What happened to Montgomery Village???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. I think when people complain that it’s expensive here, they mean their options are A) desirable areas they’re likely priced out of already (or where even a million dollars buys you something tiny and old; or B) the areas they can afford have some major dealbreakers (poor performing schools, crime, low quality housing, long commutes, etc.)

Sure there are still some middle class suburbs left (in Virginia City of Fairfax comes to mind). But even that is getting more and more expensive. The housing here is really disparate and when the average person is looking for something “affordable” they are usually implying somewhere safe, with good schools, and a decent commute.

-Signed someone who spent 850k into a really old home that still needs some updates so I can have the much coveted good schools, low crime, and short commute. I don’t consider 850k affordable for most families.

I notice that many people are willing to pay a million for an old house just to avoid being around diverse affordable area like PG county. To me, I find those people to be silly who prefer new suburban sprawl just to be avoid being around poorer people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive. I think when people complain that it’s expensive here, they mean their options are A) desirable areas they’re likely priced out of already (or where even a million dollars buys you something tiny and old; or B) the areas they can afford have some major dealbreakers (poor performing schools, crime, low quality housing, long commutes, etc.)

Sure there are still some middle class suburbs left (in Virginia City of Fairfax comes to mind). But even that is getting more and more expensive. The housing here is really disparate and when the average person is looking for something “affordable” they are usually implying somewhere safe, with good schools, and a decent commute.

-Signed someone who spent 850k into a really old home that still needs some updates so I can have the much coveted good schools, low crime, and short commute. I don’t consider 850k affordable for most families.

I notice that many people are willing to pay a million for an old house just to avoid being around diverse affordable area like PG county. To me, I find those people to be silly who prefer new suburban sprawl just to be avoid being around poorer people.

The issue is Pg county schools are generally NOT diverse, especially economically. The MC of PG of all races tend to go private or parochial schools.

And avoiding a school with crime and 80% reading below grade level, versus a longer commute? One is a handicap on yourself, the other is on your child, so it’s a clear choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

That’s the thing with exurbs. There is always a new community just a few minutes further away. If you are already committed to crazy commutes what’s a few more steps?

This. Well put.

Very few are commuting to the city. You think there a bunch of lawyers and lobbyists in MV.

[Anonymous]

I had some lower middle class relatives who lived there in the late 90s. When they got foreclosed on, HUD bought the place. It’s been going downhill for a long time.

[Anonymous]

Commuting from MV didn’t use to be so bad. Now that the region has grown it’s exponentially worse and there’s newer construction further out if you don’t work in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

+100 but you will note that most of the whining comes from youngish, white, transplants to the DC area. These are folks who grew up in car-dependent, economically and racially homogenous, suburbs and still have that in their minds as the accomplishment that will mean they are "adulting" correctly. When they find they cannot afford that thing in DC, they cry foul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

+100 but you will note that most of the whining comes from youngish, white, transplants to the DC area. These are folks who grew up in car-dependent, economically and racially homogenous, suburbs and still have that in their minds as the accomplishment that will mean they are "adulting" correctly. When they find they cannot afford that thing in DC, they cry foul.

We have a name for those youngish white transplants.... Washingtonians. Go back to Waldorf with your sour grapes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

Logical answer.

[Anonymous]

Bad schools are the reason for the decline. People with enough money move out once their kids are older.

We lived there for 10 years and loved everything except the schools. Great neighbors, pools, community groups, good commutes to Rockville, etc.

Kids were in private school until 8th grade. We moved rather than send them to Watkins Mill. Some areas of MV go to Gaithersburg which has an even worse reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So on one hand, we have posts about how expensive this area is, and young people with good incomes can't afford any housing anywhere.

On the other hand, we have posts about older areas that nobody wants to live in and that are attracting all sorts of low quality, low income, households. Example, much of Montgomery County.

So what is actually true? I tend to believe number 2 as the whining about how expensive this area is comes generally from unremarkable individuals who think that affordable means a large property in one of only three or four neighborhoods of their personal standard.

Logical answer.

Public schools are the issue. Crime and commute can be a nightmare.

My pediatrician was there for over 20 years. Office was broken into so many times they had to move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That wasn’t a good era for quality construction. The homes have aged badly and this has become one of the cheapest areas in the county.

I live in a single-family home in MV built in the 70's and it is solidly built. Homes in my neighborhood don't sit on the market for a long time.

There are plenty of people who have lived in MV for a long time who choose to remain here, even though the demographics of the area as a whole have changed. It's still a nice community with great recreational opportunities, convenience to shopping, outdoor recreation, and major commuter routes, and very affordable homes. Kids still play outside and walk to schools, and there is a nice sense of community here. What there is not is "lots of gang activity". However, if being around people who are from other countries makes you afraid, it is not the best place for you.

Montgomery Village Center is being reconstructed and will have new shopping, along with townhomes and apartments. There will also be a big development of single-family homes and townhomes on the old golf course; construction will begin later this year. Even though some of the long-time residents resisted the changes, many of us are excited for what the future looks like.

I'm happy for you that you still like living there......but don't delude yourself about the gang activity:
According to the data provided by police, officers are paying special attention to high-level gang activity areas in the county. In a questionnaire completed for council staff, police identified areas of Gaithersburg, Silver Spring and Germantown.

District 6 in Gaithersburg, which includes Montgomery Village, Lake Forest Mall and Cider Mill, is described as the district “most affected by gang activity.” Police identified MS-13, Hittsquad and L3 gangs as being responsible for robberies and assaults in that area.