Built in 1894, the 50m (164ft) Cairo Hotel was Washington DC’s first residential skyscraper. The ensuing uproar over its twelve story height, particularly with respect to the relatively narrow street below led to the 1899 Heights and Buildings Act. DC’s resulting midrise skyline, unusual for most North American cities of its size, contributes to its decidedly European feeling.
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Riding the Red Line in DC has its fair share of challenges between track work, delays, and the network’s busiest transfer stations. But emerging from the tunnel northbound at Union Station is a refreshing experience, highlighted by graffiti-strewn surfaces that brighten the commutes of many, myself included. Compared with other major cities, DC has a notable absence of graffiti.
A Georgetown grad student captured the artists’ stories and commuters’ reactions to this colorful stretch of the District in a documentary short, “See Something, Say Something”. The title is an alternative take on Homeland Security’s mantra of civilian vigilance, as the documentary challenges common perceptions of who is tagging and why. Check out the project webpage.
Workers assess the earthquake damage to the Washington Monument, Sept. 28, 2011. (National Park Service)
WaPo: A dream job for engineer
(via theatlantic)
Washington Post article discusses the rise of street cafe culture in DC:
“The Downtown D.C. Business Improvement District, which conducts a survey of sidewalk cafes in that area, found a double-digit increase since 2009: from 95 in 2009, to 123 in 2010, to 135 this summer. More than 3,200 seats are available.”
Outdoor seating has been recognized as an important factor for successful urban spaces by William H. Whyte and others for decades. This metric is a great indicator of the positive changes happening to DC’s urban public life over the past few years. The District is fortunate for its ample supply of wide sidewalks, an asset other cities in North America don’t necessarily have.
Link to Washington Post’s inside look at new designs for future Metro rail cars in DC. Input is still sought from the public but unfortunately not adequately advertised in the Post article (WMATA’s news piece did not offer specifics either). Thankfully the horrid carpet is gone but the plywood finish is just for the prototype.
(via yitzytaughtme)
‘TEMPORARY URBANISM’ IN DC
Formerly the R. L. Christian Library kiosk, this unique space in DC’s up-and-coming H Street NE neighborhood was a Temporium last year during July and August. Part of its Temporary Urbanism Initiative, the District Office of Planning partnered with local businesses and galleries to convert the city-owned library building into a venue for arts, creative retail and community interaction. Though not a long term solution, the success of the project was followed up by a similar temporary space in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood earlier this year.
SEEDS OF CHANGE
Photos above come from Flickr member mkw4114, taken in 2001 at current site of a Giant grocery store that anchors the northeast corner of the Tivoli Square redevelopment in Columbia Heights. No doubt the area has come a long way and is considered a much safer, friendlier and economically successful part of town. These images remind me of those from Detroit these days, showing a more agrarian post-industrial urban environment than the denser TOD model that took shape in Columbia Heights.
It is ironic that while this garden may be lost from the collective memory of Columbia Heights’ many new residents, fresh vegetables once grew on land that now houses a grocery store who’s produce section leaves much to be desired. In light of the contrast between what existed here a decade ago with the vibrant area today, I question which environment reflects a more sustainable long-term model for human cohabitation.
A newly-opened bike station in the heart of Washington, DC has been likened to an eye, a bike spoke and even a bike helmet. The glass-enclosed station sits adjacent to Union Station, where it makes low-impact commuter travel a reality. The station offers storage, a changing room and bike support services in a stylish and very low-energy building. The entire design was developed to make the best use of daylight and natural cooling, encourage green transportation, and demonstrate the possibilities for green building.
(via randomdc)
Awesome map from CommuterPageBlog showing the number of trips taken between stations in the DC area’s Capital Bikeshare between October and December. Since its launch in September, the system attracted over 5,000 annual members by December plus more than 11,000 casual users. Capital Bikeshare is poised to expand in 2011.
