urbanMSP

Washington, D.C. has had a remarkable period of growth while the rest of the country endured the Great Recession. Some of the richest counties in the country are suburbs there and the concentration of federal government growth there rather than dispersed around the country has brought in both population and very well paid people that has changed the perception of D.C. as a murder capital into a "cool town".

And, like anti-hipsterism, "cool" things inevitably draw a backlash.

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/ ... city-lists

D.C.'s alleys once were dangerous, now hip places to relax.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in- ... story.html

Apparently there's something like this going on in MPLS, alley revitalization? Over all I love the concept and D.C. continues to be a great city

It's mind boggling that our nation's capitol was a really dangerous/gritty city not that long ago. Like, how did that happen in the first place? I mean, it happened in basically every city, but I guess you wouldn't expect DC to be among the worst.

Having such a robust Metro system in place has allowed both the central city and close-in suburban areas to grow like crazy. The height limits too have distributed growth throughout, instead of concentrating it in a few supertall buildings surrounded by parking lots.

I really need to read a book about the revitalization and transformation of DC into a premier US city.

They've also caused housing prices to explode, though. I guess that's the price you pay (especially when DC was widely regarded as Murder City what, six or seven years ago?) but I don't know if it's a great model to emulate either.

Not to sound all Tea Party or anything, but the main reason that DC is a thriving city is because of all of the well paid, highly educated federal employees who work there.

Imagine what a shot in the arm Minnesota's economy would get if we got a share of federal largesse proportional to the federal taxes that we paid.

*also the legion of highly-paid federal contractors and consultants. Plus pensions--it's pretty common for folks to get out of the military in their 40s with a 50% pension and then get a job either contracting, consulting, and of course, working for the government in a different area.

Either way, lots of Republicans with expensive cars and gubmint paychecks.

Not to sound all Tea Party or anything, but the main reason that DC is a thriving city is because of all of the well paid, highly educated federal employees who work there.

I've long considered D.C to be example #1 of why Affirmative Action is a wonderful thing. In a city that basically has it at every job, there's a huge percentage of well-to-do people of color. It's the vision for what our country could be like if people did more than just "tolerate" others.

Having such a robust Metro system in place has allowed both the central city and close-in suburban areas to grow like crazy. The height limits too have distributed growth throughout, instead of concentrating it in a few supertall buildings surrounded by parking lots.

Agree with the first part of your statement. But most US cities with supertalls are also quite dense ( NYC, Chicago, Philly, SF, etc) . And Washington has been highly urbanized for a long time, even when I visited as a kid in the 1960's. This is true with the whole eastern seaboard as the urban cores were developed way before the age of the automobile.

Losing the murder capital infamy but half of the schools still near too much gunfire.

http://www.citylab.com/crime/2014/09/ov ... re/379617/

"D.C. has been executing a war on motorists..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ ... story.html

"It's enough to make anybody a libertarian."

It also sound like it is enough to force people biking or taking transit.

I hope the pedestrians win the war

The most important man shaping D.C. growth and development.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arti ... aping-dcs/

Lots of insight on the stupid rules and laws that must be followed in that city.

Great article. Thanks for the share! He's like the Robert Moses of anti-development.

He's like the Robert Moses of anti-development.

Hah! That made me laugh.

Didnt read the entire article, but i assume it is mostly about the height restrictions. I hope they keep the height restrictions. In my opinion, it is one of the things that makes DC so great.

It isn't mostly about height. Just slightly. Mostly about how federal agencies (like the National Park Service) that have nothing to do with urbanism are deciding urban development issues (like bike share stations and cart vendor licenses in parks and trash can placement.)

The boom is bust.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/20 ... -bust.html

As I said in my introduction, I went to school out here years ago...pre-boom. Marion Barry as my crack-smoking mayor. 400+ murders a year. Crime bulletins constantly posted on campus (mostly students getting mugged). Anyway, my section of NE DC has really cleaned up and this article shows some of the interesting new development that has taken place recently.

http://cuamagazine.cua.edu/res/docs/201 ... ture-2.pdf

I love the painted BROOKLAND, and this building, too:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.932611, ... e0!6m1!1e1

Oof. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/m/p ... -troubled/