why is MoCo so dumpy now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here is what I don't get about close in suburbs in Moco or N. Arlngton. given the fact that the cost of land is sky high, and there is high demand for more housing etc. Why are there so many dumpy single story strip malls. When I see this in N. arlington I can't figure out why a developer hasn't been able to buy out the site and build a mixed use 4-8 8 story building. It’s kind shocking how crappy some of these little strip malls are.

Because there’s not enough density for a bigger retail center. That’s what happens when you only allow detached SFHs to be built

THere is a plenty of available land under the dumpy single story strip malls, even if just for single level retail with 2-3 stories above.

-signed an urban planner

Right? It's telling that YIMBYs want to destroy SFH neighborhoods by allowing 4-plexes while there are MILES of 1-story strip malls all within walking distance of several metro stops.

What's your plan? Force the shopping-center owners to sell their property to developers?

I'm sorry, shopping center owners, you don't get to do what you want with your property, because there are some people who are afraid of other people getting to do what they want with their property, and those people's fears are more important!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody that complains about MoCo without acknowledging that Arlington has the same issues is being dishonest. Arlington has awful cookie cutter houses just like northern Bethesda and east rockville/silver spring. Outside the wealthy areas in North Arlington, Arlington is equally dumpy.

On top of that, it’s a mess of highways and strip malls. Nothing aesthetic about it

Fairfax is the same: has nice areas but it’s bad urban planning

Lastly, I wonder the type of person that complains about MoCo like this: are yall retirees in MoCo? I don’t have a reason to cross the bridges to NoVa except for the airports. I literally never think about NoVa in my daily life. Do y’all travel to MoCo for work? So weird. These threads always sound like y’all got a chip on your shoulder.

And the Bethesda compound comment is just peak DCUM. I’m sure your kids are real well-adjusted with that attitude…

NP. It's fair to compare similar areas in the same metro area. NoVa courts Fortune 500s and other job-creating business while MoCo courts illegal aliens and the results are clear.

Nova troll is back. Guess what, nova’s job growth is anemic, not much different than moco. Shiny amazon buildings don’t change that. North Arlington and Bethesda are remarkably similar, as are south Arlington and silver spring. It is even the same with respect to Costco: I know people in north Arlington who will only go to south Arlington for costco, just like the Bethesda folks with the Wheaton Costco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much arrogrant racism and classism in this thread. And I have to wonder with some of it how long *your* families have actually lived in the US.

How is pointing out how much trash is thrown on the street or in parks racist and classist? I'm sorry, but I have absolutely zero respect for anyone who liters and/or dumps. They are the lowest of the low scum on the planet.

Here's a helpful guide.

Not racist or classist: Littering is bad.
Not racist or classist: I don't like to see litter.
Not racist or classist: I don't like people who litter.
Not racist or classist: I see a lot of litter in [place].
Racist or classist: [Areas where poor and/or non-white people live] are dumps.

NP - You can't deny that people who grew up in third world countries have different expectations for behavior. Parts of MoCo are 30%+ foreign born (and that, of course, doesn't include their U.S. born children. We are overwhelmed and can't acculturate people fast enough, so yes, things are starting to appear more and more like the third world. Is that racist?

Yes. "Foreign-born people and their US-born children litter" is a racist statement.

OK - sure. Go travel in Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia and the Caribbean and let me know what you see...

No where did I say that people can't learn new behavior or that it was based on their genetics. It is part of their culture.

"It's part of Central American/African/Asian/Caribbean culture to litter" is also a racist statement.

I agree with this 100%. They don’t realize (maybe they do) what they are saying is that we are just so dumb that “we” can’t follow laws.

No, I think they’re just saying that you don’t follow laws, not that you can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here is what I don't get about close in suburbs in Moco or N. Arlngton. given the fact that the cost of land is sky high, and there is high demand for more housing etc. Why are there so many dumpy single story strip malls. When I see this in N. arlington I can't figure out why a developer hasn't been able to buy out the site and build a mixed use 4-8 8 story building. It’s kind shocking how crappy some of these little strip malls are.

Because there’s not enough density for a bigger retail center. That’s what happens when you only allow detached SFHs to be built

THere is a plenty of available land under the dumpy single story strip malls, even if just for single level retail with 2-3 stories above.

-signed an urban planner

Right? It's telling that YIMBYs want to destroy SFH neighborhoods by allowing 4-plexes while there are MILES of 1-story strip malls all within walking distance of several metro stops.

What's your plan? Force the shopping-center owners to sell their property to developers?

I'm sorry, shopping center owners, you don't get to do what you want with your property, because there are some people who are afraid of other people getting to do what they want with their property, and those people's fears are more important!

Of course not. That's not how it works. But the county COULD incentive them. It doesn't take a genius to know that the land is incredibly valuable and 12 floors of rent-generating space is worth far more than 1 floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody that complains about MoCo without acknowledging that Arlington has the same issues is being dishonest. Arlington has awful cookie cutter houses just like northern Bethesda and east rockville/silver spring. Outside the wealthy areas in North Arlington, Arlington is equally dumpy.

On top of that, it’s a mess of highways and strip malls. Nothing aesthetic about it

Fairfax is the same: has nice areas but it’s bad urban planning

Lastly, I wonder the type of person that complains about MoCo like this: are yall retirees in MoCo? I don’t have a reason to cross the bridges to NoVa except for the airports. I literally never think about NoVa in my daily life. Do y’all travel to MoCo for work? So weird. These threads always sound like y’all got a chip on your shoulder.

And the Bethesda compound comment is just peak DCUM. I’m sure your kids are real well-adjusted with that attitude…

NP. It's fair to compare similar areas in the same metro area. NoVa courts Fortune 500s and other job-creating business while MoCo courts illegal aliens and the results are clear.

Nova troll is back. Guess what, nova’s job growth is anemic, not much different than moco. Shiny amazon buildings don’t change that. North Arlington and Bethesda are remarkably similar, as are south Arlington and silver spring. It is even the same with respect to Costco: I know people in north Arlington who will only go to south Arlington for costco, just like the Bethesda folks with the Wheaton Costco.

That was me and I live in Rockville. And are you kidding? Tysons is full of sky-scraper-building cranes while the White Flint Crater just sits there year after year.

[Anonymous]

I think the citizenship test should cover garbage disposal and recycling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here is what I don't get about close in suburbs in Moco or N. Arlngton. given the fact that the cost of land is sky high, and there is high demand for more housing etc. Why are there so many dumpy single story strip malls. When I see this in N. arlington I can't figure out why a developer hasn't been able to buy out the site and build a mixed use 4-8 8 story building. Its kind shocking how crappy some of these little strip malls are.

I live near Potomac Village and do not want this to become some town center with midrise buildings. Is the Village an eye appealing place? No. Do I care? No. It serves the purpose and brings less attention to the area. Not everyone cares about new things

Sure. But that's what should be developed. Rockville Pike should be redeveloped. Look at the mile stretch from Rockville Pike going north on the metro side. It's nothing but 1 story strip. That's begging for high-rise redevelopment.

Typo: I meant that's NOT what should be developed (in Potomac Village).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair MoCo makes it difficult to throw things away. I had to take an afternoon off from work just to go to shady Grove which is about 45 minutes away to throw away some paint, light bulbs, electronics, and batteries. I had to drive around in circles and wait in a long line. I could see why someone who didn't have access to paid time off or worked multiple j9bs would just throw trash 9n the road,

Call 311 and they will tell you what to do so the stuff can be picked up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here is what I don't get about close in suburbs in Moco or N. Arlngton. given the fact that the cost of land is sky high, and there is high demand for more housing etc. Why are there so many dumpy single story strip malls. When I see this in N. arlington I can't figure out why a developer hasn't been able to buy out the site and build a mixed use 4-8 8 story building. Its kind shocking how crappy some of these little strip malls are.

I live near Potomac Village and do not want this to become some town center with midrise buildings. Is the Village an eye appealing place? No. Do I care? No. It serves the purpose and brings less attention to the area. Not everyone cares about new things

Sure. But that's what should be developed. Rockville Pike should be redeveloped. Look at the mile stretch from Rockville Pike going north on the metro side. It's nothing but 1 story strip. That's begging for high-rise redevelopment.

I used to live in Gaithersburg in the early 80s. Then North Bethesda (in a high rise) near White Flint for most of the 90s. I was back in 2022 for a trip and took a good look around. I think the area from Grosvenor to Congressional Plaza on Rockville Pike has gotten a lot worse looking and so much more should be done to renovate it. The area looks really trashy considering all the wealth in the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frederick county is bad too. The whole country is in decline....look at NYC.

Chicago is not in decline. I was out there last week; what a vibrant city!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody that complains about MoCo without acknowledging that Arlington has the same issues is being dishonest. Arlington has awful cookie cutter houses just like northern Bethesda and east rockville/silver spring. Outside the wealthy areas in North Arlington, Arlington is equally dumpy.

On top of that, it’s a mess of highways and strip malls. Nothing aesthetic about it

Fairfax is the same: has nice areas but it’s bad urban planning

Lastly, I wonder the type of person that complains about MoCo like this: are yall retirees in MoCo? I don’t have a reason to cross the bridges to NoVa except for the airports. I literally never think about NoVa in my daily life. Do y’all travel to MoCo for work? So weird. These threads always sound like y’all got a chip on your shoulder.

And the Bethesda compound comment is just peak DCUM. I’m sure your kids are real well-adjusted with that attitude…

NP. It's fair to compare similar areas in the same metro area. NoVa courts Fortune 500s and other job-creating business while MoCo courts illegal aliens and the results are clear.

Nova troll is back. Guess what, nova’s job growth is anemic, not much different than moco. Shiny amazon buildings don’t change that. North Arlington and Bethesda are remarkably similar, as are south Arlington and silver spring. It is even the same with respect to Costco: I know people in north Arlington who will only go to south Arlington for costco, just like the Bethesda folks with the Wheaton Costco.

That was me and I live in Rockville. And are you kidding? Tysons is full of sky-scraper-building cranes while the White Flint Crater just sits there year after year.

If you like looking at cranes, drive to Bethesda sometime. Geez, even Silver Spring has cranes everywhere. White Flint is an odd example, as it was the Lerners who basically caused that site to be a dead zone. Of course, you would know all of this if you actually lived in moco, but I doubt you do.

[Anonymous]

Go the Starbucks in Rockville Town Center any morning on the weekend.

What a decrepit cesspit. I feel so, sooooo sorry for those young folks who've gotta work there at that time and who have to deal with all of the creatures that hang out there for hours at that time. All of those poor young women who are probably 23, 5 foot nothing and 100 lbs of nothing must feel extremely uncomfortable with all of the looney bins high out of their minds from their fentanyl benders the night before. MoCo is such a nasty pit of despair. Not only is there physical trash all over junking up the place, MoCoites are pretty trashy people themelves. Only a matter of time before a small female employee at the Starbucks in RTC is attacked by a nasty junkie and the company is sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go the Starbucks in Rockville Town Center any morning on the weekend.

What a decrepit cesspit. I feel so, sooooo sorry for those young folks who've gotta work there at that time and who have to deal with all of the creatures that hang out there for hours at that time. All of those poor young women who are probably 23, 5 foot nothing and 100 lbs of nothing must feel extremely uncomfortable with all of the looney bins high out of their minds from their fentanyl benders the night before. MoCo is such a nasty pit of despair. Not only is there physical trash all over junking up the place, MoCoites are pretty trashy people themelves. Only a matter of time before a small female employee at the Starbucks in RTC is attacked by a nasty junkie and the company is sued.

You really need to live out your dream of living in a high rise apartment along leesburg pike in Tyson’s. It’s your personal utopia, so what are you waiting for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go the Starbucks in Rockville Town Center any morning on the weekend.

What a decrepit cesspit. I feel so, sooooo sorry for those young folks who've gotta work there at that time and who have to deal with all of the creatures that hang out there for hours at that time. All of those poor young women who are probably 23, 5 foot nothing and 100 lbs of nothing must feel extremely uncomfortable with all of the looney bins high out of their minds from their fentanyl benders the night before. MoCo is such a nasty pit of despair. Not only is there physical trash all over junking up the place, MoCoites are pretty trashy people themelves. Only a matter of time before a small female employee at the Starbucks in RTC is attacked by a nasty junkie and the company is sued.

You really need to live out your dream of living in a high rise apartment along leesburg pike in Tyson’s. It’s your personal utopia, so what are you waiting for?

You should worry more about the junkies all over RTC. Why do you think RTC has been a commerical disaster for going on what, the last 20 years? No one wants to patronize a junk yard filled with fentanyl addicts. MoCo is a dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go the Starbucks in Rockville Town Center any morning on the weekend.

What a decrepit cesspit. I feel so, sooooo sorry for those young folks who've gotta work there at that time and who have to deal with all of the creatures that hang out there for hours at that time. All of those poor young women who are probably 23, 5 foot nothing and 100 lbs of nothing must feel extremely uncomfortable with all of the looney bins high out of their minds from their fentanyl benders the night before. MoCo is such a nasty pit of despair. Not only is there physical trash all over junking up the place, MoCoites are pretty trashy people themelves. Only a matter of time before a small female employee at the Starbucks in RTC is attacked by a nasty junkie and the company is sued.

You really need to live out your dream of living in a high rise apartment along leesburg pike in Tyson’s. It’s your personal utopia, so what are you waiting for?

You should worry more about the junkies all over RTC. Why do you think RTC has been a commerical disaster for going on what, the last 20 years? No one wants to patronize a junk yard filled with fentanyl addicts. MoCo is a dump.

RTC is in a poor part of Rockville. Rockville itself is OK in the parts near North Bethesda but once you get that far out near Wheaton, it’s low income.

If you are comparing RTC to north Arlington or McLean, you are hopelessly clueless.