A better city is possible. 3Tree Flats, a relatively recent addition to Washington, D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood, definitely has the hallmarks of renter utopia. Its apartments are appointed in stainless steel and mahogany; the building features a gym, a green roof terrace and a solar-powered water system. There’s a 24-hour Safeway across the street, a Metro subway station a block away and a walk-in medical clinic on the first floor.

Long before he’s drafting designs, Lynch is asking questions. Is the local emergency room overcrowded? If so, a primary-care office for the area is a priority, as at 3Tree Flats. Are neighborhood dropout rates above average? Then Lynch will lobby for a closer school.

Real estate in the nation’s capital is booming, and the units at 3Tree could easily command a premium — but almost none do. In fact, 119 of the 130 units actually qualify as affordable housing by federal standards.

The goal: diverse areas with accessible transportation, good schools and other conveniences that are “sticky” enough to keep both new and old residents in place. D.C.

Read the full article on better cities at A Better Man