Takoma has always been one of the more wooded and suburban-feeling of D.C.’s Metro-blessed communities. From the perspective of a city that needs more housing, the parking lots and auto body shops that surround it are a big waste of space. It’s great to see, then, plans for sizeable housing developments on two sites just a hop skip away from the station. A double site on Carroll Avenue, by Sas Gharai and Level2 Development, got moving this spring. Another, at Spring Place, has just started its journey through the approvals process.

The new project—-which you can read all about here—-is four stories and 148 apartments, 50 of which will be affordable to people making below 60 percent of area median income. The development team is a joint venture between Affordable Housing Developers and the Eco Housing Corporation. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B will vote on the historic preservation application tonight. Commissioner Sara Green says they’re asking for “a more appropriate design for a historic district, better landscaping and setbacks, a ‘scaling down’ as the buildings abut the single-family homes, higher quality materials (brick to blend with its surroundings).”

Whatever shape the project’s in when it makes it through the regulatory wringer, it’s a better use of the nearly-empty lot that’s there now. Could the giant parking lot right next to the station be next?