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D.C. moves quickly to get Height Act changes on the books

By WTOP Staff

The District is moving quickly to enact rules that will allow developers to take advantage of key changes in the recently amended federal Height Act.

The Office of Planning has released proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations that authorize a maximum height of 20 feet for all rooftop penthouses, permit two levels within that 20 feet if the penthouse falls entirely below the Height Act limit, eliminate the rule that bars penthouses from consuming more than a third of the roof area, and allow all forms of habitable space within a penthouse.

Until May 16, when President Barack Obama signed a bill to amend the 1910 Heights of Buildings Act, human occupancy of any penthouse was prohibited.

According to a staff report, dated Thursday, the issue is complex, “with ramifications to the city’s built form, policy objectives and land and building economics.” But there is also “much concern in the development community,” especially among developers with projects in the planning and design phases, regarding how they should proceed given Obama signed the legislation but the planning office has not yet amended the Zoning Regulations.

“The changes would provide a valuable new source of taxation revenue, and present an exciting opportunity for better utilization of our land-base within the confines of the Height Act limits,” per the staff report.

That positive spin aside, the changes represent a relatively minor change — significantly less than what Mayor Vincent Gray and the planning office wanted.

The Gray administration bid to largely lift Height Act restrictions outside the traditional L’Enfant City, and to ease the rules in and around the Central Business District. At the very least, Gray sought congressional approval for the District to set some of the rules itself, rather than leaving the decision to the federal government.

But those proposals were blocked, not only by the National Capital Planning Commission, but by the D.C. Council. Instead, a compromise was brokered that largely left the Height Act in place, with minimal changes to the penthouse regulations.

“The height of buildings in this city will not change by one foot under this act, but the beauty of the tops of buildings and their usability will,” U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who shepherded the change through the House, said in April. “The revenue to the city can increase because of the value of these top floors and yet we will cover up mechanical penthouses that today are simply elevator shafts, rooftop air conditioners, water towers and the like.”

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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