What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand Op’s question either. My dd hopes to get a job in DC after college. I don’t know if she will settle there forever (we no longer live in the area) but she wants to live there for a few years and potentially go to grad school there after working for awhile. I do not think she is unique.

[Anonymous]

Most young people want to live in DC so question should be edited by replacing appealing with pleasing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For various reasons I was in DC for the better part of the day and then into pretty late at night on two separate occasions. It is alive and full of people dining, dancing, drinking, attending cultural functions, etc. A huge percentage we’re likely young professionals as far as I could tell. Minus lunch time in the classic office only areas it was thriving. I would never know it by reading this board. I had a great time. It was VERY different from the suburbs and I live in a close-in suburb — skewed pretty young.

Welcome! Lots of fun places in DC - Wharf, Union Market, Navy Yard …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lower taxes. Less crime. Better public transport. More green space.

The first two are not relevant for young professionals. The last two might be.

Umm, yes, they are. Young professionals enjoy not being mugged at gunpoint.

[Anonymous]

Less crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lower taxes. Less crime. Better public transport. More green space.

Better public transit? Compared to what city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lower taxes. Less crime. Better public transport. More green space.

Better public transit? Compared to what city?

Boston and NYC for starters

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

DC is not a young person's city, certainly not in the way that other cities are.

Not much you can do to change that.

Why its not? Lots of young people dream of working and living on the Hill.

DC does not offer what other cities offer. Compared to other cities, DC is not that walkable, and DC is not at the top of young people's lists of where to locate after college.

Working on the Hill is not that impressive to everybody - it only appeals to a certain personality. That type of personality is not appealing to most people.

For example, OP - you are acting like DC is the be all and end all and why WOULDN'T young people want to be here?? That is exactly what turns people off, especially young people who have choices.

Sure, if you live in Chevy Chase DC by Rock Creek Park, it isn't very walkable. But then again, not many young people are living there. Where young people live - H Street, SW, Navy Yard, Shaw, NoMA (Eckington) and Ivy City, it is very walkable.

The fact that you don't consider DC to be walkable mean either you live somewhere in the burbs, or simply are not familiar with the neighborhoods young people are migrating to.

+1. If DC isn't walkable, what is walkable?

OP must be referring to LA, Dallas, or Houston, all of which are known to be walkable cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

DC is not a young person's city, certainly not in the way that other cities are.

Not much you can do to change that.

Why its not? Lots of young people dream of working and living on the Hill.

DC does not offer what other cities offer. Compared to other cities, DC is not that walkable, and DC is not at the top of young people's lists of where to locate after college.

Working on the Hill is not that impressive to everybody - it only appeals to a certain personality. That type of personality is not appealing to most people.

For example, OP - you are acting like DC is the be all and end all and why WOULDN'T young people want to be here?? That is exactly what turns people off, especially young people who have choices.

Sure, if you live in Chevy Chase DC by Rock Creek Park, it isn't very walkable. But then again, not many young people are living there. Where young people live - H Street, SW, Navy Yard, Shaw, NoMA (Eckington) and Ivy City, it is very walkable.

The fact that you don't consider DC to be walkable mean either you live somewhere in the burbs, or simply are not familiar with the neighborhoods young people are migrating to.

+1. If DC isn't walkable, what is walkable?

OP must be referring to LA, Dallas, or Houston, all of which are known to be walkable cities.

DC is a whole lot more walkable compared to all three of those.

[Anonymous]

Safety

[Anonymous]

This whole thread is just boomers who assume that because they haven't set foot east of the park since 1968 nobody else has either, and think "St. Elmo's Fire" is still an accurate depiction of young professional nightlife in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of young people have been moving here after graduation for the past decade. I think it’s a pretty decent place to live but realistically more affordable housing and a larger 24/7 metro would make things more appealing. Also better nightlife and restaurants. I think DC has peaked in appeal though

The past decade? More like the past century. As long as it is the center of power that is not going to change. For kids just out of college the nightlife and restaurants are amazing and fun. Not sure what you guys are talking about.

This is not universally true and really depends on the administration and bigger macroeconomic trends. DC didn’t even register as potentially “cool” for young professionals until the Clinton administration and there were down years during the W administration. Made a comeback with Obama and remarkably stayed popular during Trump and now it’s tending down again.

[Anonymous]

Isn't DC more appealing to young professionals than families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of young people have been moving here after graduation for the past decade. I think it’s a pretty decent place to live but realistically more affordable housing and a larger 24/7 metro would make things more appealing. Also better nightlife and restaurants. I think DC has peaked in appeal though

The past decade? More like the past century. As long as it is the center of power that is not going to change. For kids just out of college the nightlife and restaurants are amazing and fun. Not sure what you guys are talking about.

This is not universally true and really depends on the administration and bigger macroeconomic trends. DC didn’t even register as potentially “cool” for young professionals until the Clinton administration and there were down years during the W administration. Made a comeback with Obama and remarkably stayed popular during Trump and now it’s tending down again.

It's been trending down for 10 years.

Some of it is demographics. There aren't as many Gen Zs as Millennials

[Anonymous]

Ban cars
Cut crime