Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Pelosi House Office Building

Both the naming and the destruction of the parking lot are good ideas, though let me advocate (unlikely to happen) that any office building in that spot include some street level retail.

Alternatively, they could build an apartment complex for House members. We have this rather dumb system where lawmakers have to simultaneously live in DC and maintain a residence in their home districts. Aside from the nuisance of travel, while this isn't a problem for wealthy members of Congress (and most are, of course, wealthy), it is actually a problem for non-wealthy members. You hear stories of people sleeping in their offices, etc. A studio apartment complex so that those who wanted could have an affordable pied-à-terre would really be a good idea. Also with street level retail.