Can someone explain Thrive 2050 to potential MoCo Buyers?

[Anonymous]

We've been looking in close in CC and Bethesda for over a year, and finally see some options we like with the spring selling season loosening inventory up. We are interested in Sfh neighborhood with density at the edges, and not a lot of hassle. That's just where we are in life. I would love a non hyperbolic (though I too am feeling caught by surprise and emotional) take on what the real impact of thrive 2050 is on real estate - both the current lifestyle and house values in offer in close in MoCo? Also, is it a done deal, or will it be finessed or fought? Thank you so much, and apologies for asking you to do my homework. I just hadn't really heard of it until it popped up in the metropolitan politics forum yesterday.

[Anonymous]

Ooh! (Grabs popcorn.)

[Anonymous]

You know how when you rent an apartment, you can’t do things to it as if you owned it? Well, under zoning, you are limited to what you can do in your own property. With Thrive, you’ll be able to build duplexes etc on your own property and your neighbors won’t be able to stop you. A win for individual property rights

[Anonymous]

For context, it's already happening in Arlington, and the local government is trying to make it happen in Alexandria. I would think of it as a slow-moving urban trend that's likely to catch on in certain parts of the DMV. Therefore, it would not stop me from buying in the areas you describe. In those areas, my guess would be that only luxury housing will be built. Buy a home farther away from the existing commercial areas if you want to minimize any potential (long-term) future effects on you.

[Anonymous]

It means homes in Potomac and Trivalah on two acres will be worth a fortune in 2050. Bethesda and Rockville will be epic slums.

Look at history of Coop City in Bronx. Same concept used in 1970s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means homes in Potomac and Trivalah on two acres will be worth a fortune in 2050. Bethesda and Rockville will be epic slums.

Look at history of Coop City in Bronx. Same concept used in 1970s

OP was looking for a non-hyperbolic response.

[Anonymous]

Can someone comment on the legal.process of them putting this through and how current neighborhood codes (re setbacks, lot coverage, tree rules) would either apply or be ignored.

[Anonymous]

^^I'm thinking the above could limit development and thus OP may be able to look for areas with these features (but maybe they can just be overriden, IDK)

[Anonymous]

I wonder if moco is going to lie to the 20-something non profit workers like Arlington did. My guess is yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if moco is going to lie to the 20-something non profit workers like Arlington did. My guess is yes.

It doesn't matter. Parts of the process were cringey (and I still can't believe that delulu nonprofit worker is now on the Arlington County Board), but the reality remains that closer-in neighborhoods need more housing. Modifications to the old land use plans allow gradual change that will make more sense in future decades. Sure, I wouldn't want to be the first single family home to have a small apartment building built next door, but over time it will normalize. I think OP just wants someone who knows specifically about Thrive to weigh in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know how when you rent an apartment, you can’t do things to it as if you owned it? Well, under zoning, you are limited to what you can do in your own property. With Thrive, you’ll be able to build duplexes etc on your own property and your neighbors won’t be able to stop you. A win for individual property rights

and a greater loss for quiet, nice, neighborhoods!

[Anonymous]

Putting a 6-8 units apartment building in Kenwood neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been looking in close in CC and Bethesda for over a year, and finally see some options we like with the spring selling season loosening inventory up. We are interested in Sfh neighborhood with density at the edges, and not a lot of hassle. That's just where we are in life. I would love a non hyperbolic (though I too am feeling caught by surprise and emotional) take on what the real impact of thrive 2050 is on real estate - both the current lifestyle and house values in offer in close in MoCo? Also, is it a done deal, or will it be finessed or fought? Thank you so much, and apologies for asking you to do my homework. I just hadn't really heard of it until it popped up in the metropolitan politics forum yesterday.

Check the Montgomery County Missing Middle thread over on Metropolitan DC Local Politics. There is a link to a presentation that lays out the next steps after Thrive.

Thrive is done…it got pushed through by the later shamed MoCo planning committee who have all since resigned. However, it doesn’t do anything on its own. Now the county has to make changes through zoning text amendments. It’s not a done deal but it will be if people don’t get active in their communities and let the council know their thoughts. Elrich might be an ally here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know how when you rent an apartment, you can’t do things to it as if you owned it? Well, under zoning, you are limited to what you can do in your own property. With Thrive, you’ll be able to build duplexes etc on your own property and your neighbors won’t be able to stop you. A win for individual property rights

…and so can your neighbors. Won’t it be nice to live next to 2-6 families? Don’t worry, they are also working on legislation to remove parking requirements in upzoned areas near “transit” (the BRT, you know, the bus) so you can look forward to all of those cars in the street! Gosh, I hope that they all have dogs that bark.

So many new friends to meet and new children to attend the schools.

[Anonymous]

There is zero shortage of housing. If anything we have to much, Take my Potomac block average home has 3 people in house.

Every house my block has 6-8 bedrooms and 4-7 baths.

Ever house has a full finished basement with bath.

So how is there a shortage? The shortage exists only cause kids don’t want to live at home and/or tax codes and lack of smaller suitable retirement homes mean people live in too much home.

I have five empty bedrooms! I still use them somewhat as one kid is moving home after college and older still single and stays over 2-3 weeks a year and younger one at home. And I have a home office.

But in 10 years be me and wife paid off home kids long gone. Like my current neighbor who is 82 says my house is paid off, property taxes 13k and insurance 2k which is 16k a year or $1,333 a month. Where is he moving to? An illegal studio apt in a basement costs more.

We need to figure a way to make it worthwhile for folks in bigger houses to downsize.