficulties of route planning, and therefore will jump to incorrect conclusions. But, when changes affect people negatively and they weren't given opportunities to protest or even learn of the changes, they may likely assume that they were made haphazardly. All the thought in the world is pretty meaningless if the people who are affected by it aren't included in the thinking. As a result, DDOT's relatively comprehensive planning efforts get overshadowed by a lack of communication.

DDOT has been engaging the public on broader plans for the Circulator's future. They can maximize support for the system, and the utility to riders, by similarly communicating about the more fine-grained decisions as well.

22 comments

Why is the Circulator now one way on K Street? (Sep 7, 2010)
Communication problems accompany Circulator changes (Aug 31, 2010)
This bus stops here only during full moons and days with an 'r' in the name (Jun 12, 2008)
DDOT identifies future Circulator routes (Nov 9, 2010)
Jim Graham's northern Circulator (Sep 11, 2008)

Why is the Circulator now one way on K Street?

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:36:00 EDT

by Erik Weber

Communications problems aside, a number of residents aren't sure they're so happy about DDOT rerouting the Georgetown-Union station route to run west on lower K Street while keeping the eastbound route on M Street.

First and foremost, why run on K Street at all?

Aaron Overman, Deputy Director for Progressive Transportation Services, confirmed that DDOT wanted to reduce the bus density in a corridor that is already served by more than half a dozen Metrobus, Circulator, private shuttle and tourist bus routes.

Moreover, lower K Street has a number of attractions, including the the NPS boathouse, the House of Sweden, Washington Harbour, the movie theater, and the waterfront park. All of which are currently poorly served by transit. Overman said, "Without changes, M Street was overserved [and] this was an opportunity to more evenly distribute service."

Some commenters also wondered if the change would save any time, considering congestion at 25th Street and the Whitehurst on-ramp. Overman said,

We tested travel times at different times of day and night and found that the Circulator reached the first stops on Wisconsin Avenue sooner in ALL cases by traveling on lower K versus getting stuck at traffic lights and congestion on M Street westbound. It is a travel time savings for customers heading up Wisconsin and also makes the entire line run smoother by reducing the end-to-end travel times so buses can continue back toward Union Station more quickly.

Why not run on lower K Street in both directions?

If M Street is overserved by all those bus routes running westbound, isn't it overserved in the eastbound direction as well? If serving K Street was intended in part to give employees at Washington Harbour easier transit access to their jobs, why make them walk up the 29th Street hill to catch the bus home?

Furthermore, running one-way routes on separate two-way streets is anything but user friendly. When unfamiliar riders get off a bus on a one-way street, they have an expectation that the return trip will start on a different street. If you get off a bus on a two-way street, on the other hand, most people will expect to board a return bus on the opposite side of the street within one or two blocks.

This will be particularly problematic because Circulator stop flags don't indicate routes and many stops don't have the spinning system maps. Even those that do may not get updated maps for some time.

The only direct answer I got from Overman was this:

The K Street routing was at the request of people/businesses on K Street who had service prior to 2008. The inbound K-outbound M service pattern was in effect since the Circulator began service and was only changed when we began to go up Wisconsin Avenue. People can always transfer at Wisconsin and M if they don't want to walk.

Based on this answer, it seems DDOT has fallen prey to the intractable "the way we've always done it" mistake. Circumstances have changed drastically since the Circulator last ran this route. At that time there was no other Circulator service on M Street. Now it is served in both directions by the the Rosslyn-Dupont route.

Why is there no stop on K Street west of Washington Circle?

No stops on K Street.

Before last weekend, you could catch a Georgetown-bound Circulator at the Northeast corner of Penn and 24th St, or at the triangle park at Penn, 25th and L. With the new changes, the nearest stop in Foggy Bottom/West End is at Penn and 22nd Street. Then the bus shuts its doors and travels 8 blocks to 30th and K before it makes another stop.

There was no need for the Circulator to stop at both 24th and 25th Streets. One of the biggest advantages the Circulator offers over Metrobus is that it stops less frequently, cutting travel times. Still, the new distance between the last stop in Foggy Bottom and the first in Georgetown is now longer than the distance between many downtown Metro stops. But while cutting stops, DDOT should have taken the opportunity to eliminate 21st and Penn while keeping 22nd and Penn.

DDOT officials said that because of the traffic patterns, current parking spaces, and curb cuts it is impossible to have a bus stop on K Street west of Washington Circle. Traffic flow prevents the bus from stopping at the island between the circle and 24th Street. On the other side of 24th street, bus stops require 100 feet of "clear zone," so even if the parallel parking space on the K Street service road were removed, driveways break up the the curb every 50 feet or so. Street trees and shrubs also cause problems because of ADA accessibility guidelines.

Where can we put a stop?

There is, however, about 100 feet of curb along K Street just east of 25th street. It's unclear if the parking spaces on this section were removed whether a bus stop could be placed there, though, because about half of that curb is technically in the intersection. Overman said,

The only way to accomplish an accessible, safe stop is to eliminate most if not all of the parking along this section of roadway. If the community and ANC tell us they would rather have a bus stop than parking, DDOT is happy to accomplish this.

I'm unsure why a 100 foot bus stop would require removing most or all parking on a 400 foot block, and not just the 4 spaces nearest the 25th Street intersection. Still, removing any spaces certainly can pose a political problem. If you are a Foggy Bottom or West End resident, contact DDOT and ANC 2A to let them know that you support a new stop along K Street.

24 comments

Communication problems accompany Circulator changes (Aug 31, 2010)
Why are Rosslyn-Dupont Circulator stops where they are? (Sep 10, 2010)
Circulator thrombosis (Mar 16, 2009)
DDOT identifies future Circulator routes (Nov 9, 2010)
Circulator could fill Shuttle-Bug's role for Southwest (Aug 9, 2010)

Need bike racks at the pool

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:43:39 EDT

by David Alpert

Today's Daily Gripe involves a lack of bike racks at Francis Pool. DPR says bike racks "are not a mandatory feature at DC pools," and they don't have budget right now for the racks, but are certainly open to it. (Post)

Comment

Box of trash or standard contemporary?

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:17:00 EDT

by David Alpert

DCmud has more details about proposals to develop the West End Library from EastBanc and Toll Brothers/Torti Gallas. Both keep the library on the site with housing above and some retail; Toll Brothers has much more retail including a grocery store. Is it just me or does Eastbanc's rendering look like a compacted cube of garbage?

Comment

How does the drinking age affect community?

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:18:03 EDT

by David Alpert

UMD College Park President C.D. Mote Jr. has joined the growing chorus of college presidents who support returning the drinking age to 18, DCist reports. I agree with this, both because it's rational public policy (it will probably reduce binge drinking) and because having an arbitrary line you cross in the middle of college (rather than before or after) is silly and unfair.

Photo by tupton on Flickr.

More relevant to this blog, though, I wonder what effect a change would have on our neighborhoods near residential colleges, like Foggy Bottom/West End, Georgetown, eastern Columbia Heights, or AU Park/Tenleytown. We've discussed how the West End lacks a strong sense of community, though that's clearly not a problem in Georgetown.

If students could legally drink, they'd probably patronize more bars near their campuses. Besides the inevitable tensions with neighbors, might it also lead to more participation in the community as a whole? Or, perhaps if neighborhood retail strips are flooded with students, it would drive others away and harm community? Or, since there are already lots of students who want to go to bars, would it not change much at all?

22 comments

Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
Families, community, and the West End (Jun 17, 2008)
Why is the Circulator now one way on K Street? (Sep 7, 2010)
The neighborhood retail conundrum (Jul 1, 2008)
Racial politics kept College Park Metro far from campus (Dec 4, 2007)

Families, community, and the West End

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:34:32 EDT

by David Alpert

The discussion on Friday's post about the West End has been very interesting. One major theme jumped out of many comments: the West End has no community because it has no families, and it has no families because it's all tall buildings and small condos. Is that true?

Washington Circle. Photo by The Paco
on Flickr.

Let's put aside the debate about whether the neighborhood should comprise tall buildings. That's a settled question: it does. It's also a good idea: clearly, based on high prices for condos in the West End, there is significant demand for condos in a dense area, and DC should satisfy that demand just as it should also satisfy demand for townhouses. We've long ago made a policy decision that the West End will be a high density neighborhood; its proximity to downtown makes it an ideal place for it.

But does that have to mean no community, a place where "there's no there there"? What's different about the West End compared to other areas? We can turn around the argument from the comments into two questions: Can we have community without families? And can we make a West End families want to live in?

Community without families

Gay neighborhoods have few families, yet usually have a strong sense of community. Still, Dupont had some families even in the days when it was not as nice a neighborhood as now. Would Dupont have had as much community without the families?

Still, the West End is not as much a gay neighborhood. Can we have community if the residents are mostly young singles and couples? Adams Morgan has a large number of single younger people as well. So does the Penn Quarter. Do they have a good sense of community? Or is the community there mostly a result of the more established and older residents?

I think it's clear that families contribute to a sense of community and young, transient residents weave less community fabric per person than those who have put down roots, whether they are families or not. The built environment also contributes to the lack of community in the West End by lacking a retail corridor or good public spaces.

The neighborhood vision document suggests making Washington Circle into more of a community space, as Dupont Circle is or even Logan Circle. The library could also provide such a function, especially if its design thinks more broadly than just about books.

Families in the West End

Certainly there are places with many families and tall buildings. For example, Manhattan. However, DC is very different, and families have many nearby alternative places to live where they can get more space for less money.

Schools are certainly part of the equation. Why live in the West End in an expensive, smaller condo when the schools aren't good? At least on the Upper West Side there is decent public education. But New York families can go to the suburbs too, where the schools are often better, and many don't.

To create an environment appealing to at least some families, we need the kinds of amenities that are attractive to families. A library is certainly one, as are good parks to play in with the kids. What else?

It'd also help to have larger condos suitable for families, with two or three bedrooms and separate living and dining rooms. The market isn't providing that right now. Is it worth regulating condo size to some extent?

Right now, though, good public spaces clearly would help the neighborhood sense of community. Families would like them, and so would young people; they would build community among existing residents and attract new ones who are interested in staying longer. Good public spaces are good for everyone.

What do you think? Can the West End have families and tall buildings at the same time? Can it have community without families? Would a good library help? A better Washington Circle? Or something else?

13 comments

Housing and a sense of place for the West End (Jun 13, 2008)
The many definitions of a "modern library" (Jun 4, 2008)
Density on U Street? (Dec 4, 2007)
Irving Street becomes unofficial dog latrine (Jan 28, 2011)
Poplar Point and the Case of the Too-Large Park (Feb 4, 2009)