A series of new investments in the civic realm aren’t enough—some in Wheaton, Maryland want the community to catch up with its neighbors in providing a walkable town center.
Danielle E. Gaines reports from the Montgomery County, Maryland community of Wheaton, which is making plans to redesign its downtown to join neighbors like Bethesda, Rockville, and Silver Spring in pursuing a more urban vision for the future.
A recent "What’s Next for Wheaton" forum gave residents a chance to consider the possibilities of the projects like the $180 million Wheaton Revitalization Project, "which will provide a government office building to serve as the new county Planning Department headquarters, 12,000-square feet of retail space, a below-ground parking garage, town square and park," according to Gaines. "Other major projects are underway or recently completed, as well. The Wheaton Community Recreation Center and a renovated library are slated to open next spring."
But that's not all. According to Gaines, some residents are pushing for even more trappings of a more urban environment, such as new pedestrian infrastructure, wider sidewalks, traffic calming, and dedicated bike lanes. Gwen Wright, director of the Montgomery County Planning Department even suggested a woonerf: closing Reedie Drive, "where it crosses the planned town plaza, remaining open only from Georgia Avenue to Triangle Lane to allow access to local businesses."
FULL STORY: Is Wheaton Ready for an Arts Center? A Woonerf?
Opinion: Lower Rents Will Give Downtown Spaces Back to the ‘Weirdos’
Introducing the “CBGB theory of city planning.”
East Lansing Parking Plan Aims for Walkability
East Lansing wants to ditch some of its surface parking to encourage economic activity and walkability.
The Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Remake Downtown
Urban cores around the country were transforming into live, work, and play destinations before the pandemic. The pandemic was a setback for this transformation, but it could also be a rare opportunity. It’s up to city leadership to seize it.
Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
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?
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?
USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.
EPA Terminates $116 Million in Grants for Reducing Emissions from Construction Materials
C-MORE grants were earmarked for industry trade groups and universities.
BART Closes $35 Million Deficit
Cost control and revenue generation measures prevented service cuts.
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
City of Piedmont, CA
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland