Hi Friend!
Happy Spring! We have a lot of big news and events to share!
On April 23 we’ll be honoring Rushern Baker, former Prince George’s County Executive with our Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award, and the DC-area League of Women Voters with our Sanders-Henn Community Hero Award. We hope you will join us at Tico restaurant in DC from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for delicious food, great company, and to celebrate these amazing indivduals and thier leadership on smart growth. Sign up to sponsor or buy your individual tickets. We hope to see you there!
We’re hiring for two great positions — Communications Manager and Northern Virginia Advocacy Manager. Learn more here and apply at jobs@smartergrowth.net.
It’s shaping up to be a big year in advocacy for smarter growth and we welcome your involvement. With town, county, and state legislative elections in Virginia, we are teaming with partners on a Healthy Communities Platform to call for transit-oriented communities with safer streets for walking and bicycling, more transit, more affordable housing, parks and restored streams.
Never before has it been more important for our region to focus growth in walkable, mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented communities. We have just a decade to significantly cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and we can’t do so without major reductions in driving. These dynamic communities also improve access to jobs and opportunity, allow for improved health and human interaction, and are a far more effective approach to addressing our transportation challenges than massive highway expansion.
We hope you will join us in supporting smarter growth and healthier communities in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia at these upcoming events and hearings.
Upcoming Events
Wharf Phase II Kick Off Celebration and Family Fun Day
Sat, March 30, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
The Wharf — 600 Water Street, SW, Washington, D.C.
Northern Virginia Housing Expo
Sat, March 30, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Washington-Lee High School, 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington
A free public event for first-time homeownership, rental opportunities and resources throughout Northern Virginia: location options, being prepared for buying or renting, understanding and improving credit scores, senior housing options, condominium governance, improving energy efficiency, and more. For more information check here.
Mon., April 1, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
Busboys and Poets, 450 K St NW, Washington, D.C.
The Rail Passengers Association presents a Beer+Transit networking event as part of the 2019 #RailNationDC Spring Advocacy Conference. Guest speaker is Joe McAndrew, Director of Transportation Policy at the Greater Washington Partnership. Tickets are $12.00.
MPC Annual Spring Lecture: Robert Sampson “Urban Neighborhoods and American Life”
Wed, April 3, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
American University, School of International Service Founders Room, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Professor Robert J. Sampson of Harvard University will deliver the Metropolitan Policy Center’s fifth Annual Spring Lecture. He is the Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard University. A reception will follow the lecture. RSVP here.
The Climate Crisis: Impacts and Solutions
Tues, April 9, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
GMU Founders Hall, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Virginia Square Metro)
Talk by Jay Fisette, former Arlington Board member and managing partner for DMV Strategic Advisors, presenting Al Gore’s compelling slide deck and leading a panel discussion. Hosted by EcoAction Arlington, Coalition for Smarter Growth and Encore Learning. Attend and join us in emphasizing the importance of smart growth for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
ACT April Meeting: What’s the Future of the Bus?
Tues., Apr. 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Pl, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Dan Malouff (GWU professor, Alexandria planner) will be speaking on the future of bus transit.
Prince William Supervisor Candidate Forum on Climate and Sustainability
Mon, April 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Chin Park Regional Library, 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge, VA
Hosted by the Greater Prince William Climate Action Network and other partners. Prince William has some of the highest rates of driving in the region and scattered land use — meaning even bigger steps are necessary to find land use and workable transit solutions. (CSG is a 501(c)3 and does not endorse or work on behalf of any candidate for office.)
Stand up for Smart Growth
Events listed under D.C, Maryland, Virginia, and regional below.
District of Columbia
Protected Bike Lanes for 20th/21st/22ndStreet NW– Public Meeting #3
Sat, April 13, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
School Without Walls at Francis-Stevens, 2425 N Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
Attend this open house to learn about and comment on DDOT’s recommended alternative. Learn more about D.C.’s protected bike lane studies here.
Maryland
Montgomery Council work sessions on Accessory Dwelling Units
Planning, Housing & Economic Development Committee
Thurs, April 4, 9:30 a.m.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-01 would make ADU’s easier and more affordable to build. Read more here and see a fact sheet here. You can submit comments by email here.
Montgomery Planning Open House on Rock Spring Master Plan Design Guidelines
Thurs., Mar. 28, 2019 at 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD
The Rock Spring Master Plan envisions this 535-acre office park, as walkable, mixed-use community with new housing and retail, and a central circulation spine for a future BRT.
Virginia
PEC Community Meeting on the Loudoun2040 plan
Wed, March 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Middleburg Community Center, Middleburg, VA
The latest in a series of information sessions on the Loudoun2040 comprehensive plan, what’s at stake and how to get involved. Learn more here.
Eisenhower East Small Area Plan 2019 Update Open House
Wed, March 27, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Eisenhower Center III Office Building, 2331 Mill Road, 6thFloor
The city is evaluating flexibility of land uses, building heights, potential additional development, retail, and ped/bike issues. Attend to encourage improved placemaking, retail, and pedestrian and bicycle features to enhance Alexandria’s highest density Metro-oriented center. Learn more here.
Oakville Triangle and Route 1 Corridor Vision Plan Update for Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
Mon, April 1, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Oakville Triangle warehouse, 444 Swann Ave, Alexandria
The first in a series of meetings about Virginia Tech’s planned Innovation Campus. For additional information, visit the project webpage and the City’s National Landing webpage.
Richmond Highway (Route 1) Urban Design Guidelines Pop-up Studios
Thurs, April 4, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Sat, April 6, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mount Vernon Plaza Shopping Center 7648 Richmond Highway (behind McDonalds)
Share your ideas at Pop-UP STUDIOs showcase pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and building design ideas for the Richmond Highway corridor.
Arlington’s Plan Lee Highway Design Studios
Every other Fri, April 5, 19, May 3, 17, 31, from Noon to 3:30 p.m.
Russell Building, 4620 Lee Highway, Suite 208, Arlington, VA
An opportunity for residents, business owners, and community members to view the latest study materials, meet with project planners, ask questions and share ideas.
Regional
2019 NLIHC Housing Policy Forum: Seizing the Moment for Bold Solutions
Wed., Mar. 27, 2019 at 8 a.m. through Fri., Mar. 29, 2019 at 5 p.m.
525 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20001
Join affordable housing advocates, thought-leaders, policy experts, researchers, housing providers, low income residents, and leaders from Capitol Hill to advance bold solutions to homelessness and housing poverty in America.
CSG In Action
Workforce housing: Last week, on the heels of Mayor Bowser’s proposal to increase funding for affordable housing, we issued our report: Making Workforce Housing Work: Understanding Housing Needs for D.C.’s Changing Workforce, urging D.C. to increase the total supply of housing, and target housing support toward working households at 50% of area median income and below. We recommend the city dramatically increase funding for its Local Rent Supplement Program and Housing Production Trust Fund, and use Inclusionary Zoning, Planned Unit Developments, and other zoning tools to produce more housing that is affordable. See our post in GGWash.
Amazon: We filed testimony in support of the local Arlington incentives for Amazon’s location in Crystal City/Pentagon City, while urging laser focus by the county and state on affordable housing preservation and expansion, including a doubling of the county’s housing trust fund. We noted that the state/local transportation package is very progressive in focusing on transit, walk and bike modes and urged Amazon to achieve a 65% non-auto mode share.
Bus Transformation Project: We are serving on the Executive Committee for this regional study on how to improve bus service. Public meetings are coming later this spring. In the meantime you can find all study documents here.