acustis, Author at Coalition For Smarter Growth

Author: acustis

Better DC Buses: What does it take?

Posted on May 1, 2014November 15, 2021 by acustis

New and innovative bus service has offered a better ride on DC buses, but many more improvements, like the 16th Street rush hour bus lanes, are still pending. Improving bus service is of vital importance to DC residents, since they rely more on riding the bus than on Metro.

Traffic congestion, constrained funding, and limited street space are all challenges to speedier and more reliable buses. For several years, better bus service has been planned, and sometimes implemented in DC and the region.

What’s the status of bus improvement plans, and what can we learn from other regions’ experiences? Together with ANC Commissioner Kishan Putta, CSG hosted Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Joseph Barr (formerly of NYC DOT), WMATA’s Jim Hamre, and DDOT’s Sam Zimbabwe, as well as DC Councilmember Mary Cheh.

Testimony to DC Zoning Commission on McMillan parcels 6 & 7

Posted on May 1, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

We wish to express our support for the Master Plan and open space elements for the adaptive reuse of the McMillan Sand Filtration Plant. We have tracked the review process at the HPRB for the last year. This thoughtful plan restores all the major historic features, along with creating a new large park that celebrates the distinct historic elements and function of the former industrial site.

DC AHA Briefing: Local Rent Supplement Program

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

LRSP is a tool being used to provide housing for District residents with extremely low incomes, including those with special needs. It does so by preserving and producing affordable housing, and by providing direct rental assistance in the form of vouchers.

DC AHA Briefing: Zoning for Housing Choices

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

After decades of decline, DC is growing rapidly. Last year, the city added 13,022 residents. Housing permits in the last few years have jumped — 3,200-4,600 units/year for 2011 to 2013, up from the peak of 2,800 in 2005.

DC AHA Briefing: Shared Equity – Ensuring DC homeownership benefits residents

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

Shared equity defined: A shared equity approach balances two competing but valid public objectives in affordable homeownership programs: wealth creation and preservation of housing affordability.

DC AHA Briefing: Public Land Dispositions

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

Over the last decade, DC has lost half of its low-cost rental units and more and more residents now pay more than 50 percent of the income on housing—a severe burden that leaves them more vulnerable to homelessness.

DC AHA Briefing: New Communities Program

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development administers NCP. NCP is the District’s major redevelopment initiative slated to re-develop four low-income public housing complexes in the following neighborhoods:

DC AHA Briefing: Inclusionary Zoning

Posted on March 20, 2014October 20, 2021 by acustis

DC Zoning Commission adopted Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) regulations, and the DC Council and Mayor enacted the program into law in 2006. The final regulations for the law went into effect on August 14, 2009. Due to the recession and grandfathering, IZ units did not appear on the market until 2012.

DC AHA Briefing: Commercial Linkage Program

Posted on March 20, 2014March 31, 2022 by acustis

Commercial linkage programs charge large commercial developments one-time fees which help pay for the affordable housing needed by the people employed by commercial developments. The cities of Boston, San Francisco, and Seattle as well as a number of Washington area suburban jurisdictions collect linkage fees from commercial developments that meet or exceed significant size thresholds. These fees are charged on a per square foot basis.

DC AHA Briefing: Affordable Housing Tax Abatements

Posted on March 20, 2014 by acustis

Affordable Housing Tax Abatements occur when the District of Columbia forgives all or some portion of residential real property tax on housing for a period of time in exchange for the owner making some or all of that housing affordable to households with incomes below agreed upon levels. Property tax is a significant part of operating cost for affordable housing. If forgiven it could reduce operating costs (see example below) by $100 or more per month per unit.