From Washington Post - List details properties at risk of condemnation for Purple Line

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/commuting/list-details-properties-at-risk-of-condemnation-for-purple-line/2012/01/25/gIQA4BYgRQ_story.html

The actual list and map are here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/data/purple-line-land.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-the-path-of-the-purple-line/2012/01/25/gIQACKxiRQ_graphic.html

A couple of recent threads here discussed properties in the market close to Bethesda metro and the impact that the PL might, or might not, have.

The owner of a small-lot home on Lynn Drive that may be partially condemned says, “That’s not a livable situation, to have trains going by 20 to 30 feet from your house... It becomes a useless property.”

(I wonder whether future sellers of these potentially affected homes need to disclose this...)

[Anonymous]

I presume this is emminent domain territory?

what a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

It's called progress. And you'd be surprised how close people are willing to live to major transportation arteries -- look at the Beltway.

[Anonymous]

It's called progress when it crosses someone else's property. When it crosses yours, it's called a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

I live near the trail but not on it. Many of the properties in our neighborhood have very long, deep backyards, so if a relatively small slice is taken, it won't make a huge difference in terms of their quality of life. But to have the PL run 10 feet from your front doorstep as the example in the story cited seems unfathomable (not to mention unsafe.) Presumably some of the "partial" takings will become total. Are homeowners entitled to fair market value for their home, or is there some other formula? I'm a big PL fan, anything to address the traffic problem in this area, but I think homeowners shouldn't get stuck with radically altered properties that are then unsell-able.

[Anonymous]

Most of these takings will be relatively small, and the owners compensated handsomely. The construction phase will be the worst part - see what's happening with the 2nd ave subway in NYC, where business along 2nd avenue in the construction zone is dead for 10 years. But after, property values will increase substantially. The nice lady who owns a rental home in Chevy Chase will probably get $200,000 for a sliver of land and the rent she charges will go up 40%. I'm not crying a river.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of these takings will be relatively small, and the owners compensated handsomely. The construction phase will be the worst part - see what's happening with the 2nd ave subway in NYC, where business along 2nd avenue in the construction zone is dead for 10 years. But after, property values will increase substantially. The nice lady who owns a rental home in Chevy Chase will probably get $200,000 for a sliver of land and the rent she charges will go up 40%. I'm not crying a river.

If there is a PL stop nearby, right? If not (i.e. if there are just betwen zero and three PL stops between Bethesda metro and Silver Spring metro, and none close to, say, the lady in the story), why would property values increase? Simply because, for instance, this lady's tenants will be able to access transportation from Bethesda to SSpring more easily?

[Anonymous]

If the Chevy Chase Land company builds its high-density residential complexes on Connecticut Avenue it won't reduce traffic a bit. On the contrary.

[Anonymous]

Why would it increase the land value? to be 15 minutes walk to Bethesda, from where you could get a light rail to Silver Spring which would take another 10 minutes, when you can already get a bus along east west highway which takes 20 minutes, even at rush hour?

There are no winners with the purple line, only losers.