On February 8, 2008, our former executive director and founder David Alpert wrote this about the region:
Urban centers and walkable suburbs in America are experiencing a renaissance, including the Washington, DC region. Unfortunately, too many people are forced to leave great neighborhoods to find affordable housing or good schools. If people want to live in single-family homes, they certainly may. But everyone should have the choice to live in an apartment or townhouse in a walkable, safe, livable neighborhood.
This idea of what Greater Washington could be was the birth of Greater Greater Washington: the website, the mission, and the organization. GGWash was also the place where David honed his skills as a writer, penning pieces that sometimes led to action on issues that had lain dormant, and other times brought on a tide of spirited comments. While the voice of GGWash has transformed over the years, David’s writing has been a consistent part of who we are.