CSG News: Don’t miss your chance!

Snag a ticket to our party and make a difference on critical issues in your community

Dear {{FirstName or 'Friend'}}, It’s hard to believe but our 25th Anniversary celebration is just 10 days away! If you haven’t already, make sure to get your tickets before prices increase Tuesday, May 3 at midnight! We’ll be celebrating at the Capitol View at 400, an open air rooftop with a great view of iconic Union Station. With great people, gorgeous views, delicious food and drinks, and recommitment to our shared cause, it will be an evening to remember!

Regional

Fixing the region’s transportation plan CSG and 34 partner organizations sent this joint letter to regional officials, calling out their proposed long-range transportation plan, Visualize 2045, for failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions and car dependence. Six more groups just signed on! Read more in our GGWash article and see CSG’s technical critique.

Report: On the Wrong Road (read the report) Analysis by CSG’s Senior Policy Fellow, Bill Pugh, finds that the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority’s massive highway expansion plans would fuel huge levels of additional driving, on top of the driving anticipated from population growth. Mark May 12th for the public hearing on the NVTA’s 6-year funding program and keep an eye out for our recommendations.

D.C.

Support the Dance Loft on 14th affordable development (deadline: May 5, take action) The Dance Loft on 14th project will build a mix of deeply affordable homes, family-sized units, and a permanent home for Dance Loft's community arts and cultural center. Unfortunately, this exemplary project faces resistance from some neighbors. Support this mixed-use, mixed-income building. The DC Zoning Commission will hear the case on May 5.

Support the Draft Chevy Chase DC Small Area Plan (deadline: May 13, take action) This draft plan is out for public comment. It aims to address sustainable growth, Main Street character, increased housing choices, and social inclusivity along the Chevy Chase commercial corridor. Most importantly, it sets the stage to build affordable housing as part of a redeveloped library and community center.

Maryland

Rallying for a new Chevy Chase MD Library with mixed-income housing (take action) On April 24, we joined partner groups to rally for affordable housing as part of a new Chevy Chase MD Library near a future Purple Line station! Send an email today to support using public land to combine affordable housing and public facilities (like libraries). It’s a cost-effective way to provide critically needed housing near transit and jobs.

Join our Montgomery for All May meeting (May 21 at noon; RSVP) Mix and mingle at our May picnic social! Children, pets, and anyone else you'd like to bring along are more than welcome. Location TBD.

Support a walkable, transit-oriented Prince George’s County (take action) The Prince George's County Council will be voting on their operating budget and six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The good: investments in affordable housing and safe streets. The bad: road widenings that will undermine bike and pedestrian safety.

No New Highways Webinar (May 16 at 6:30pm, RSVP)

Learn why a sustainable, equitable future is tied to walkable, transit-oriented communities, not new highways or expansions. Speakers: Dr. Sacoby Wilson (UMD’s Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health), Josh Tulkin (Maryland Sierra Club), and Margaret Schoap (Transit Alternatives to Mid-County Highway Extended (TAME) Coalition)

Virginia

Why suspending the gas tax won’t help (read our statement) Suspending Virginia’s gas tax would cost funding for transit – which offers a critical link for access to jobs, and for road maintenance – and the damage those potholes will cause to your car will far exceed any gas tax savings. The Virginia Senate Finance Committee recently rejected the idea. We look to the long-term and point out the need to reduce our reliance on oil.

Prince William Rural Crescent fight (read the letter) CSG recently signed on to a letter to the editor calling for Prince William County to study developments’ impact on Occoquan watershed. This is part of a larger fight to protect the Rural Crescent and promote a more sustainable way for the county to grow. Learn more here and here.

Arlington Missing Middle (May 3 at 7pm, join the Q&A) Arlington County is kicking off Phase 2 of its Missing Middle Housing Study with a live virtual community Q&A session. This is a great opportunity to learn about the next phase of the study which will explore how the county could provide diverse housing types to help address the shortfall in supply and gaps in options.

Thanks for all you do,

Stewart Schwartz Executive Director Coalition for Smarter Growth

Images from Jada Thomas, BeyondDC, Bradley Joines, PNG Architects, Ron Eichner, Jane Lyons, Matt Johnson, County Executive Alsobrooks, urbandispute, Jada Thomas, Hugh Kenny, City of Arlington

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