Dense development is a good thing, but it doesn’t mean you can neglect the public realm or push for bad streetscapes. You’d want this kind of a buffer zone anyway. For the picture I took of the largest tree box/rain garden, I’d note that there’s a large curb bump-out.

Framing this as an either/or decision with regard to built density is a false choice.

Here is why:

1. Those boxes are structurally reinforced, CIP concrete structures. Combined with the proper cross section of soils and gravels, they cost an absolute fortune. Those two seperate boxes, in materials and construction alone cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 25-30K a piece…for a tree box.

Not only that, but they completely fly in the face of so called “dense” urban planning. Those enormous boxes require larger than required setbacks, which then pushes the sidewalk ROW back, which then pushes the building limit line back.

So this has resulted in a lower density use of the land.

The District is requiring these as a part of their development proffering, but what they should really be doing is simply collecting the money that would have been spent, and putting it toward the 2 billion dollar storm sewer tunneling “exercise” and wate rtreatment plant renovations DC Water is planning.

Complete and utter waste of land, money and effort.

If Hurricane Earl tracks close enough to us, we might get some serious rain to test these out…