Category: Resources

CSG in the News: Alexandria City Council Puts Seminary Road on a Diet

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

Alexandria City Council Puts Seminary Road on a Diet

City slims four-lane thoroughfare into Complete Street with bike lanes.

By Bridgette Adu-Wadier, Alexandria Gazette Packet, Saturday, September 21, 2019

Seminary Road is about to go on a diet, slimming down from four lanes to two.

Last weekend, the Alexandria City Council narrowly approved a plan to remove two traffic lanes from a stretch of Seminary Road. The “road diet” will create new bike lanes and improve pedestrian safety along a busy stretch in the West End. The four-to-three vote was cast Saturday night after a contentious day-long public hearing….

“When you expand roads, you can attract more drivers, but when you cut roads and invest in better alternatives, traffic will adjust,” said Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, a supporter of the road diet. “We will still be driving, but the more people we have not driving because of alternatives will be safer and better for us.”

View full story in the Alexandria Gazette Packet here.

A busy fall: top issues and events in DC, MD, VA

Posted on by Jane Lyons

Regional Campaigns

The Bus Transformation Study is out: We need more frequent, faster, and reliable service!

The final report of the Bus Transformation Study is out! Serving on the Executive Committee we ensured the study stressed the urgency of improving our region’s bus service, including installing priority bus lanes, route redesign for more frequent service, and lower fares. With MetroHero, we issued the first DC Bus Report Card, and a set of solutions to make our buses faster, more frequent and more reliable. We’ll be pressing elected officials to implement significant bus improvements, and we hope you’ll join us in this effort.

Regional Housing Needs: We need more homes, more affordable homes near transit

Yesterday, the Urban Institute and Greater Washington Partnership issued a report showing our region needs 374,000 more housing units by 2030 including 264,000 that are affordable for families annually making $54,300 or less. We need to say yes to more homes near transit, mixed-use redevelopment of commercial strip shopping corridors, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, expanded housing trust funds, and inclusionary policies. Join CSG in making more affordable housing accessible to transit a top priority!

 

CSG In Action – District of Columbia

The DC Comprehensive Plan: The critical vote is coming up on September 17

For two years, we’ve been pressing for an updated citywide Comprehensive Plan that ensures we’ll have enough homes and affordable homes as our city grows. On September 17, the DC Council will take its final vote on the Plan. We are still fighting to make more housing a priority. We’ll need you to continue to weigh in. Here’s our call to action outlining priorities for the Plan. Look for a new action alert in your in-box soon.

Parking Cashout: We STILL need one more vote to make this happen!

Do you live in Ward 4 or 5? We need your help! If your employer offers you a parking benefit, we think you should have the option to cash it out and put the funds toward your biking, walking or bus/Metro commute. Unfortunately, our bill is stuck in the D.C. Council’s Transportation & Environment Committee. Contact Councilmembers Brandon Todd and Kenyan McDuffie and let them know you support B23-148, the Transportation Benefits Equity Act of 2019. Check out our factsheet here, and our webpage here.

CSG joins with UPO to launch “DC ADU”: to help low-income renters and homeowners

United Planning Organization (UPO) in August announced the launch of ADU DC, a pilot initiative to make accessory dwelling units (ADUs) more accessible to lower-income homeowners in DC. UPO is collaborating with CSG and founding corporate supporter Citi Community Development. DC ADU will help qualified homeowners build ADUs on their property; increase access to affordable and lower-priced housing in the District; and help homeowners with information about ADU development, zoning, permitting, design, and financing.

A Community Conversation:  DC’s Housing Framework for Equity and Growth

Join in the conversation to be held on Saturday, Sep 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ron Brown High School in Deanwood. RSVP. This is an important city initiative analyzing how we can produce more affordable and market rate housing in the District, including achieving a more equitable distribution of new affordable housing across the city. They will examine public policies and regulations, market forces, and community dynamics.

Benning Road Streetcar Project Public Meeting #1: September 19

On Thursday, September 19, 2019, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., DDOT will hold an open house to kick off the Benning Road Reconstruction and Streetcar Project. Check out plans for DC’s streetcar extension at the event to be held at the Department of Employment Services (DOES), 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE (Minnesota Ave. Metro station).

 

CSG In Action – Maryland

Event: “Climate Emergency: Montgomery County Responds”

CSG is a co-sponsor and will be tabling at “Climate Emergency: Montgomery County Responds” on Saturday, September 14th at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Attend the town hall — with a panel of advocates and county officials, moderated by WAMU reporter Jacob Fenston — and then come say hi! Learn more and RSVP here.

Save the Date!: Homeowner workshop on building an accessory apartment in Montgomery County

Mark your calendar to join CSG on Thursday, November 14th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Center to learn about the process of building an accessory apartment! We will have presentations on zoning, permitting, licensing, financing, and more, as well as a Q&A session to help demystify the process. The workshop will be limited capacity, so keep an eye out for the registration link!

Montgomery General Plan: What does the county’s future look like?

Montgomery County is kicking off its General Plan update, Thrive Montgomery 2050, which will create a vision for how we work, live, and play. Planning Department staff are touring the county to get your feedback. You can also provide input via their online quiz. We believe the county has the opportunity to be a national leader in planning and implementing a sustainable, zero-carbon emissions, walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented future.

Subdivision Staging Policy: We need to end the housing moratorium

The Subdivision Staging Policy is the tool Montgomery County uses to ensure public facilities, like schools and transportation, keep pace with development. It’s also the policy that governs the county’s harmful housing moratorium, which is discouraging walkable, transit-oriented development. CSG is working to support revisions to the policy, and you can get involved by attending the county’s community workshop on October 7th.

Prince George’s County: The Westphalia kerfuffle and zoning for TOD

We supported the Prince George’s County Council’s steps to implement its newly adopted zoning code. The changes will improve public transparency and strengthen transit-oriented development. However, the Council took a step backwards when it arbitrarily redefined the Westphalia Town Center plan to allow a 19-acre warehouse with a sea of parking, declaring the warehouse appropriate for a walkable, mixed-use development. 

We joined local residents in opposing the change and talked to the Washington Post about the importance of consistency for ensuring high-quality transit-oriented communities. The corporate end user, Amazon, backed out, and we’ll be teaming with local advocates to ensure more walkable, transit-oriented communities are the focus for the county’s growth.

495/270 Toll Lanes: Smart growth offers a better alternative

Governor Hogan’s highway plan threatens the environment without actually lessening traffic congestion. We’ve been pushing for a comprehensive approach to our regional transportation needs: advancing transit projects, managing transportation demand, focusing development in walkable, transit-oriented communities, and expanding affordable housing. These measures would not only reduce emissions but would do far more to reduce travel times than adding additional highway lanes. Look for our calls to action!

 

CSG In Action – Virginia

Seminary Road: The Council Votes September 14!

Thank you to all who signed our petition! If you haven’t yet signed in support of the safest option — Alternative 3, please do so. Meanwhile, don’t forget to send an email to the City Council ahead of their vote on September 14. 

Seminary Road between Quaker Lane and I-395 is a high-speed, four-lane road without bicycle lanes or safe crossings despite the presence of neighborhoods, schools, and Alexandria Hospital. The City of Alexandria’s Seminary Road Complete Streets Project shows the best design option is Alternative 3, which adds two protected bicycle lanes, and converts to one through car lane in each direction with a middle left-turn lane. We urge you to email the Council in support of Alternative 3.

Merrifield Plan Update: Where’s the bus rapid transit?

Fairfax County is full steam ahead with a proposed Merrifield Comprehensive Plan Amendment that will transform the old Exxon-Mobil headquarters on Gallows, and Fairview Park across I-495, into a mixed-use community. The plan protects some open space and forests, establishes strong stormwater requirements, and recommends expanded bicycle and pedestrian networks.

However, it focuses on widening roads and numerous intersections, but lacks firm commitments or timeframes to expand public transit and build the bike/ped trail network. Completely missing is a much needed bus rapid transit link to the Dunn Loring Metro Station and Tysons. The Planning Commission hearing is September 11, and Board of Supervisors, September 24. Check out the staff report here and look for our alert on Monday.

Richmond Highway: Still fighting to get the design right

Fairfax County and VDOT are moving forward with plans to widen Richmond Highway and implement Bus Rapid Transit, but we are pressing them to design Route 1 to be safer and easier to cross — asking for narrower lanes, tighter right turns, and a design speed of 35mph instead of 45 mph. It would be even better for the road to be two through lanes in each direction instead of three — but VDOT and Fairfax won’t budge on that count. Learn the latest details and provide feedback at the Richmond Highway BRT public meeting coming up on September 17 at Bryant High School in Alexandria. 

Event: Tour the Railroad Cottages in Falls Church on Saturday, September 21!

Join us for the first of two fall walking tours! The award-winning Railroad Cottages in Falls Church is next to the W&OD trail and within walking or biking distance of two Metro stations. They illustrate how we can gracefully provide more homes for people. Instead of three homes, 10 EarthCraft sustainable homes were approved in a cottage format around a central walking lane, with a commons building and covered bicycle parking. CSG supported the project and is working for safer walking and bicycling access to the West Falls Church Metro. We’ll post the registration page shortly.

RELEASE: Coalition Champions Release Bus Transformation Strategy

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 5, 2019

Contact Stewart Schwartz: 703-599-6437

Washington DC: The Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG) applauded today’s release of the Bus Transformation Strategy. Serving on the Executive Committee for the study, CSG worked with business, union, government, community leaders, and the consulting team to arrive at four key recommendations illustrated in this table:

1 Frequent and Convenient Bus Service  Provide frequent and convenient bus service that connects communities and promotes housing affordability, regional equity, and economic growth.
2 Bus Priority on Roadways  Give buses priority on roadways to move people quickly and reliably.
3 Customer Experience  Create an excellent customer experience to retain and increase ridership.
4 Task Force to Implement the Strategy  Empower a publicly appointed Task Force to transform bus and lead the implementation of a truly integrated regional system.

“We urge elected officials, transit agency directors, and government staff to put the bus first! We strongly support priority bus lanes, more frequent and reliable service, a better customer experience, and more affordable fares for those who need it,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “We also believe that route redesign studies incorporating both WMATA and local buses are essential to developing a network that provides more frequent, reliable service with higher ridership while not sacrificing the coverage for those most in need.”

“Buses are key to an effective and expansive transit network for our region, one that provides better access to jobs and opportunity, an alternative to traffic, and reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change,” said Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager for CSG who leads CSG’s long-standing campaign for bus rapid transit in Montgomery County.

“We need to start right away on prioritizing buses,” said Cheryl Cort, Policy Director for CSG.  “Our study with MetroHero of DC bus performance confirmed the concerns in the Bus Transformation Study – buses were moving slower and becoming less reliable, scoring a ‘D’ in our analysis. The recommended solutions in our companion report track closely with those in the Bus Transformation Study and the Greater Washington Partnership’s transit report.”

“The public is strongly supportive of better bus service,” said Schwartz, “The Bus Transformation surveys of over 8000 area residents and riders found that people overwhelming want to see dedicated bus lanes, more frequent service, free transfers from bus to rail, and more affordable fares.”

“The Coalition for Smarter Growth will be partnering with other advocacy organizations and business leaders in urging local elected leaders to expeditiously implement the Bus Transformation strategy,” concluded Schwartz.

The Bus Transformation Project website hosts the Executive Summary, Full Report and supporting documents.

___________

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington DC region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Our mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies and investments needed to make those communities flourish.

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The DC Comp Plan is back – let’s ensure it allows for a more inclusive city

The DC Comp Plan is back – let’s ensure it allows for a more inclusive city

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

Together with you, we’ve pressed for over two years for an updated Comprehensive Plan that makes building more affordable housing a priority for the city. But for more than a year, the guiding first chapter or “Framework Element” has been bottled up in the DC Council. Finally, the second and crucial vote on the bill will be September 17.

While the Chairman’s revisions incorporate many of the amendments we supported, it falls short of establishing affordable housing as our top priority, and doesn’t ensure that enough housing can be built across the whole city.

Send a message to the DC Council today and let them know we want a city for all.

Tell the DC Council the Comprehensive Plan must:

  • Directly address the city’s need for more housing, especially near transit, so that people across the income spectrum can have more choices about where they can live;
  • Make affordable housing the highest priority throughout the document, and in the development review process;
  • Commit to preserving existing affordable housing and prevent residents from being displaced;
  • Enable new affordable housing to be built across the city, including in Upper Northwest, where for too long some of its residents have blocked significant numbers of new homes from being built;
  • Fix the broken development approval process (including Planned Unit Developments), ensuring that affordable housing is given top priority, and that the process is predictable for those who participate in good-faith.

Email the Council today!

In our meetings with Councilmembers over the past few months we’ve pressed the case and believe there is significant support.

 

Photo credit: Ted Eytan, https://www.flickr.com/photos/taedc/36800611944/in/album-72157687591856363/

8.7.19 Summer Email Updates

Posted on by Kara Young

CSG in action-District of Columbia

Parking Cashout – we need one more vote to make this happen!

If your employer offers you a parking benefit, we think you should have the option to cash it out and put the funds toward your biking, walking or bus/Metro commute. Unfortunately, our bill is stuck in the D.C. Council’s Transportation & Environment Committee. Contact Councilmembers Brandon Todd and Kenyan McDuffie and let them know you support B23-148, the Transportation Benefits Equity Act of 2019. Check out our factsheet here, and our webpage here.

The DC Comprehensive Plan – let’s ensure it supports a more inclusive city.

For two years, we’ve been pressing for an updated citywide Comprehensive Plan that ensures we’ll have enough homes and affordable homes as our city grows. On July 9th, the DC Council took a first crucial vote on the Plan. While it has some of the improvements we’ve fought for, it still falls short of building a truly inclusive and sustainable DC. We’ll need you to continue to weigh in. Here’s our call to action outlining priorities for the Plan. 

DC Bus Report Card — we can do better!

We recently teamed with MetroHero to issue the first-ever DC Metrobus Report Card. We graded 9 high-ridership bus corridors on speed, schedule adherence, and headway adherence. Find out how these routes scored (spoiler: expect more F’s than A’s) and check out the solutions we’re promoting to make our buses faster, more frequent and more reliable.

 

Continue reading “8.7.19 Summer Email Updates” →

RELEASE: CSG joins with United Planning Organization to Announce Launch of ADU DC, an Accessory Dwelling Unit Initiative in Washington, DC

Posted on by Cheryl Cort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Aug 6, 2019

United Planning Organization Announces Launch of ADU DC, an Accessory Dwelling Unit Initiative in Washington, DC

Initiative will catalyze affordable rental housing and increase financial stability for lower-income homeowners in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, the United Planning Organization announced the launch of ADU DC, a pilot initiative to make accessory dwelling units (ADUs) more accessible to lower-income homeowners in Washington, DC. The initiative is presented by United Planning Organization in collaboration with Coalition for Smarter Growth and founding corporate supporter Citi Community Development.

An ADU is a secondary dwelling unit on a single family home lot, such as a basement or garage apartment or a free-standing structure. A 2016 change to DC’s zoning regulations allows for ADUs to be built as a matter of right in certain low-density residential neighborhoods. ADUs benefit homeowners by creating an income stream, while adding lower cost and affordable housing in existing neighborhoods.

ADU DC aims to help qualified homeowners build ADUs on their properties; give greater access to affordable and lower-priced housing in the District; and add housing stock by educating homeowners about ADU development, zoning, permitting, design, and financing.

 

“ADU DC has the potential to empower residents to create affordable housing in their own communities,” said Dana Jones, President and CEO, United Planning Organization. “Through this innovative approach, homeowners will be able to increase property values, age in place, build intergenerational wealth and grow new skill sets in development and property management.”

 

“In Washington, DC, approximately one in three Black residents is a homeowner. Yet, research shows that on average, Black households have lower home values and lower incomes than their White counterparts. As a result, Black households in DC have a net worth 81 times lesser than White households,” said Robert Burns, Senior Vice President, Citi Community Development. “Accessory dwelling units present a unique opportunity for homeowners to increase their incomes and begin to close the wealth gap. By supporting ADU DC we aim to help enable more homeowners to boost their financial resilience, while adding much-needed affordable housing for renters in the region.”

“In 2016, DC reformed its restrictions on accessory apartments, now we must ensure that homeowners, especially moderate and low income homeowners, can take full advantage of this new opportunity,” said Cheryl Cort, Coalition for Smarter Growth.

As part of the initiative, the Coalition for Smarter growth and UPO will produce “how to” guides, a report of barriers, a Homeowner’s ADU manual, a policy brief on financing for lower-income homeowners, and procedural recommendations for government.

ADU DC was announced at a multisector launch event featuring a panel of experts that highlighted current regulatory barriers, financing, and case studies from ADU initiatives nationwide.

“Mayor Bowser has set an ambitious goal for DC to create 36,000 more homes, 12,000 of which must be affordable,” said Polly Donaldson, Director, DC Department of Housing and Community Development. “In order to achieve this goal we must think differently, be bolder, and create new affordable housing tools; ADUs fit that bill and this initiative brings us one step closer to our goal.”

DC’s rapidly rising housing prices pose dire challenges to low income families. In the last decade, the city has lost half of its low-priced and affordable housing. DC’s lower-income households increasingly pay more than half of their incomes for housing, or are pushed out of the District’s housing market altogether. For older homeowners, rising values have been both a threat and an opportunity. Rising property taxes that follow increased values can be a threat to long-time homeowners on low and fixed incomes. But higher property values also mean greater wealth that can be used for retirement and shared with the next generation. This opportunity is especially important for African American homeowners who experience wide gaps in wealth with their White counterparts.

About United Planning Organization
United Planning Organization is a human and community development organization. As the Community Action Agency for Washington DC, UPO’s federally-mandated purpose is to help people lift themselves out of poverty. UPO surveys DC residents to learn the gaps in community needs and invents ways to bridge those gaps by uniting people with opportunities. A staff of 400 helps over 50,000 DC residents each year, with impacts in education, employment, health, housing counseling, and in strengthening families and communities.

About Citi
Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.

About Coalition for Smarter Growth 
The Coalition for Smarter Growth promotes walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities in the Washington DC region, and the land use and transportation policies and investments needed to make those communities flourish. CSG combines grassroots advocacy with policy expertise, media communications, and relationships with elected officials to advance smart growth. After many years of effort, CSG helped reform ADU zoning restrictions for DC in 2016, and since then has worked to bring down the barriers to building ADUs.

CONTACT: 
Lauren Kannry
lkannry@thorpesearl.com
202.491.1001

ADU DC Initiative Presentations