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  Community Clips Smart Growth News for the Washington, DC Region April 28, 2006 In this issue:
Jane Jacobs -- Outspoken Advocate for People and Vibrant Cities Jane Jacobs, the pioneering and outspoken advocate for vibrant, people filled neighborhoods and cities, died this week (see the tribute in Tidbits.) Author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities, a must read for those seeking great mixed-use neighborhoods, she had a significant influence on today's "new urbanism" movement. Her insights are just as relevant today as we consider the design of new and old communities across the region, including our edge city, Tysons Corner. Ironic Juxtaposition -- Exhibit on DC's Urban Interstates Jane Jacobs spoke out in the 1960's against Robert Moses' effort to destroy New York City neighborhoods with highways similar to those that others sought to push through DC's neighborhoods. Ironically, the DC Department of Transportation is celebrating interstate highways in DC with an exhibit at Union Station. "We are very proud of this exhibit and the important role the District of Columbia played in the building of the Interstate System," stated DDOT Acting Director Michelle Pourciau. "We encourage residents and visitors to stop by the exhibit and take the opportunity to learn about the rich history behind this amazing engineering achievement." DC residents of all backgrounds fought the destruction of their homes by these highways. Even today, DC urban interstates divide neighborhoods and reduce livability, while those neighborhoods that escaped destruction for the highways, like Takoma, U Street and Dupont Circle, have become the most vibrant in the city. Many professional planners would like to see DC's interstates converted to urban boulevards, which still allow for high traffic volumes. Gas Prices Highlight Need for Smart Growth and More Choices With the newspapers filled with stories about rising gas prices, it's a good time to reflect on the importance of designing communities to reduce the amount we have to drive. Our shared vision of mixed use, transit-oriented communities that offer more transportation options is increasingly important as the costs of far flung development -- measured in traffic, gas prices, and time -- continue to increase. Providing a range of housing choices closer to jobs, services and transit in walkable communities is at the core of smart growth. Calculating the Cost of Driving In March, AAA released its annual estimate of the cost of driving, finding that the average vehicle in the region costs 52.5 cents per mile to own and operate, or $150 per week. This figure includes all costs and assumed gasoline at $2.40 per gallon. See also the Department of Energy's cost calculator. Metro offers a cost of commute calculator comparing the cost of driving and parking to the cost of Metrorail and bus commuting. Metro uses the IRS 44.5 cent per mile reimbursement, which was set before the latest runup in gas prices. Living near transit service can save money. It might also qualify you for a higher mortgage under programs that reward homebuyers who live near transit and save on transportation expenses. Learn about the SmartCommute Mortgage in the DC region. SmartCommute is derived from the Location Efficient Mortgage, a program that captures the benefits of frequent transit service. Learn more and test how it works in neighborhoods in four U.S. cities. Rural Farmers in Montgomery County Miss Out in Land Transfer Deal The Montgomery County Council approved the transfer of the sizable Crown Farm to Gaithersburg this week, setting the course for development of the parcel as a mixed-use community. While the deal secured promises from the developer to donate $2 million to the county's agricultural preservation program, the Council failed to bolster the program that helps farmers hold on to their property. By not requiring Gaithersburg to to honor transferable development rights as a condition of annexing the Crown Farm, the Council failed to provide farmers with an opportunity to sell their development rights and preserve their farms. In order to gain the additional number of units, the developer could have been required to buy over $4 million worth of TDR's from local farmers. Contact the Council and let them know you expect them to uphold the TDR program and support working farmers. Proposed South Entrance to Bethesda Metro - Council Vote May 9 Metro's proposed Purple Line could get a boost next month when the Montgomery County Council votes on whether to fund the final design and construction of the south entrance to the Bethesda Metro station. As the connection between the Red and Purple Lines, the station is poised to serve an expanded role, making accessibility to the station increasingly important. With a south entrance, the number of dwelling units within a 1/4 mile walk would increase by a remarkable 68%. Learn more, including how you can take action. Arlington Tests New Bike Parking In an innovative adaptive reuse initiative, Arlington County is testing a clever way to make the most of obsolete parking meters. With the advent of multi-space parking meters, the County found itself with an abundance of headless meter poles. What to do with them? In what could be a boon for bicycle use, the County is testing a way to use the poles for bike parking by attaching eye-catching, lock-friendly caps on poles along Clarendon Boulevard. With more places to park and secure your bike, it becomes easier to bike for work and errands. Learn more at Bike Arlington. Upcoming Events
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