Tim Craig explores one developer's efforts to start the ball rolling on the capital's new 20-year sustainability goals.
City officials in Washington released an ambitious plan on Tuesday to green the city over the next 20 years. Dubbed Vision for a Sustainable D.C., the plan outlines "goals to slash emissions and fossil fuel usage, plant new trees, clean up the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, and capture three-fourths of rainwater for reuse locally," Craig writes.
Sean C. Cahill, a local developer, intends to lead the charge with a cluster of new buildings along I-395 that will boast rooftop farms – one of the many goals described in the plan. With 2.2 million square feet of primarily office space, Capitol Crossing could host restaurants hoping to emulate the success of Founding Farmers, a farm-to-table eatery that has earned a place among "the city's most popular restaurants."
"We got 30 acres of vegetative roofs in D.C. already," said D.C. Planning Director Harriet Tregoning. "Let's rethink this idea of the green roof and create the kind of environment where we can produce that."
FULL STORY: D.C. farms could rise above I-395

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving
A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

Judge Halts Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in Grants Pass
The Oregon city will be barred from enforcing two ordinances that prosecute unhoused residents until it increases capacity and accessibility at designated camping sites.

Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools
The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Green Schools Symposium brings together educators, students, and experts to advance sustainability in schools through innovative design, climate resilience strategies, and collaborative learning.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Moreno Valley
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport