Daily Archives: October 8, 2009
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Sometimes it’s hard to sell “smart growth” and New Urbanism. People are used to their cars, and they just flat out don’t believe that urban density can reduce traffic congestion. It’s the legacy of 50 years of suburban, car-oriented thinking.
But there is an example of how a nearby community can shake free the steel and glass shackles of auto culture and replace it with the tree-lined small-town feel of New Urbanism: Arlington County.…
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Friends of White Flint has now issued a statement criticizing the County Executive’s letter on the White Flint Sector Plan (the letter is linked and discussed a couple of posts below this one: “McDOT to White Flint: Drop Dead”).
The FoWF release begins:
On October 5, 2009, Montgomery County Executive, Isiah Leggett, sent the Council an analysis of the White Flint Sector Plan which concluded: “The White Flint Sector Plan provides the right direction for future development with its focus on existing infrastructure and use of existing impervious areas.
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In the Thursday, October 8th Washington Post, Paul Schwartzman, in his article “At NW Mall, So Many Spaces, So Little Need” highlights that parking regulations in many places are antiquated, requiring parking at suburban levels despite the preponderance of walking and transit. Downtown, the District is losing $100,000 a month on a parking garage they built for Target because “many shoppers walk” or “arrive by bus or Metro.” In fact, Metro usage at the station adjacent to the development jumped 25%. This is why many are pleased at Montgomery County’s forward-thinking reduction in parking requirements as seen in the White Flint plan. This is also yet another example of well considered mixed-use getting more people out of their cars, while providing an amenity to the neighborhood.…
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