D.C. Council pushing development around streetcar lines
Article reposted from the Washington Examiner
In a morning breakfast meeting Wednesday, D..C. Council members told the mayor and the Department of Transportation that they wanted development around the city’s upcoming streetcar lines to get going sooner rather than later.
Members particularly focused on Benning Road, home to a Metro station and the future home of a streetcar line toward H Street Northeast. Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said he wanted to bring developers into the process now so the city could ensure that affordable housing would be planned near the lines. Ward 7 Councilwoman Yvette Alexander asked whether the city was considering tax incentives for businesses.
So far, the simple answer to those questions is “not yet,” although the city’s Deputy Mayor of Economic Development was at the meeting. Mayor Vincent Gray also noted that H Street has undergone a huge transformation over the past decade just on the promise of a streetcar line there.
The city’s first lines are still slated to open sometime next year.
Speaking of the Streetcars: Please attend this upcoming meeting:
Thursday, April 12, 2012 6:30 pm – 8 pm H Street/Benning Road Streetcar Line
Quarterly Meeting
Spingarn High School—Cafeteria: 2500 Benning Road, NE
Ward 5, 6 and 7 residents, as well as other interested stakeholders, are encouraged to attend this meeting to hear about the latest updates on the H Street/Benning Rd streetcar line, provide input and ask questions.
