Schools cause PoP to leave Petworth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

Seriously. I don't understand the bitter people on here who wants to hold Dan Silverman to staying in Petworth.

people - get a life. He moved to Petworth in his 20s, likely beacuase that's what he could afford. Then he started a blog about Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods. It doesn't take away his right to live where he wants.

We are seeing the transition of the "Hipster" -- which Prince represents -- into sameness. Relax, it happens to the best of us, of every era: the beatnik, the original hippie, punk, goth, glam, 90's raver...now we're seeing the D.C. gentrifiers wake up into their midlife crises. I'm simply glad, thank god, to recognize the beginning of the death knell of skinny jeans, skinny ties, and very much hopefully the Paul Bunyan beards. Beards can't go outta style fast enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he sold because he realized that Petworth is at the height of the market now. Cash out, plain and simple.

Correct, PoP bought in 2003 for 207k. Sold for 700k. Sitting on about a half-mil in profit.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4110-4th-St-NW-W...shington-DC-20011/485208_zpid/

You don't seriously think that 12 years of depreciation and inflation results in a true 1/2 mil in profit? If so, I have some timeshares in Fl. I'd like to sell you.

economists...

Seriously. When I say a half-mil in profit, i really meant a half-mil in his POCKET...depending on how much he may have borrowed against the house to do work on it, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

Seriously. I don't understand the bitter people on here who wants to hold Dan Silverman to staying in Petworth.

people - get a life. He moved to Petworth in his 20s, likely beacuase that's what he could afford. Then he started a blog about Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods. It doesn't take away his right to live where he wants.

No one is dumping on his actions, it's the way he portrayed himself and his hipster-self, to find out he is just like the rest of us Got it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he sold because he realized that Petworth is at the height of the market now. Cash out, plain and simple.

Correct, PoP bought in 2003 for 207k. Sold for 700k. Sitting on about a half-mil in profit.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4110-4th-St-NW-W...shington-DC-20011/485208_zpid/

You don't seriously think that 12 years of depreciation and inflation results in a true 1/2 mil in profit? If so, I have some timeshares in Fl. I'd like to sell you.

economists...

Seriously. When I say a half-mil in profit, i really meant a half-mil in his POCKET...depending on how much he may have borrowed against the house to do work on it, etc.

ok -- so ignore the fact that 2015 dollars are worth less than 2003 dollars. Ignore the cost of maintenance, upkeep and improvements. Ignore opportunity costs of money tied up in acquisition costs.

You still need to close on a property and most likely pay commission on the $700K. As a buyer there were settlement costs too. Not to mention anything else purchased has appreciated along with the original house. That's not even remotely near $1/2 mil.

so seriously, I'll fly you down and put you up for the weekend. . . all you have to do is sit through a brief marketing presentation. . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

Seriously. I don't understand the bitter people on here who wants to hold Dan Silverman to staying in Petworth.

people - get a life. He moved to Petworth in his 20s, likely beacuase that's what he could afford. Then he started a blog about Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods. It doesn't take away his right to live where he wants.

No one is dumping on his actions, it's the way he portrayed himself and his hipster-self, to find out he is just like the rest of us Got it?

How did he portray himself? By his dress? Or by simply having a blog that talked about all things DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

Seriously. I don't understand the bitter people on here who wants to hold Dan Silverman to staying in Petworth.

people - get a life. He moved to Petworth in his 20s, likely beacuase that's what he could afford. Then he started a blog about Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods. It doesn't take away his right to live where he wants.

No one is dumping on his actions, it's the way he portrayed himself and his hipster-self, to find out he is just like the rest of us Got it?

How did he portray himself? By his dress? Or by simply having a blog that talked about all things DC?

What you're asking would take to much time to deconstruct, as well as requiring a distasteful tour through the site's media and cultural referents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You'll all missing my point. As I said, you can disagree with my view that he might as well have moved to N. Arlington/Bethesda. But to delete the post? Really? Lame as fuck.

Right, and that's what we are doing, disagreeing with your view. Are we not allowed to do that?

I don't care what he chooses to delete from his own website. I do care when people spread biased and inaccurate views about my neighborhood just to prove your own hipness.

I totally care that he deletes posts that merely disagree with his opinion. For the casual reader, it gives a completely skewed sense of "the community"'s feelings and point of view.

He tries to pretend he's a "journalist," but he relies a whole hell of a lot on just posting press releases--and skewing the comments to be in line with his point of view is selling false pretenses.

I wish more people would see behind the curtain on him. But I am guessing that, despite his efforts, his move to the Van Ness area--one of the most soulless parts of the city, even for upper NW--is the beginning of the end of PoPville, even if it takes a while. (Two little kids will eventually get in the way, too.)

You clearly know nothing about the neighborhood. If by "soulless" you mean lack of trendy restaurants, OK, but there is a lot of community spirit. Just spend some time walking around and you'll run into kids, families, older people, dogs, etc. Just this week we were eating dinner on the patio of Guapo's (yes, I know you think Guapo's is horrible) and we chatted with two neighbors walking by, then ran into a family from school walking to Blue Moo, then got home and met our new neighbors who just moved in with kids. It took us an extra hour to get home just because we kept running into people we knew.

Trendy coffee shops and hipster bars is not what gives a community a "soul." It is the people who live there, and we are more concerned with hanging out and being friendly then with agonizing over the lack of new sushi joints. Meanwhile, my friend who lives in Columbia Heights and actually sends his kids to the local school barely knows anyone on his block and never interacts with schoolmates outside of school.

I'm laughing that you think I know nothing about that neighborhood.

And "Van Ness" does tend to refer to a very specific stretch of Connecticut Avenue, right by the--gasp!--Van Ness Metro station. That area has been *soulless* for 40 years now.

Well fine if that's how you want to define "Van Ness", but then your point is moot because that's not where he moved. He moved to the neighborhood with houses between the Van Ness Metro and Tenleytown metro, call it whatever you want. He doesn't live above the Giant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

And I'm just sick of people calling Van Ness the suburbs, soulless, etc instead of the reality that many nromal, not-rich people move their because they prefer a walkable neighborhood with good schools. We made a good profit on a condo we bought early in our marriage and were able to use that for a small house in Van Ness a few years ago. We spent less on our house than many people I know who live in Columbia Heights, Petworth, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

And I'm just sick of people calling Van Ness the suburbs, soulless, etc instead of the reality that many nromal, not-rich people move their because they prefer a walkable neighborhood with good schools. We made a good profit on a condo we bought early in our marriage and were able to use that for a small house in Van Ness a few years ago. We spent less on our house than many people I know who live in Columbia Heights, Petworth, etc.

very true. Large sections of Tenleytown and Friendship heights are more "urban" than any number of gentrifying EOTP neighborhoods, just whiter and wealthier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

Seriously. I don't understand the bitter people on here who wants to hold Dan Silverman to staying in Petworth.

people - get a life. He moved to Petworth in his 20s, likely beacuase that's what he could afford. Then he started a blog about Petworth and surrounding neighborhoods. It doesn't take away his right to live where he wants.

We are seeing the transition of the "Hipster" -- which Prince represents -- into sameness. Relax, it happens to the best of us, of every era: the beatnik, the original hippie, punk, goth, glam, 90's raver...now we're seeing the D.C. gentrifiers wake up into their midlife crises. I'm simply glad, thank god, to recognize the beginning of the death knell of skinny jeans, skinny ties, and very much hopefully the Paul Bunyan beards. Beards can't go outta style fast enough.

This! Also, down with the plaid shirts, Harry Potter glasses and Fedoras. Oh, let's not forget lop-sided men's haircuts with one side shaved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm just sick of people saying that "hipsters" move to Petworth because it is trendy, instead of the reality that normal people move to Petworth because it is affordable.

And I'm just sick of people calling Van Ness the suburbs, soulless, etc instead of the reality that many nromal, not-rich people move their because they prefer a walkable neighborhood with good schools. We made a good profit on a condo we bought early in our marriage and were able to use that for a small house in Van Ness a few years ago. We spent less on our house than many people I know who live in Columbia Heights, Petworth, etc.

Fine, so we are in agreement. Both neighborhoods are mischaracterized. I certainly did not move to Petworth to be hip. I moved there because it was the only place in the district I found an affordable house that needed no work done. Just like maybe you moved to Van Ness because of its walkability and access to schools and services. Both go against the ridiculous conventional wisdom that one is "hip" and one is "soulless." Also, all the hipsters are on H street No fedoras in my immediate vicinity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are seeing the transition of the "Hipster" -- which Prince represents -- into sameness. Relax, it happens to the best of us, of every era: the beatnik, the original hippie, punk, goth, glam, 90's raver...now we're seeing the D.C. gentrifiers wake up into their midlife crises. I'm simply glad, thank god, to recognize the beginning of the death knell of skinny jeans, skinny ties, and very much hopefully the Paul Bunyan beards. Beards can't go outta style fast enough.

This! Also, down with the plaid shirts, Harry Potter glasses and Fedoras. Oh, let's not forget lop-sided men's haircuts with one side shaved.

You're forgetting how the world works. For every 30-something who moves out of Petworth to get better schools and less crime for his children, there is another 20-something who moves in. Whatever appearance fad those 20-somethings adopt will be the next thing you hate. If you want to lessen the hate, you need to adjust your own attitude, and not wait for the world to adjust for you.

And FWIW, here is a picture of the PoP from 2009. I'm not a follower of the blog, but he really doesn't look anything like the ridiculous caricature you're trying to draw. In fact, he looks like a pretty normal guy who you might see living in Tenleytown or Cleveland Park.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe Petworth is "affordable" now, maybe when DS purchased.

I can't believe posters are comparing Petworth to (Upper NW-regardless of which part)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are seeing the transition of the "Hipster" -- which Prince represents -- into sameness. Relax, it happens to the best of us, of every era: the beatnik, the original hippie, punk, goth, glam, 90's raver...now we're seeing the D.C. gentrifiers wake up into their midlife crises. I'm simply glad, thank god, to recognize the beginning of the death knell of skinny jeans, skinny ties, and very much hopefully the Paul Bunyan beards. Beards can't go outta style fast enough.

This! Also, down with the plaid shirts, Harry Potter glasses and Fedoras. Oh, let's not forget lop-sided men's haircuts with one side shaved.

You're forgetting how the world works. For every 30-something who moves out of Petworth to get better schools and less crime for his children, there is another 20-something who moves in. Whatever appearance fad those 20-somethings adopt will be the next thing you hate. If you want to lessen the hate, you need to adjust your own attitude, and not wait for the world to adjust for you.

And FWIW, here is a picture of the PoP from 2009. I'm not a follower of the blog, but he really doesn't look anything like the ridiculous caricature you're trying to draw. In fact, he looks like a pretty normal guy who you might see living in Tenleytown or Cleveland Park.

You'r forgetting how the world works, love. 20 something hipsters are priced out. They can't move in behind 30 somethings, unless the property turns into a shit hole group house. Real estate is too costly.

[Anonymous]

Clearly, he has returned to his natural environment, after sowing the wild oats of his youth.