Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® - Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Regional Newsclips

By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, October 30, 2006; Page A01

On a rustic and exclusive lane in Northwest Washington dating from the Civil War, the Battle of Chain Bridge Road is raging.

A group of homeowners has been trying to stop the construction of 13 mansions on 3.5 acres, the largest piece of open land in the affluent Palisades neighborhood.

In most zoning disputes, residents might testify at public hearings. But in a neighborhood filled with boldfaced names, the fight is on a different level.

By Elissa Silverman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 29, 2006; Page C01

Looking back over his nine years as an at-large member of the DC Council, David A. Catania has a small apology.

He thinks he should have cut Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) a break once in a while. The two men were elected to DC government in the late 1990s with similar reform agendas, but the mayor ended up a target of Catania's ire on a wide range of issues, from tax policy to baseball.

"In retrospect, in too many instances I was harder on him than I should have been," said Catania in an interview last week.

WASHINGTON, DC-San Francisco real estate investment manager MacFarlane Partners is making a multimillion-dollar commitment to the DC market. It opened an office here this summer, headed by Brad Dockser, former partner and CEO for Western Development Corp., a retail and mixed-use development firm in the Washington, DC area.

MacFarlane Partners founder and managing principal Victor MacFarlane tells GlobeSt.com that the firm expects to invest $500,000 to $1 billion a year in the DC market, starting in 2007; MacFarlane plans to announce some $300 million to 400 million worth of projects in Southeast Washington by the end of the year.

WASHINGTON, DC-Rockville, Fairfax County and Loudoun County are among the areas multifamily investors with a long range outlook might want to consider in the DC area, according to a new report by Marcus & Millichap. There are still numerous opportunities for multifamily investment here, the report says. One avenue, of course has been the condo conversion route. Like it other markets though condo conversions have fallen off in the DC area this year.

Marcus & Millichap suggests that investors concentrate instead on the huge demand for rental housing space that has built up over the last few years as more people have been priced out of the single family and condo market. The median price for condos in the area, it notes, is $350,000 per unit, which does little to fulfill unsatisfied housing demand.

Q: I signed a contract a little more than two years ago to purchase a to-be-built condominium unit. I gave the developer a hefty down payment. My sales contract says that settlement must take place within two years. I inspect the building weekly, and it does not look like a lot of work has been done.

I asked the developer when I will go to closing, and his response was that because of matters out of his control, he will not be able to meet the settlement deadline in the sales contract.

Based on the length of time this has taken and the declining condominium market, I would like to cancel the contract and get my deposit back.

Are state Dems missing the boat?
National polls show Democrats in ascendance, but GOP candidates seem to be gaining ground here

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

HYATTSVILLE -- Just weeks ago, it appeared as if Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin were ready to ride a national Democratic tide to convincing victories on Nov. 7.

Maryland's 2-to-1 advantage in Democratic voter registrations combined with deepening disapproval of President Bush, the Iraq war and various Republican scandals in Congress was considered a perfect storm for a party accustomed to decades of dominance in statewide elections. After all, U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) trounced Bush by double digits in Maryland in 2004 and Democrats control nearly all levers of political power except the governor's office.

Instead, a poll released this week by The (Baltimore) Sun suggests that the gubernatorial race is a dead heat, with O'Malley (D) losing a once-comfortable lead under a barrage of negative ads from incumbent Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R).

By Susan DeFord
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page B02

Democrat John Sarbanes, the earnest eldest son of a Maryland political icon, and maverick Republican entrepreneur John White offer voters dramatically different choices in the race to represent Maryland's 3rd Congressional District.

The position is open for the first time in 20 years as Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) seeks the U.S. Senate seat long held by Paul S. Sarbanes (D), who is retiring after three decades in the Senate.

John Sarbanes, 44, a Towson lawyer and liberal community activist, is running a methodical, well-funded race that has the candidate appearing in televised campaign ads while busily canvassing a district that meanders through portions of Baltimore and Anne Arundel, Howard and Baltimore counties. Fifty-five percent of the district's registered voters are Democrats, though in Anne Arundel and Howard especially, voters have elected Republicans to local and state offices.

By Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 1, 2006; Page B05

In campaign commercials and appearances, Republican Senate candidate Michael S. Steele presents himself as fiercely independent, someone who would stand on principle against his party.

Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin has tried to link Steele to President Bush, but he has responded sternly in television ads: "Listen to me, Mr. Cardin. I think for myself."

But a look back at Steele's four years as lieutenant governor shows that he has rarely publicly challenged Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. on issues on which they have disagreed, such as the death penalty, teacher pensions and the minimum wage.

Television viewers in Virginia and Maryland are being inundated by a last-minute deluge of commercials from the U.S. Senate candidates and their national political party benefactors, who are pouring millions of dollars into the two states as the bitter fall campaign draws to a close.

The flood of money into the two states means that hardly anyone who watches TV in the next six days will be able to avoid seeing the candidates or their surrogates make a final plea for votes before Tuesday's election. In the Washington area media market, for example, even a casual TV viewer will see 42 campaign commercials for Republican George Allen or Democrat James Webb between now and Election Day, advertising specialists said.

"Each side is dishing it out," said Charlie Cook, who edits a nonpartisan national political newsletter. He said that the money pouring into Maryland and Virginia, especially from Democrats, is staggering. "It's almost as though Chuck Schumer has a printing press in his basement." U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

By John Wagner
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page B01

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, on the first leg of a six-day bus tour, had barely set foot in downtown Frederick yesterday when he encountered a group carrying signs in support of Maryland's Republican governor.

"These poor folks," said O'Malley, the Democratic challenger for governor, grinning as supporters stood at his side. "Where are your candidates? Where are your guys?"

O'Malley is not the only one asking those questions. In the closing days of the race, he and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) are offering a study in contrasts when it comes to campaign style.

GOP Losing Its Edge in Fairfax
As County Changes, More Pockets Are Leaning Democratic

By Lisa Rein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page B05

An unexpected political drama has played out for the last 22 months at the community hall in Clifton, a town of million-dollar houses on five acres in western Fairfax County that twice backed President Bush: The Democratic Women of Clifton was born.

Democrats in this fortress of Republican strength had for years seemed endangered or in hiding. In 2004 though, Jane and George Barker noticed a profusion of signs for Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry on their neighbors' lawns. "We started hearing from people that they were voting Democratic," said Barker, a stay-at-home mom married to a health-care planner.

At the group's inaugural tea in February 2005, she and fellow organizer Jane Blechman expected 15 women to show. They got 100. Today, there are 300 members.

Public Safety, Parks Top Bond Priorities
County Seeking Funds to Upgrade Fire, Police Stations

By Alec MacGillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page VA21

Police and fire stations and parks top the list of needs for which Fairfax County is asking voters to approve spending $150 million in two bond referendums Nov. 7.

Two years ago, voters approved $325 million in capital investments, including spending for human services buildings, libraries, parks and transportation.

This year, the focus is on public safety. The county is seeking $125 million for major renovations or replacement of police stations in Fair Oaks, McLean and Reston, the Great Falls volunteer fire station, the fire and rescue training academy, and the West Ox Road animal shelter. The 31-year-old animal shelter lacks space to isolate sick animals and is crowded.

Webb and Allen Hit the Issues
With Help From Their Elders, Candidates Stay on Topic

Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) traveled to Northern Virginia yesterday to push for the elimination of estate taxes while accusing his Democratic opponent, James Webb, of wanting to raise taxes.

Webb, campaigning in Richmond with Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (D), focused on his main themes of Iraq, government accountability and the gulf between the rich and poor.

Allen, who is seeking a second term, was on a day-long campaign swing with Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va). He said voters should judge him on his record, which he said includes keeping taxes low, investing in technology and strengthening national security.

FAIRFAX, VA-Centex Construction's Washington area office has been an active building contractor for the federal government. It just finished the Air Force Memorial, located next to the Pentagon in Alexandria. It also worked on the Federal Court House, located next to the U.S. Capitol. Last year, Centrex worked on the Capitol Visitors' Center. And in early November the Dallas-headquartered firm expects to break ground on the FDA's new campus in White Oak, Md., part of a $1 billion expansion and consolidation project for the government agency that has been ongoing for a few years. This project, though, is likely to be among the last major government-backed projects that the company will do in the DC area for a while, DC Division President and CEO John Tarpey tells GlobeSt.com.

"Our involvement in the federal sector is decreasing now, mainly because there is less federal work available this year," he says. Tarpey cites budget cuts "probably due to the war and [Hurricane] Katrina. At any rate, there have been a lot of projects shelved over the last year."

Tarpey says government work cycles out of favor every three years or so for various reasons, so the drop off is not unexpected or a setback to the company. Centrex is shifting to the private sector.

Voters Asked to Make Council Full Time
Two County Ballot Questions Aim to Clarify Board Issues

By Aruna Jain
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page GZ14

Montgomery County voters will decide Tuesday whether the duties of County Council members should be considered full or part time.

Along with four statewide ballot questions, voters are being asked to consider a charter amendment that would make the position full time. A second ballot question deals with specific guidelines for when the council must pass along legislation to the county executive and when the executive must act on it.

A council-appointed commission that is studying council salaries came up with the idea of changing the amendment so the jobs are full time, said council attorney Michael Faden. Most council members do not have other employment and describe handling county government business as a full-time job.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110102347.html

3 Candidates Campaign Aggressively In Race to Be Next County Executive
Left-Leaning Montgomery Voters Hear Gamut of Views on Taxes and Growth

By Nancy Trejos and Lori Aratani
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 2, 2006; Page GZ03

In a jurisdiction where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1, former Montgomery County Council member and onetime state Democratic Party chief Isiah Leggett would seem to have an edge over his opponents in the county executive race.

But Leggett's challengers -- Republican Chuck Floyd and independent Robin Ficker -- have not let that stop them from campaigning vigorously in TV ads, debates, blogs and at Metro stations.

Floyd says he wants to control growth; fight gangs; lower property, cellphone and energy taxes; and stop the county's funding of employment centers for predominantly immigrant day laborers. Ficker, a lawyer who switched his affiliation to independent this year after entering the race as a Republican, says he, too, wants to provide property-tax relief and reduce traffic while making county government more accessible to residents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110101946.html

New-Construction Pause Discussed

By Miranda S. Spivack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 31, 2006; Page B02

Rockville, Maryland's third-largest city, took preliminary steps last night toward approving a year-long moratorium on new large developments while officials debate tougher requirements for open space, building heights and sidewalks, among other concerns.

A majority of the nonpartisan Rockville City Council, a part-time panel that helps govern the city of 57,000 residents, expressed support for some type of pause in new construction, after a contentious debate over the scope and timing of the proposed moratorium. The council plans to reconsider the issue next month.

A more sweeping moratorium had been proposed by an advisory group, which is also revamping city zoning laws. That proposal, which would have affected some developments in various stages of approval, did not garner much support last night, although it was backed by the city's planning staff. The proposal favored by the majority in discussions last night would affect only those development plans that have not yet been filed with the city's planning office.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001415.html

False Alarm Over Project Delays
Studies for Purple Line, Shady Grove-Clarksburg Link on Track

By Katherine Shaver
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 31, 2006; Page B03

Angry e-mails flew. Transit activists cried foul. Montgomery County politicians said they were alarmed and wanted answers.

Word spread over the weekend that studies of two proposed transit projects aimed at easing traffic in the Maryland suburbs -- a Metro Purple Line and a transit link between Shady Grove and Clarksburg -- would be delayed at least two years.

But Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan said yesterday that there is nothing to worry about. The misunderstanding stemmed from a "technical glitch" in a state budget document that would be fixed, he said. "The studies have not been delayed and will not be delayed," Flanagan said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103001086.html

Revenue From Growth Tax Falls Short of Promises
Delay Set Off Race for Permits In Montgomery

By Miranda S. Spivack
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 29, 2006; Page C05

A Montgomery County "growth tax" law designed to force builders to pay for new roads and schools to ease the impact of development has raised substantially less money than promised by its supporters.

County officials had predicted that the 2003 law, which created a tax to help pay for schools and increased an existing roads tax, would generate as much as $66 million over the past two years. Instead, the amount raised has totaled about $37 million.

Although the shortfall was caused in part by a slowdown in the housing market, more than a third -- about $13.5 million -- of the anticipated funds were not collected because the County Council allowed a four-month delay before the new taxes took effect. That lag set off a rush by builders to apply for permits before the March 1, 2004, deadline.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102800750.html

Van Hollen orchestrates Democrats' battle for the House
As co-chairman of the Red to Blue program, he helps candidates around the country to try to reclaim the majority

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Less than a week before midterm congressional elections, the nationwide buzz is that Democrats could take over the House of Representatives -- and U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. could claim a smidgen of the credit if they do.

Van Hollen (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington is co-chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program, which helps strong Democratic candidates in their quest to unseat Republican incumbents.

The congressman visited New York and Ohio last week to add still more candidates to his list of those who have the potential to defeat "red" incumbents. The Red to Blue list is now 60 candidates strong.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/110306/polia%20s193246_31946.shtml

Sports and entertainment arena eyed for Montgomery County
Feasibility study under way; upcounty sites floated as possible locations

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

The owner of the Maryland Nighthawks professional basketball team says he has investors ready to help pay for a new sports and entertainment arena in Montgomery County.

Three upcounty sites have been mentioned as potential locations for a 7,000- to 12,000-seat facility, but officials are quick to point out that a study of the proposal is in its very early stages and is not considering potential sites.

The Maryland Stadium Authority, acting on a request from the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, has commissioned the feasibility study.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/110306/polia%20s193246_31947.shtml

Intercounty Connector opponents file intent to sue
Groups want more air quality studies and say road violates Clean Air Act

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006

Two national organizations plan to sue to block construction of the Intercounty Connector, saying the highway would violate the federal Clean Air Act by adding to the region's air pollution.

Environmental Defense and the Sierra Club filed a "notice of intent" to sue the federal government and the regional Transportation Planning Board, saying that their approval of the $2.4 billion, 18-mile road linking Montgomery and Prince George's counties violated air quality standards.

"At its core, we believe the work the Federal Highway Administration has done, their analysis, doesn't show this highway can be built and not make air quality worse," said Hope M. Babcock, director of the Institute for Public Representation at the Georgetown University Law Center, which is representing the groups.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/110306/polia%20s193252_31949.shtml