Category: Event materials

DC Event: What’s the future vision for how Ward 3 and DC will grow & change?

DC Event: What’s the future vision for how Ward 3 and DC will grow & change?

Posted on by Cheryl Cort
photo by Cheryl Cort

This event was a discussion with DC Office of Planning to learn about DC 2050, District’s next Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map.

April 27, 2026, 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library

Speakers: Nick Kushner, Senior Cross-Systems Planner, DC Office of Planning

Radhika Mohan, Deputy Director, DC Office of Planning

Ellen McCarthy, Moderator, Ward3Vision

DC Office of Planning staff presented the planning process to date, and discussed proposed changes for the Future Land Use Map. DC 2050 will guide where and how we build new housing, grow job opportunities, and connect neighborhoods. DC 2050 aims to align land use policies and investments to make the District more equitable, affordable, and resilient. See DC 2050.

This event was co-sponsored by CSG, Ward3Vision, and Cleveland Park Smart Growth.

DC OP DC 2050 FLUM_Ward 3 VisionDownload

Event materials: Does more housing make housing more affordable?

Event materials: Does more housing make housing more affordable?

Posted on by Carrie Kisicki

On January 22, 2026, we talked to leading housing experts about the relationship between housing production and affordability, and explored policy tools to provide stable, affordable housing across a range of incomes.

This was the third webinar in our series on our region’s housing needs, and how researchers, policymakers, and advocates can work together towards solutions.

Event materials: How New Housing Affects Affordability. Virtual Screening + Q&A with Justine Underhill

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

This online event focused on the impacts of luxury housing on affordability. We screened “What Luxury Housing Does to Homelessness,” followed by a Q&A with its creator, Falls Church City Councilmember Justine Underhill. Justine is known for her dynamic video series simplifying complex housing concepts with research and engaging graphics. The discussion explored the connections between homelessness, affordability, and new housing, with a regional focus on Northern Virginia, where Justine is an elected official.

Here are a few of the materials we discussed:

Event materials: Maryland Housing Needs & Solutions: Why is housing unaffordable, and what can we do to fix it?

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

At this webinar on December 8, 2025, we discussed two recent reports offering insight into why housing is so unaffordable, what its impact is, and what to do about it with a Maryland all star cast ⭐️:

  • Kathryn Howell, PhD, Director of the National Center for Smart Growth, University of Maryland College Park & Associate Professor, Urban Studies & Planning Program
  • Dani DiPietro, Policy Research Director, Office of the Comptroller of Maryland
  • Natali Fani-González, Council President and District 6 Councilmember, Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Moderated by Scott Gottbreht, PhD, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Strategy, & Research, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

View the reports, presentations and event recording here:

New Carrollton station area walking tour

New Carrollton station area walking tour

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

On Dec. 2, 2025, we met up to take a look at what’s been happening around the New Carrollton Metro station. It’s a Metro station, a bus station, an Amtrak station, a MARC station, and coming soon: a Purple Line station! We got a bird’s eye view from the top of the Metro parking garage and saw lots of progress and preparation for new housing, transit facilities, and even a bit of retail around the New Carrollton Metro station. Check out the Metro handout on all the building around the Metro station.

Transformation Playbook for New Carrollton – Metro HandoutDownload

Tour Speakers:

Nia Rubin, Acting Vice President, Office of Real Estate and Development, WMATA

Matt Sanchez, Director of Development, Urban Atlantic Development

Vic Weissberg, Prince George’s County Dept. of Public Works and Transportation

Karen Guzman, Office of Prince George’s District 3 County Council Member Eric Olson

Ray Biggs, II, Senior Project Director, Purple Line, Maryland Transit Administration

Scott Gottbreht, PhD, Assistant Secretary of Policy, Maryland Dept. of Housing & Community Development

Alan Lederman, Managing Director of Development, Urban Atlantic Development

Pictured: Matt Sanchez, Urban Atlantic, speaks to the group, overlooking the site for the new affordable senior building located across Garden City Drive. Photo by Dan Behrend.

Co-sponsors: CSG, WMATA, MDOT & RISE Prince George’s

Ray Biggs & Cheryl Cort 12-3-25 by Dan Behrend

Pictured: Ray Biggs, II, Senior Project Director, Purple Line, Maryland Transit Administration, and Cheryl Cort, CSG. Background: Purple Line station under construction and the IRS building.

DC Testimony Workshop: Preparing for Wisc. Ave. Rezoning

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

Date: Nov. 10 2025, 7 – 8:30 pm

AGENDA

Introductions – name, neighborhood, motive 

How to testify

  • Sign up & what to expect at virtual hearing 4pm, ~5pm proponents start 
  • Principles for testifying
    • Proponent with or without recommended improvements
    • What’s motivating you to be here
    • Tell your personal housing story, don’t worry about details, don’t be an expert
  • Dos/Donts – don’t oppose because it’s not good enough, instead support & urge to make it better; do make it personal rather than being an expert; only speak for allotted 3 minutes; always be polite & respectful of commissioners & all others – including opponents; don’t worry – Commissioners want to hear from you they are not are not out to get you
  • Sample testimony- below 

Peter Shapiro – How to have the most impact

How to testify – check in

  • Ask participants: What’s your main argument – why do you care about approving this upzoning? (one sentence)

3. Q & A – resource people

Resources

How to testify for Wisc. Av. 25-13Download
Wisc Av. rezoning – proposal briefingDownload