Washington region offers less apartment square footage for $1,500 in rent compared to most cities
A new RentCafe report reveals that for $1,500 a month, renters in the Washington region get significantly less space compared to the national average of 729 square feet. In Alexandria, $1,500 can rent nearly 600 square feet, while in DC proper, it only secures 464 square feet. The metro area ranks among the lowest in space offered for this budget, alongside cities like Seattle, Chicago, and Miami. The analysis used data from Yardi Matrix for properties with 50 or more units in the nation’s 100 most-populated cities. (Urban Turf)
DC drops lawsuit over Union Station bicycle hub eviction
The District of Columbia has dropped its lawsuit against Union Station Investco LLC over DC’s eviction from a bicycle storage and repair hub. The suit was dismissed without prejudice as Union Station Investco transferred its leasehold to Amtrak, which plans to expand rail services. The eviction was due to the District allegedly failing to pay $150 in rent. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association, which intended to use the hub, continues to seek other locations for its programming. (This article is behind a paywall.) (Daniel J. Sernovitz / Business Journal)
Chesapeake Bay’s underwater grasses continue to rebound with 7% increase from 2022 to 2023
The Chesapeake Bay’s underwater grasses increased by 7% from 2022 to 2023, totaling 82,937 acres, the seventh highest total in over 40 years. The saltiest zone recorded its highest grass levels since 1997. This rebound follows a 38% decline back in 2019. Despite improvements, the bay’s vegetation acreage is still below the 2025 goal of 185,000 acres. (This article is behind a paywall.) (Christine Condon / Baltimore Sun)
Montgomery County proposes noise cameras for cars with modified exhausts
Montgomery County, Maryland, is considering a bill to establish a noise camera pilot program targeting cars with modified mufflers exceeding the 80-decibel state sound limit. The proposed cameras would issue warnings for first offenses and fines up to $75 for subsequent violations. Councilmember Natali Fani-González identified Georgia Avenue, University Boulevard, and Connecticut Avenue as potential locations for the cameras. The first public hearing on the bill is scheduled for September 17. (Luke Lukert / WTOP)
Real estate firm Hines acquires $142M Leesburg site for 1,100-home development
Hines purchased the Village at Clear Springs development site in Leesburg for $142 million, planning to build nearly 1,100 homes and a major tennis facility, citing Loudoun County’s undersupply of housing as motivating the decision. The 245-acre site is set between the Dulles Toll Road and Evergreen Mills Road. The project includes 667 townhomes, 230 single-family homes, and 180 affordable multifamily rental units. (This article is behind a paywall.) (Dan Brendel / Business Journal)
Inside Baltimore’s failed 20-year Poppleton redevelopment deal
Baltimore has terminated its development deal with La Cité after nearly two decades of delays on the Poppleton project. La Cité, led by Dan Bythewood Jr., promised a transformative development but has only completed a single apartment building. The city spent $15 million on property acquisition and demolition. The Baltimore Banner digs into when, and why, things went so wrong. (This article is behind a paywall.) (Giacomo Bologna / Baltimore Banner)
Arlington County appoints new climate policy leader amid calls for more community involvement
Arlington County has appointed Jennifer Fioretti as assistant county manager for climate policy, tasked with advancing the county’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Fioretti, previously with the Department of Parks and Recreation, will oversee climate policy development and community engagement. The appointment comes amid concerns from activists about the effectiveness of current strategies and the need for more resident involvement. (James Jarvis / ARLnow)
Top image: A flipped apartment building in the Trinidad neighborhood of DC, seen in 2018. Image by BeyondDC used with permission.
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