Category: Event materials

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

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

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

At this online event, 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

Walk the Rhode Island Trolley Trail with us

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

Join us this Saturday to learn about the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail southern section. 

Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail Walking Tour
Saturday, October 18, 2025
10 am-12 pm

RSVP

Meet at: Busboys & Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Join us for a walking tour to explore how the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail is helping to build a stronger, more vibrant community. See how the trail helps support local businesses, strengthens community bonds, and improves accessibility. 

We’ll start at the front of Busboys and Poets and walk south to the new trail extension at Charles Armentrout Drive. This event is co-sponsored by the Coalition for Smarter Growth, RISE Prince George’s, the Capital Market, LISC & WABA.

Fault Lines: Key takeaways and how to get involved

Fault Lines: Key takeaways and how to get involved

Posted on by Elena Sorokina

Thank you to all who could join us for our recent screening of the powerful Fault Lines film at the Angelika Film Center in Fairfax. Whether you were with us in the theater or couldn’t make it this time, we are grateful to have you as part of this growing conversation about housing affordability, livable communities, and the future of our region.

The evening began with Fault Lines, a documentary that brings to life the human stories behind the Bay Area’s housing crisis. Following the screening, our panel of regional leaders reflected on the challenges and opportunities closer to home for addressing our own serious housing affordability challenges.

Fairfax Chairman Jeff McKay stated, “We are not talking about the number of units. We are talking about humans here. We are talking about kids, we are talking about parents, we are talking about hardworking people, people with disabilities […] We need to humanize it as much as we can.”

Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi emphasized that housing should be a central issue for communities that value the environment, health, equity, small businesses, and overall economic vitality of the region.

Key takeaways from the discussion:

  • Increasing and diversifying housing supply, including market-rate housing, is crucial.
  • Increasing the state housing trust fund, which today is only about $80 million per year.
  • Local and state collaboration is key to advancing housing solutions. State- and local-level regulations and processes need to be streamlined and predictable.  
  • Community engagement is important and needs to be done in a productive and results-oriented way. 

Thank you to our elected officials who sponsored and participated in this event, Senator Salim and Delegates Simon and Seibold, Fairfax Chair McKay and Supervisors Palchik and Alcorn, Mayor Hardi and Mayor Read! Thank you also to Carmen Romero of True Ground Housing, Keith Waters of GMU, and McLean Quinn of EYA for joining our panel discussion.

Lots of work ahead, but we know it can be done. Your voices and your energy are exactly what we need to continue advancing livable communities in our region. 

Here are more ways to get involved:

  • Follow CSG’s updates for your local upcoming site tours and public engagement opportunities, including hearings where you can join CSG in supporting local mixed-use, housing developments. 
  • Join us at the Homes for All VOICE Assembly on October 19th. CSG is a cosponsor.
  • Attend other Northern Virginia housing forums, including the NVRC Housing Symposium and the Regional Elected Leaders Institute (RELI) Webinar.
  • Reach out to your elected officials, both state and local, in support of policies that will provide more housing options and greater affordability.
  • Join CSG supporters on Thursday, October 30, at our annual Smart Growth Social to connect with fellow activists and be inspired! Our guest speaker this year is Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins. RSVP now.

Thank you for all you do.