Category: Resources

StreetsCamp 2015

StreetsCamp 2015

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

Advocacy knowledge + technical knowledge = power!

StreetsCamp was a one day summit held on June 20th, 2015 to provide participants with the tools to make our streets better: safer for walking and bicycling, transit-friendly, and more.

StreetsCamp includes both subject matter and advocacy skills workshops on everything from how to plan a neighborhood campaign, to safe street design for walking and cycling, to the ins and outs of zoning codes. 

How does it work?

You will hear from leaders in sustainable transportation and urban planning, but StreetsCamp is more than just workshops. Every attendee is a part of shaping and leading the day. Be prepared to get involved and meet people!

In the morning, local advocates and experts lead sessions on topics like campaign strategy, organizing, messaging and media, telling your story, safe street design, and more.

In the afternoon, StreetsCamp turns into an ‘unconference’ . That means session topics and activities will be suggested and organized by YOU and everyone attending!

Presentation materials

Not every session at StreetsCamp incorporated a PowerPoint presentation or handouts, but for those that did, we have compiled the materials here.

Telling Better Stories About Public Transportation, Paul Mackie, Mobility Lab

So You Think You Can Blog (Blogging 101), Aimee Custis & Abigail Zenner, Greater Greater Washington

Street Design Secrets Revealed, Dan Emerine, CNU-DC

Transit Today, Tomorrow, and the Future: There’s More to It Than Metrorail, Kristin Haldeman & Allison Davis, WMATA

How Safe Routes to School Are Driving Change in the Greater Washington DC Region, Matt Colvin & Keith Benjamin, Safe Routes to School

How Could We Get a Majority of People to Bike? Bike Infrastructure Best Practices, Jess Zdeb, Toole Design Group

Blogging 102, Dan Malouff & Aimee Custis, Greater Greater Washington

StreetsCamp 2015 was made possible by these partners:

Greater Greater Washington

Coalition for Smarter Growth

Georgetown University School of Urban and Regional Planning

Congress for New Urbanism, DC Chapter

Safe Routes to School National Partnership

Mobility Lab

Smart Growth America

National Complete Streets Coalition

Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

Washington Area Bicyclists Association

All Walks DC

Sierra Club

Testimony on partial offsite Inclusionary Zoning and affordable housing benefit in the Highline development project

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

We are enthusiastic about this project because it takes full advantage of the site’s proximity to Metro and bus lines, employment, services and burgeoning new commercial districts. I will spend the rest of my time discussing our qualified support for the proposed partial off-site compliance for Inclusionary Zoning regulations (IZ), and an affordable housing proffer.

Letter of Support to US DOT for Potomac Yard Metro

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

I am writing to express our strongest possible support for the City of Alexandria’s application under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FY 2015 National Infrastructure Investments discretionary grant program (formerly “TIGER”) for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station. The project involves construction of an infill station on the Blue and Yellow Metrorail lines in the City of Alexandria, which is one of the core jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington region. The station would serve a major redevelopment site within five miles of downtown Washington, DC.

Testimony at Public Roundtable on Sense of the Council in Support of Improving Inclusionary Zoning Resolution of 2015

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

The time is ripe to do this, given the results of the recent Urban Institute assessment commissioned by DMPED which found IZ to be fundamentally sound. IZ is also ripe for revision because now we have enough early experience to see that it is working as designed, but not accomplishing the affordable housing goals we had originally sought to achieve.

Testimony Regarding Potomac Yard Metro Station Location

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

We support Alternative B as the best alternative from a smart growth, transportation, economic development and environmental perspective. We recognize that Alternative B will have an impact on National Park Service land, a related easement, and a limited amount of wetlands. However, we support the mitigation measures being proposed and believe that the mitigation, together with the environmental benefits of Alternative B, support selection of this alternative.

Testimony at FY16 Budget Oversight Hearing of DMPED and Office of Planning by Cheryl Cort

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

The capital budget includes important funds to move forward on a major redevelopment that was approved by agencies and the DC Council – McMillan Sand Filtration site. This redevelopment of a 25- acre historic industrial site is innovative but complex. It will provide significant historic restoration, major new public park facilities, and mixed use development. The mix expands the housing supply by 677 units for our rapidly growing city.

Testimony at FY16 Budget Oversight Hearing of DHCD by Cheryl Cort

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

We want to commend the Mayor and Director Polly Donaldson for bringing a clear, bold and strategic vision to address our city’s deepening affordable housing crisis. Consistent with this vision, we commend the Mayor’s budget priorities which propose a record investment in affordable housing. We ask the Council to support these budget proposals. Specifically, we ask the council support the Mayor’s proposed funding levels for the Housing Production Trust Fund at $100 million, Local Rent Supplement Program, and the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. We also commend the leadership of the Mayor and Director Donaldson for launching a preservation strike force.

RELEASE: Housing advocates commend DC Council resolution urging action to expand affordable housing production through Inclusionary Zoning

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

Today, housing advocates applauded nine DC Councilmembers for introducing a resolution encouraging the DC Zoning Commission and Mayor Bowser to strengthen a promising market-based affordable housing program. At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, along with eight of her colleagues, introduced the resolution. The measure encourages the Zoning Commission and Mayor Bowser to act to strengthen the city’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program, which sets aside a certain number of permanently-affordable units in most new residential construction.