1. Development blogger Roving Bandit criticizes UN-Habitat executive director Joan Clos for saying that Africa is "confronted with [...] the challenge of preventing the formation of new slums." I wonder if Clos thinks that the Lower East Side was born with yoga studios and Starbucks.2. A kidney … [Read more...]
Environmentalism vs. density, Clean Water Act edition
I know I've kind of beaten this horse dead, but this environmentalism vs. density stuff just enrages me too much to relegate it to a link list. Here are some excerpts from an article about how the EPA's proposed new rules for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay could impede dense, … [Read more...]
NYC & DC links
New York City1. A while ago I wrote about how Manhattanville's blight, and therefore Columbia's ability to use eminent domain, was the fault of bad zoning. The nearby neighborhood of West Harlem looks like it's learned that lesson, and is seeking to protect itself against encroachment from … [Read more...]
A question and a link list
Hey guys, before I start this link list, I wanted to ask: Has anybody had trouble posting comments here with Disqus lately? Either you can't post them, or once you do they disappear? I've gotten two complaints in the last few days, so if you've been experiencing any problems please don't hesitate … [Read more...]
NoMa’s missing parks
David Alpert at GGW asks us what we think about the up-and-coming DC neighborhood of NoMa and its lack of parks: And in the future, all cities and towns should avoid making the same mistake. Libertarian-leaning urbanists like Market Urbanism have recommended fewer development restrictions and … [Read more...]
Weekend link megalist
This is probably my favorite link list yet...enjoy!1. The WSJ claims that delinquent homeowners can expect to stay in their homes after making their last mortgage payment – that is, they can live rent-free – for at least 16 months. The longer it takes for foreclosures to happen, the longer it … [Read more...]
DC parking minimums to “disappear in most cases”
Last month, Eric Fidler of Greater Greater Washington left a tantalizing comment suggesting that DC was going to do away with its minimum parking requirements soon. Obviously this would be very big news and a welcome change for market urbanists, and it looks like it might indeed pan out. On Monday … [Read more...]
This is why DC can’t have nice things
With the District of Columbia's height restriction entering its 100th year, Lydia DePillis from the Washington City Paper explains why downtown DC is all superblocks with so little natural light:While reading about the new Safeway-anchored residential development just approved in Wheaton, … [Read more...]