The Best DC Legislation That Didn't Get Passed in 2018

• December 17th 2018

by Nena Perry-Brown

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UrbanTurf usually avoids publishing rankings or lists…except at the end of the year, when we look back at what DC’s residential real estate scene had to offer during the previous 12 months. This week, we revisit some of the best, most intriguing and peculiar things we came across over the course of 2018. Enjoy.

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While the DC Council certainly introduced several commendable bills which weren't passed in 2018, one that UrbanTurf quite liked seemed to recede into the background with a whimper.

In January, Councilmember Charles Allen introduced the Go Play Amendment Act of 2018, a bill to expedite permitting for street closures that would allow children to play freely.

Currently, one needs to apply to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to secure a temporary street closure for "street play" or other events. This bill wouldn't change that, but would offer two options that are more predictable and allow for more spontaneity: either a requirement that DDOT respond to applications within four business days, or an optional application to "pre-authorize" a block. 

Pre-authorization would require both DDOT and all residents of a given block to approve the notion of closing off the block for street play. If approved, up to three residents would be able to close the block off for street play during any weekend-day, holiday, or day that DC public schools are closed, as long as signs are posted 48 hours in advance and DDOT is notified and has no objections.

Since the bill's introduction, however, it seems to be stuck in committee purgatory. 

“I believe there’s a lot of great potential with the GO Play legislation to create spaces for neighborhood children and parents to get together," Councilmember Charles Allen told UrbanTurf. "I definitely plan to reintroduce this bill with some tweaks based on feedback we received going through the legislative process this year.”

UrbanTurf's 2018 in Review Articles: 

• The Year of the $40 Million Home
• The Most Ambitious Transportation Plan Pitched in 2018
• The Best History of a House to Hit the Market in 2018: Where JFK Met Jackie
• The Best Listing of 2018 (For the Mere Mortal)
• The Most Peculiar Tool Used to Fight a New Development in 2018
• The Best New Apartment Amenity Coming to DC: The Trail Lobby
• The Best Use of a Vacant Triangle
• The Most Impactful Legislation for DC Renters and Homeowners Passed in 2018
• The Best Listing of 2018 (For the Well Paid Lobbyist) 
• The Most Creative Responses to PUDs

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/the-best-dc-legislation-that-didnt-get-passed-the-street-play-bill/14789.