A discussion on fostering development near Metro stations quickly turned into a pointed — and, officials hope, constructive — indictment of Prince George’s County’s planning and zoning process. The meeting was a response to a pair of bills that would have allowed developers to fast-track the development process for projects within a half-mile of Metro or Maryland Transit Authority stations. The bills were tabled after criticism that they would allow such projects to bypass public hearings. Many speakers said the public hearing process is not what slows projects down. Cheryl Cort, policy director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, called the development process a “labyrinth.”
Author: Elena Sorokina
Zoning Commission Chairman: No One Bikes to the Grocery Store
Responding to the notion that people in the transit-friendly area could get around by means other than a car, Zoning Commission Chairman Anthony Hood said that no one rides a bike to the grocery store.
Testimony on Babe’s Billiards Redevelopment in Tenleytown
The Coalition for Smarter Growth strongly supports this application. The site has sat vacant for many years and is one of the broken teeth of the streetscape along Wisconsin Avenue that mars the pedestrian experience. We welcome this thoughtful redevelopment and appropriate mix of uses to contribute to a better Wisconsin Avenue and Tenleytown neighborhood.
Remarks to Fairfax Bike Summit
I am absolutely inspired by today’s event and by the amazing presentations we’ve seen and heard! Collectively today’s speakers have covered a wide range of issues including “complete streets,” bike-sharing, Safe Routes to School, and transforming the suburbs. This summit has highlighted…
Passionate testimony fills 4-hour Housing Task Force hearing
Individual tenants and representatives of large organizations alike spoke about their experiences with District housing policy at a hearing on Monday. Those testifying overwhelmingly reflected the need for more affordable housing. Cheryl Cort, from the Coalition for Smarter Growth, argued for better use of public lands for affordable housing.
FABB Hosts First Ever Bike Summit at GMU Saturday
The first ever Fairfax Bike Summit is open to the public at George Mason University Saturday. “This event will be a powerful opportunity to learn from each other. Our goal is to build a coalition of local residents and work toward a bike future where people of all ages and abilities are comfortable riding on the streets,” said Bruce Wright…
Video: Apartments and Condos Fueling Construction Boom in DC
Housing developers all across the country are feeling confident, especially about
the future of building apartments and condos. And one place that’s really
booming—the nation’s capital. Sylvia Hall sits down with CSG policy director Cheryl Cort to talk about the D.C. housing market.
GMU Report Flawed; Would Lead Region Down Unsustainable Path
Using funding from developers with significant interests in land in outer suburban locations, researchers at George Mason University’s Center for Regional Analysis have issued a new report arguing for massive investment in highway infrastructure. Experts at the Coalition for Smarter Growth disagree.
Public Land for Public Good
The report chronicles how the District of Columbia has used the redevelopment of public land to provide affordable housing and other benefits.
Highlighting the significant accomplishments the District has made in creating affordable housing and integrating it into larger mixed-use development, the report also details areas needing improvement. Most importantly, the assessment points to recent reduced expectations in the level of affordability in future projects. The report calls for the District to recommit to making the most of affordable housing opportunities in public land redevelopment deals, as the District seeks to build a more inclusive city as housing prices rise and more affluent residents move in.
Coalition for Smarter Growth Releases Report on D.C. Public Land Use for Affordable Housing
Today, the Coalition for Smarter Growth released a new report on public land redevelopment in Washington, D.C., entitled Public Land for Public Good: Making the Most of City Land to Meet Affordable Housing Needs.