Harriet Tregoning Resigns From Office of Planning

• February 4, 2014
• 3 Comments

by UrbanTurf Staff

From TEDxWDC.

Office of Planning Director Harriet Tregoning will resign on February 23rd, according to Mayor Vincent Gray’s office. Tregoning will take a new position with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). DCist was first to break the news of Tregoning’s departure.

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the citizens of D.C.,” Tregoning said on Twitter. “This has been the best job ever.”

News of Tregoning’s departure is not a complete surprise, but her new job is not where people thought she would end up. A report last month indicated that new New York City mayor Bill DeBlasio had Tregoning on a short list for the city’s new planning commissioner.

An advocate for increased density, Tregoning spoke out as a strong proponent of relaxing the city’s Height Act, tangentially making a case for DC Home Rule. To the latter, here is Tregoning after the National Capitol Planning Commission decided to dismiss a recommendation that would put the ability to raise the heights of buildings in the hands of the DC Council, the NCPC and the Zoning Commission:

“We are the only citizens in the free world in a capital city that doesn’t have representation in Congress. We have been given precious few opportunities to claw back any of our autonomy. This is a rare occasion. What I don’t understand is why we would leave it to Congressmen, who are all too often indifferent. Would Congress care if long-term residents couldn’t afford to live in the District anymore? I don’t think they would care, but we care, and we can decide to do something about it.”

Similar Posts:

• The Future of DC Housing Discussed at Smart Growth Forum
• Proposed Zoning Update: Key Changes
• Don’t Disturb the Skyline: Public Responds to Height Master Plan
• NCPC Releases Recommendations Regarding the Height Act
• NCPC: No Major Height Act Changes

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/harriet_tregoning_resigns_from_office_of_planning_will_work_for_hud/8085

3 Comments

1. Charles McDogall said at 9:30 pm on Tuesday February 4, 2014:
   The District is the Nation's city and I live here and am very glad important decisions are not in the hands of locals. The city government here is corrupt and populated by second rate politicians and third rate employees. Residents are transient and dont really care as long as new restaurants keep opening up and parking tickets remain manageable. We dont need to ruin our beautiful city by turning it into New York. I'm glad she's gone.

1. Nathaniel Martin said at 9:49 pm on Tuesday February 4, 2014:
   The comments by Mr. McDogall are appalling. The District of Columbia has had a couple of excellent mayors (even if I am not crazy about the current one) and is served by many highly capable senior elected and appointed officials, including Harriet Tregoning. She has performed her job with intelligence, foresight, and steadiness. She has directly contributed to significant improvements in the city and will be missed at the Department of Planning. Furthermore, Mr. McDogall's characterization of DC as a "transient" city is simply wrong. I have lived here 30 years, and I know many, many life-long residents. The population has been growing rapidly precisely because people are choosing to come here and not leave. As for corruption, need we talk Chicago? New Orleans? Or countless other cities whose right to self-governance is never questioned?

1. 7r3y3r said at 4:27 pm on Wednesday February 5, 2014:
   @Nathaniel Martin +1