Newsroom

Nov 15, 2010

The United States has long been a country that values home ownership. It is often argued that home ownership fosters the development of a citizenry that places more emphasis on community involvement and betterment. This widespread belief has produced relatively high rates of home ownership (65% of Americans own their homes). Despite these benefits the current system of subsidies and tax deductions that encourage home ownership have the unfortunate consequence of also promoting suburban sprawl​

Nov 12, 2010

Stopping and reversing urban sprawl is seen as essential for bringing the Potomac River back to good health according to a recent report by the Potomac Conservancy. The report cites three land use scenarios for metro Washington from the present until 2030. The “Current Growth” (business-as-usual) scenario shows the amount of agricultural land and forests/wetlands dropping substantially while the amount of developed land skyrockets.

Nov 12, 2010

A recent article in The Washington Post presents a startling picture of the divergence in well-being between white and black residents of the metro Washington region. Although the region ranked at the top of the list for overall well-being – measured by health education and income) – there are a number of areas where the divide between white and black residents is significant; life expectancy being perhaps the starkest example: “White D.C. residents have the longest life expectancy of whi

Nov 11, 2010

New forecasts for growth in population jobs and housing in the metro Washington region from now until 2040 were presented yesterday during a meeting of the COG Board of Directors. Some of the interesting findings from the forecasts include:

Nov 10, 2010

Tamara Lucas Copeland President of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG) discusses local philanthropy’s support of Region Forward and one possible way for grantmakers to move the initiative forward.

Nov 8, 2010

Drive-alone commuters are sought for enrollment in the incentives program.

Nov 8, 2010

The health of the Chesapeake Bay is an immediate regional concern. However as the country’s largest estuary – a fancy word for a partly enclosed water body connecting to the sea – it should also be a national concern. Nearly 17 million people live within the Bay’s 64000 square mile watershed over 1/3 of which live in the metro Washington region.

Nov 5, 2010

The height limit on D.C. buildings is a topic that arises every once in awhile generates some discussion and then subsides into the background. A New York Times article today summarizes many of the pros and cons usually raised during debates on the issue.

Nov 4, 2010

Najuma Thorpe Public Affairs Specialist DC Department of Housing and Community Development

Nov 4, 2010

With the midterm elections having come and gone talk has now shifted to what it means for the parties’ policy agendas. The question of how a divided government will impact climate and energy legislation health care and immigration is receiving a lot of attention in the media.