Missing middle- Arlington

[Anonymous]

The 6-plex on Utah is going in on a very narrow street that often backs up with the turn onto Washington Blvd. I'm very surprised the lot is big enough for a 6-plex. I could see a duplex or --maybe--a triplex. But a 6plex is really a small apartment building, now to be situated amongst SFHs. It's a small Cherrydale-sized lot on a small narrow street with narrow sidewalks. Not the place you'd expect to find a big multi-family building. Turning into the unit's parking, turning onto Utah from Washington and vice versa, and utilizing street parking will be issues. Six units likely brings 10-12 cars since the unit isn't walkable to a grocery store. That's a lot for that already crowded street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

Yet I’m sure every single one of them voted for the democratic Board who were all totally upfront when campaigning that increasing the housing supply was a priority. This shouldn’t have been a shock or anyone actually read the platforms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

You are an owner?

Can you explain why you’d prefer this? Seems that you’ve had a huge growth in property value over time…and now you’d prefer that someone build a six plex next door, with the accompanying cars, children, and dogs? And all without required off street parking?

I find this hard to believe unless you are just a masochist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

You are an owner?

Can you explain why you’d prefer this? Seems that you’ve had a huge growth in property value over time…and now you’d prefer that someone build a six plex next door, with the accompanying cars, children, and dogs? And all without required off street parking?

I find this hard to believe unless you are just a masochist.

Considering PP obviously has no idea of lot coverage maximums (40-50% is hardly "the entirety"), I doubt it's an actual homeowner in 22207. The rest of the post doesn't even make logical sense.

Agree with others that the voter base got played, hard. Rentals was never the stated objective (even after all the goalpost shifting, but here it comes again, just watch).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

You are an owner?

Can you explain why you’d prefer this? Seems that you’ve had a huge growth in property value over time…and now you’d prefer that someone build a six plex next door, with the accompanying cars, children, and dogs? And all without required off street parking?

I find this hard to believe unless you are just a masochist.

DP, but also a homeowner in 22207. I'm a supporter of MM. All the old houses in my neighborhood were already being torn down and replaced with mcmansions, so having big buildings taking up lots won't be any change. My property values are not going to decline any time soon. And if they do, so be it. I have young adult children who are going to need to live somewhere.

Plus my block already has two older 4-plexes on it. And it's fine. Most of the residents are young people without children or dogs. But I dont care if they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

You are an owner?

Can you explain why you’d prefer this? Seems that you’ve had a huge growth in property value over time…and now you’d prefer that someone build a six plex next door, with the accompanying cars, children, and dogs? And all without required off street parking?

I find this hard to believe unless you are just a masochist.

Unless she’s one of the small homeowners with a wildlife/nature Conservatory sign in the front yard I don’t get this either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

I disagree. I'm in 22207, and I'd rather have missing middle than the status quo. If we could go back to a time where people weren't allowed to build 3 story houses on basically the entirety of their lots, that's what I want. But we can't go back. Infrastructure is a concern, sure, but as it is, I'm fairly certain that many homeowners skirt the requirement to upgrade pipes if they have a certain number of toilets. I don't know for sure, I'm only surmising based on the absence of dug up front yards when building an addition.

You are an owner?

Can you explain why you’d prefer this? Seems that you’ve had a huge growth in property value over time…and now you’d prefer that someone build a six plex next door, with the accompanying cars, children, and dogs? And all without required off street parking?

I find this hard to believe unless you are just a masochist.

DP, but also a homeowner in 22207. I'm a supporter of MM. All the old houses in my neighborhood were already being torn down and replaced with mcmansions, so having big buildings taking up lots won't be any change. My property values are not going to decline any time soon. And if they do, so be it. I have young adult children who are going to need to live somewhere.

Plus my block already has two older 4-plexes on it. And it's fine. Most of the residents are young people without children or dogs. But I dont care if they do.

Why should your young adult children deserve to live in an area when they haven’t worked hard enough to earn it yet? That mentality makes absolutely no sense. They’re entitled to an area because their parents are there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

Yet I’m sure every single one of them voted for the democratic Board who were all totally upfront when campaigning that increasing the housing supply was a priority. This shouldn’t have been a shock or anyone actually read the platforms.

Well, yes, that I can agree with. But I was too concerned about what’s going on at the schools, human rights, etc.

[Anonymous]

I’m in 22207 and don’t care about this. All the 1960s homes that go on the market are bought by developers, torn down, and replaced with $2m McMansions that cover the whole lot. Replacing those with townhomes isn’t going to ruin the neighborhood.

The council could have rezoned for five-story apartment buildings, eliminated parking requirements, and forced developers to include subsidized units. I’m grateful they did none of that. This is a fairly moderate solution all things considered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure I’ll regret asking, but I was a little surprised to see all the 4 and 6 plexes in the Arl Now article. I expected duplexes and 3 unit townhomes to dominate.

Anyone have the scoop on these plexes? Are they all 1 bedrooms and mostly going to be rentals? I’m curious.

Why would you expect anything different?

All SFH are now buildable lots.

Maximizing profits (or penalty for the opportunity cost) you use your allotment.

Moreover because this is all custom, high cost, there aren’t many people who can afford a SFH rent or own, so singles it goes to bring down the unit price.

Then consider that the homes prioritized for this development are at the bottom of the market (entry level homes) which raises the barrier to entry and creates pressure on the remaining market.

Everything about this scam works against affordability and homeownership.

+1
Arlingtonians got played.

Nope, their progressiveness just caught up with them and their ballots. They think they want this, they voted for this under the guise of affordable housing and now it's in their own front yards. It's kinda laughable to watch the heads explode.

The majority of our 22207/22213 neighborhoods (most of which are liberal) did not want this.

Yet I’m sure every single one of them voted for the democratic Board who were all totally upfront when campaigning that increasing the housing supply was a priority. This shouldn’t have been a shock or anyone actually read the platforms.

Well, yes, that I can agree with. But I was too concerned about what’s going on at the schools, human rights, etc.

And that’s a fair choice. But people got exactly what they voted for. The candidates were honest about their platforms, even if all the details weren’t yet hashed out.

[Anonymous]

So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.