Whose Backyard Is It Anyway?

Although NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard)is still a major stumbling block for the high-density, mixed-use projects becoming more prevelant in the DC area, more and more residents are coming forward to support these projects. An increased public awareness of smart growth and sprawl issues has created citizen groups willing to stand up to their NIMBY neighbors to support the types of walkable communities some developers and municipalities are proposing. According to the Washington Post article, one prominent smart growth advocate "who usually rails against rapacious developers, showed up last week to praise Federal Realty [for their proposed expansion of Bethesda Row]. 'We will go to bat for developers with the right projects,' he said. 'The tide has turned.'"

Thanks to Janet Boyko