How Harriet Tregoning is reshaping Washington

When Adrian Fenty, the mayor who hired her, was defeated in his bid for reelection, some thought that Harriet Tregoning's tenure as head of planning in Washington, DC, would soon be over. 

But Tregoning was asked to stay by the new mayor, Vincent Gray, and she has continued to be a determined advocate for smart growth. 

In an illuminating article in Washington City Paper, reporter Lydia DePillis tells about the beliefs and methods of Tregoning, who rides a fold-up bike to community meetings and who insists that "planning has to be meaningful and have integrity."

"Now, more than anyone else in city government ... she's the one shaping how D.C. looks and feels," DePillis writes of Tregoning, 51, who has been in charge of the District's planning for five years.

"One central piece of this success," according to the article: "Tregoning had figured out how to talk about smart growth—as a holistic approach that encompassed health, social issues, real estate development, and the environment—in layman’s terms."

The article looks at issues that Tregoning has gotten involved in and those she's steered clear of. "In large part, Tregoning has survved because she's a lot more diplomatic than the fired Fentyites," DePillis says.

Diplomatic or not, Tregoning is an avowed opponent of highway expansion. “I think it’s ridiculous for us to be talking about congestion,” she says of suburban proposals to widen highways to alleviate traffic. “No new capacity alleviates congestion. I mean, where has it ever happened? I find it unbelievable that that is still the mantra, when it’s never been proven to work.” 

For more in-depth coverage on this topic: 

• to Better! Cities & Towns to read all of the articles (print+online) on implementation of greener, stronger, cities and towns.

• See the March 2012 issue of Better! Cities & Towns. Topics: Traffic congestion, Zoning, DOT mainstreams livability, HUD's Sustainable Communities, Transit-oriented development, TOD tips, Form-based codes, Parking minimums, New classical town, Urban retail, James H. Kunstler, Placemaking and job growth, Maryland's smart growth.

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• See the January-February 2012 issue of Better! Cities & Towns. Topics: Value capture and transit, Social networks aid downtown, Live smaller, Rentals are market key, Streetcar inspiration, Box building, Civilizing suburbs, Alley houses, Sprawl repair, Healthy communities, Funding for infrastructure, Chicago River reversal.

• See the of New Urban News. Wall Street and urbanism, streets to plazas, Sustainable Communities grants, Choice Neighborhoods, TIGER grants, buyers prefer smart growth, protecting historic buildings, public health and planning, redevelopment in Georgia, Ecovillages, parklets.