Removal of development cap in downtown Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

They’ve been to EPCOT several times, who are you to argue?

Lol, as if you aren't making the most basic slam an American who has traveled abroad can make.

DP. How else is one to respond to the PP wanting Bethesda to be like central Paris and not like La Defense*?

That statement evinces such a fundamental misunderstanding of geography that the only response can be to laugh.

*Montgomery County could only dream that Bethesda becomes like La Defense, but developers won’t build it because businesses don’t want to locate there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

That is kind of the central question/tension. Losing the plot assumes that the city will remain a bedroom community. Very long-term, that might not be the case.

Building more and more housing does not bring more jobs. In fact, each plot of land that becomes apartments forecloses future jobs. So even putting aside the ridiculously poor transportation planning and tax/regulatory environment, every day the future of Bethesda is being written and it is being locked in as a bedroom community. In fact, there is no way to understand Planning’s vision for the future of the county other than as a bedroom community (they even had to be forced to add a chapter in Thrive about jobs). So no, it is not really a point of contention at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

Cities normally have more jobs than people. Not a lot of jobs in downtown Bethesda and Marriott is even laying people off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

DP. Make sure that the infrastructure -- schools, parks, etc. -- and funding for such are addressed in the same breath as increased densities such that there is no degradation of service levels. You then might find a higher proportion of the audience to be receptive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

DP. Make sure that the infrastructure -- schools, parks, etc. -- and funding for such are addressed in the same breath as increased densities such that there is no degradation of service levels. You then might find a higher proportion of the audience to be receptive.

I can't do that. I am not able to do that. It is not possible for me to do that.

If those are your priorities, then you should advocate for them. Just like I advocate for my priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

Again, you are tedious. You just posted a statement saying that “longtime residents” were effectively stupid. I am also sure that this attitude also inflicts whatever other advcaocy tats you are you also engaged in. Guess what? People are not going to support whatever it is that you support if you are chortling about how stupid they are. They will come to the conclusion, perhaps rightly, that if the person proposing these policies wishes them ill then perhaps the policies are bad too. A little advice, spend less time online getting all high and mighty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Build baby build.

That said, who would want to live in a mega skyrise in Bethesda of all places.

Sad to think it will look more like Rosslyn in the future.

Except there are no businesses to support the buildings. Montgomery County has done a terrible job of attracting businesses to the county

Also, what about DTSS? Why no effort to revitalize that business community?!

You can keep repeating this lie about Bethesda and SS on this board but it doesn't make it true. The office vacancy rate is about 20% in Bethesda and Silver Spring. Besides, the developers know best if the demand is there. The simple fact is that Bethesda and Silver Spring are doing well right now, as the endless construction indicates, despite all the Nova folks trying to convince people otherwise.

For context, the office vacancy rate in Arlington is an astounding 27%. Sorry that Nova is doing so terribly right now.

https://cw-gbl-gws-prod.azureedge.net/-/media/cw/marketbeat-pdfs/2024/q3/us-reports/office/northern-virginia-office-marketbeat.pdf?rev=31c54ca548cf4b3c99fdd449eaecd39c

Good point about Arlington. All of the jobs are moving to suburban office parks in Reston along the Dulles Toll Road/Silver Line. Looks like the apetite for employers to experience “urbanism” is on the wane. Which makes sense why Moco is pushing it. Moco always pushed the last fad instead of looking forward strategically to what the future market is interested in. Hence why they are pushing “missing middle” now when the fad is long dead and over.

If they were smart, and they are not, they would be pushing to add HOT lanes to the beltway and 270 and supporting town center style developments with direct freeway access.

Absolutely. What everyone really, really wants is more time in their cars, driving places. Nothing makes people happier than more time in the car. That's why everyone behind the wheel is always so smiling, relaxed, patient, and polite. And at public meetings, so many people stand up to talk about how much they enjoy their long daily car commutes. Another thing everyone loves is living near big roads. Civic associations right and left are contacting their elected officials to ask for highways to be built right through their communities.

Actually yes, that’s exactly what people want because that’s exactly what they are choosing to do. You’re pretty detached from the world around you.

They are doing that because they can't afford the housing closer in.

And the Arlington office vacancy rate isn't being driven by jobs moving to Fairfax County...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

Again, you are tedious. You just posted a statement saying that “longtime residents” were effectively stupid. I am also sure that this attitude also inflicts whatever other advcaocy tats you are you also engaged in. Guess what? People are not going to support whatever it is that you support if you are chortling about how stupid they are. They will come to the conclusion, perhaps rightly, that if the person proposing these policies wishes them ill then perhaps the policies are bad too. A little advice, spend less time online getting all high and mighty.

Nope. I didn't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

DP. Make sure that the infrastructure -- schools, parks, etc. -- and funding for such are addressed in the same breath as increased densities such that there is no degradation of service levels. You then might find a higher proportion of the audience to be receptive.

I can't do that. I am not able to do that. It is not possible for me to do that.

If those are your priorities, then you should advocate for them. Just like I advocate for my priorities.

OK. I expect the bulk of residents to maintain an opinion different from those with advocacy priorities that don't seek to ensure that levels of public services are not degraded. I don't expect that planning or the council will follow that popular sentiment, of course, as their priorities clearly are elsewhere, rather than in line with interests of current residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do actually want to turn Bethesda into Paris and raze all detached SFH. the fact that there are detached SFH so close to DC and density starts just by pike and Rose is criminal urban planning. Just purely captured by the rich

You apparently don't understand a lot of things. First that Bethesda is not a central city. And second, the density in the outskirts of Paris has lots of detached SFHs.

Like you have literally no idea what you’re talking about.

We're talking about the parts of Paris close to the center that are moderately tall...
Haussman scale. Six stories.

Not the distant Shady Grove type parts of Paris or La Defense.

The part that everyone likes and wants to visit.

You seem confused about geography. La Defense is the Rosslyn/Tysons of Paris. Everything that right outside the Periph, including Neuilly, Saint-Denis, etc are about the same distance from central Paris as downtown Bethesda is to the Capitol building. It is not hard to just go to Google Maps and look at these places. What you will see is basically the same built environment as Bethesda, Silver Spring, etc. Lots of park apartments with big parking lots near transit and lots of attached and detached SFHs with yards.

It disturbs me that the whole planning/urbanist push is based on false understandings of places you are trying to emulate.

PP. I'm not confused about geography. What I am saying is that I would prefer Bethesda to look like central Paris or low-skyline center cities and not sk*scraper clusters. It doesn't matter how dense the analogous 15 miles from central Paris neighborhoods are. I don't have my own math on what the density should be, just a hope for what it could look like. Wealthy areas can suboptimize density for aesthetics. Clearly that is a choice. So I don't think I have false understandings. Just preferences.

I am not a city planner or an urbanist. I am a consumer of residential space with experience living in 14 story apartments, townhouses, and 3-5 bedroom SFH's talking about what kind of town looks good and has a nice vibe vs. a jumble of tall ugly mirrorred glass buildings. I'm not even anti-sk*scraper or tall building. I previously said I lived in a tall building at Grosvenor and it was nice looking, convenient to Metro, and had attractive green space.

Whoever you are, you've gone way too deep into critiquing my Paris analogies and complaining about planning terminology. So what are your ideas and analogies for a better-looking, better-functioning Bethesda?

I literally can't even afford to own a house there but I once wanted to so badly that I shaped my life choices around that dream. That's the reason I even bother with this thread. You lucky people who can afford to live there are botching the job as planners, businesspeople, and citizens. Things shouldn't get worse over 30 years in a wealthy area!

How hard is it to understand that Bethesda should not have the density of a central city because it is not a central city?

Bethesda is a central city. It's not THE central city, but it is A central city in a polycentric urban area.

You have lost the plot. Bethesda is an urbanized bedroom community.

An "urbanized bedroom community" is a city.

I know there are longtime residents of Montgomery County who are unable to understand that Bethesda is now a city, but in reality, it's not 1974 anymore, or even 1994. It's 2024, and Bethesda is a city.

You are making up foes who you think are you are fighting against. Your foe is Planning. Everyone in Bethesda would love more jobs downtown, because the school overcrowding issues are driving parents insane.

My foes, such as I have foes rather than people I disagree with, are people who think that there shouldn't be more tall buildings in Bethesda. Oh, and also people who think there isn't enough parking in Bethesda.

Oh god you are tedious. You literally just imagined that “longtime residents” were stupid and did not understand the world like you did. Is it a wonder why people oppose your preferred policies when you talk about them like that?

There certainly are people who disagree with the positions I have, but it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

There are also people who agree with the positions I have, but here also, it's not because of stuff I post anonymously on DCUM. Or even because of stuff I say non-anonymously in real life. I promise.

DP. Make sure that the infrastructure -- schools, parks, etc. -- and funding for such are addressed in the same breath as increased densities such that there is no degradation of service levels. You then might find a higher proportion of the audience to be receptive.

I can't do that. I am not able to do that. It is not possible for me to do that.

If those are your priorities, then you should advocate for them. Just like I advocate for my priorities.

OK. I expect the bulk of residents to maintain an opinion different from those with advocacy priorities that don't seek to ensure that levels of public services are not degraded. I don't expect that planning or the council will follow that popular sentiment, of course, as their priorities clearly are elsewhere, rather than in line with interests of current residents.

I think you consistently underestimate popular sentiment in favor of housing.