Smart Growth Social, Metro funding, and speaking up!
Dear
Our annual Smart Growth Social is back and tickets are selling fast! Join us for a night of fun, networking, and inspiration – all while supporting our work for a more livable, sustainable region. Special guest speaker, David Zipper, a contributor to Bloomberg CityLab, Vox, andTheAtlantic, will talk about how we save transit and our vibrant cities.
October 24 at 6:30-9pm
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73
Eastern Market, North Hall Tickets: $30; after Oct 13, $45
Buy your tickets today!
Want to do even more to support our campaigns for Metro funding, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and safer streets? Donate $250 to join our Host Committee or sponsor at $500 and above (contact ayesha@smartergrowth.net if interested).
Regional
Help us win the funding Metro needs! (take action)
WMATAis facing a $750 million operating shortfall in FY25 due to a suspension of some local funding, inflation, and lower ridership. WMATAhas found one-time cost savings but our local and state governments need to step up to fill the rest of the gap and provide dedicated funding. Without action, we will see massive service cuts, reduced access to jobs, and more traffic and pollution.
Support a greener regional transportation plan (take action by Oct 15)
We have just 6 years to slash our climate emissions. It’s time to cut a lot of highway expansion projects. Tell your elected officials to prioritize funding Metro and bus rapid transit, protecting infrastructure from climate change, and making our streets safer.
Become a Smart Growth Watchdog! (sign up to volunteer)
Are you interested in taking your advocacy to the next level by volunteering for CSG? Become a Smart Growth Watchdog to be our eyes and ears on the ground in your community Attend meetings that we can’t cover, watch local planning in action, take notes, and send them our way.
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73
Affordable housing at the Chevy Chase library site
Ensure affordable housing is included with a new library and community center in Chevy Chase. The District is holding two meetings – Oct 14 at noon and Oct 18 at 6pm – to ask for your input for what should go into the request for proposals (RFP) to redevelop the civic core site. Check out our affordable housing agenda for the site.
Awin for more housing on ConnecticutAvenue
We won a unanimous vote of the DC Historic Preservation Review Commission for the ConnecticutAve Development Guidelines. We joined Cleveland Park Smart Growth,ANCs, and residents in testifying.These implement the 2021 Comprehensive Plan goals for more housing that integrates with the historic fabric.
Exciting plans for WisconsinAvenue (take action by Nov 15)
The just released draft WisconsinAve Development Framework offers guidance for creating more homes and mixed-use buildings along the 1.5 mile corridor between Friendship Heights and Tenleytown. We’ll work with our friends at Ward3Vision to provide analysis and talking points – stay tuned.
Fixing our upside down property tax (take action)
We’ve long wanted to see DC shift to the “split rate” or “land value” property tax, which increases the tax rate on land made valuable by our public investments like Metro and reduces it on buildings and improvements, rewarding private investment. Most homeowners’tax bills would stay the same or be reduced and it would help with revitalization of downtown DC.
Maryland
Event: BranchAvenue Metro walking tour
meet-up (RSVP, Oct 3 at 6pm)
and placemaking
How do we create a sense of place and community amenities out of new developments, federal offices, and small businesses? We’ll speak with planners, and community activists about designing more walkable, bike-friendly transit stations, and placemaking.
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73
Weigh in on planned changes to Montgomery County’s bus network (learn more)
The Ride On Reimagined study is addressing where, when, and how often the bus runs, and how Ride On can better serve its riders. Weigh in online and at pop-up events throughout October to ensure Montgomery County prioritizes frequent, reliable bus service to get people where they need to go!
Participate in planning efforts across Montgomery (learn more)
Montgomery Planning is holding community meetings on multiple planning efforts, including the Friendship Heights Urban Design Study, Great Seneca Plan, Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan, and University Boulevard Corridor Plan, throughout October!
Join Montgomery forAll (become a member)
Support sustainable and inclusive land use, housing, and transportation in Montgomery County when you become a member of Montgomery forAll! We scored a big win with passage of the Thrive 2050 general plan. With more big issues ahead, exciting events in September, and steering committee elections in October, this is the perfect time to join.
Virginia
We won parking reform in Fairfax County!
Thanks to everyone who took action to support parking reform in Fairfax!The Board of Supervisors approved the proposal unanimously. While we're disappointed they increased rates for multifamily in the final version, the reforms will help reduce building costs, make housing more affordable, and create more mixed-use, walkable places. Email your Supervisors to thank them!
Check out what Fairfax candidates told us (learn more)
We partnered with our Fairfax Healthy Communities network to create a non-partisan questionnaire for Fairfax Board of Supervisor candidates. Check out what they have to say on transportation, housing, and climate. Early voting is open NOW for the Nov 7 general election.
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73
Thanks for all you do,
Make Gallows Road safer (take the survey by Oct 6)
Fairfax County wants to hear from you as they study Gallows Road betweenAnnandale andTysons.This can be a great transit corridor connecting mixed-use centers. Be sure to let them know about the barriers you face and how they can make Gallows Road better for walking, biking, and taking transit.
Support more housing options inAlexandria (take action)
Alexandrians are working toward a range of ways to provide more housing options amid a significant housing shortage. We support a range of solutions: transit-oriented development, more housing along transit corridors, and missing-middle ownership options. Be sure to fill out their online survey and attend upcoming meetings
Stewart Schwartz Executive Director Coalition for Smarter Growth
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews).
https://email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/PreviewMessage/ffefc2be-1d5e-ee11-9937-00224832eb73