Missing middle- Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in SA and have a SFM next to a 2 apartment home. It was modified into apartments. They have a driveway. It’s fine. There are already duplexes and 6 pkexes around town except for North NA. I support building them there.

I live in a neighborhood with a lot of missing middle style housing. The difference between what we have and what is being proposed is parking and lot coverage. The old stuff has adequate parking and setbacks, the new stuff does not. Also, there’s the issue of continuing to add housing without also adding infrastructure, schools, and recreation space but that’s bigger than just missing middle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in SA and have a SFM next to a 2 apartment home. It was modified into apartments. They have a driveway. It’s fine. There are already duplexes and 6 pkexes around town except for North NA. I support building them there.

I live in a neighborhood with a lot of missing middle style housing. The difference between what we have and what is being proposed is parking and lot coverage. The old stuff has adequate parking and setbacks, the new stuff does not. Also, there’s the issue of continuing to add housing without also adding infrastructure, schools, and recreation space but that’s bigger than just missing middle.

This exactly, also live in a neighborhood with lots of missing middle housing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

A neighbor and I went to one of their meetings just to see what was going to happen to our neighborhood. First, they are all white. Their diversity is one trans woman. They are the most sanctimonious people I have met since college. They reminded me of the poly sci majors who embraced every ultra liberal cause and berated me for going to class rather than to rallies. I told DH that we are moving as soon as our kids finish our local Catholic schools. I don't mind paying taxes for public education and not using it, but I am not supporting their ridiculous policies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

A neighbor and I went to one of their meetings just to see what was going to happen to our neighborhood. First, they are all white. Their diversity is one trans woman. They are the most sanctimonious people I have met since college. They reminded me of the poly sci majors who embraced every ultra liberal cause and berated me for going to class rather than to rallies. I told DH that we are moving as soon as our kids finish our local Catholic schools. I don't mind paying taxes for public education and not using it, but I am not supporting their ridiculous policies.

They are super annoying and wrong on most points, but this was happening with or without the theater of the housing advocates. This was something that I personally believe was driven behind the scenes by developers. What a waste of time for everyone involved, no matter what side you were on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

A neighbor and I went to one of their meetings just to see what was going to happen to our neighborhood. First, they are all white. Their diversity is one trans woman. They are the most sanctimonious people I have met since college. They reminded me of the poly sci majors who embraced every ultra liberal cause and berated me for going to class rather than to rallies. I told DH that we are moving as soon as our kids finish our local Catholic schools. I don't mind paying taxes for public education and not using it, but I am not supporting their ridiculous policies.

They are super annoying and wrong on most points, but this was happening with or without the theater of the housing advocates. This was something that I personally believe was driven behind the scenes by developers. What a waste of time for everyone involved, no matter what side you were on.

+1 these people think they are in charge but they’re just the pawns of the developers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe people fought a duplex. https://www.arlnow.com/2023/09/06/some-neighbors-fought-a-duplex-and-won-as-county-approves-more-missing-middle-homes/

I live in an adjoining neighborhood and would welcome a 4-flat or a duplex in my neighborhood. After college I lived in a neighborhood with a mix of SFH, duplexes, and 4-6 flat building with parking in the rear. It had a similar density to central Arlington, plenty of mature trees, and was walking distance to a Westover-like small shopping area. It was a great, vibrant neighborhood with renters and owners, young adults and families.

Here’s a map pin to my old neighborhood for street view purposes
https://maps.app.goo.gl/igs4y8CLKLnNEyxf9?g_st=ic

Nice to see restrictive covenants once again keeping out undesirables. The residents' hood wearing grandparents would be proud

Are you referring to Eleanor Roosevelt who came to the neighborhood to personally hand the keys to the first homeowner who used an FHA loan to buy a house? The neighborhood then had a racial covenant, a building restriction covenant, and FHA had a redlining program. Or are you talking about those fine white New Dealers who built the concrete block wall between Halls Hill and the Waycroft/Woodlawn neighborhood to keep out the Halls Hill blacks. The new fine white residents of Waycroft/Woodlawn won't tear down the wall because of its "historic" significance. Maybe they will do it as soon as Halls Hills is completely gentrified by Missing Middle housing.

Look no further than the all white members of the liberal YIMBY group who want Missing Middle housing so that their children can go to the white schools in North Arlington rather than the diverse schools in North Arlington and South Arlington. As with everything liberals do, it has a negative effect on the people it is supposed to help. Missing Middle housing will benefit affluent whites who want a townhouse in the Discovery school district rather than the Long Branch district.

The local YIMBY groups are completely disingenuous. They mostly want what’s in “your” backyard, anyway.

I’ve followed a couple of the groups online and their complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand is shocking.

A neighbor and I went to one of their meetings just to see what was going to happen to our neighborhood. First, they are all white. Their diversity is one trans woman. They are the most sanctimonious people I have met since college. They reminded me of the poly sci majors who embraced every ultra liberal cause and berated me for going to class rather than to rallies. I told DH that we are moving as soon as our kids finish our local Catholic schools. I don't mind paying taxes for public education and not using it, but I am not supporting their ridiculous policies.

They are super annoying and wrong on most points, but this was happening with or without the theater of the housing advocates. This was something that I personally believe was driven behind the scenes by developers. What a waste of time for everyone involved, no matter what side you were on.

+1 these people think they are in charge but they’re just the pawns of the developers.

Yep. I sell houses for a developer who planned to build two houses in two nice neighborhoods and is now building plexes on both sites. The neighbors are going nuts and the civic associations want to tell him what to do with the plans. He has politely told them that he is simply implementing the policies approved by Arlington County. The YIMBYs were used by developers to get what they couldn't not get on their own.

[Anonymous]

I would be more sympathetic to the NIMBYs if they knew the difference between a builder and a developer, but at least in my neighborhood, they don't. And they have the signs to prove it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be more sympathetic to the NIMBYs if they knew the difference between a builder and a developer, but at least in my neighborhood, they don't. And they have the signs to prove it.

I guarantee you that your county board members couldn’t explain the difference between those 2 terms, so what’s your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be more sympathetic to the NIMBYs if they knew the difference between a builder and a developer, but at least in my neighborhood, they don't. And they have the signs to prove it.

Granny flats are grand!

[Anonymous]

Lawsuit survived motion to dismiss:

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/10/19/new-missing-middle-lawsuit-allowed-to-move-forward/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuit survived motion to dismiss:

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/10/19/new-missing-middle-lawsuit-allowed-to-move-forward/

Arlington County tax payers will have to spend more money defending a lawsuit that they knew was coming. Had they handled the situation with a referendum asking for approval of Missing Middle housing (yes, it can be done under Virginia law) rather than having the County Board approve it, the issue would be done and dusted. Now, this will drag out for eons and builders will take the lots and build McMansions rather than plexes. A big cost to Arlington and nothing from it.

[Anonymous]

My neighbor hood in 1970s some developer fought to make it two family zoning. He got approval on one house. The next door neighbor a tough Italian man fought him tooth and nail for years. Finally Italian man goes look just pay me $20k cash I will drop lawsuits you can build one time I want it in writing h you build the one two family home and no more.

Builders gets It built gets CO and Italian goes to favorite Italian Restaurant in Times Square asks for window seat invites a bunch of people and somehow house next door burns to ground.

Got to light then up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lawsuit survived motion to dismiss:

https://www.arlnow.com/2023/10/19/new-missing-middle-lawsuit-allowed-to-move-forward/

Can the builders with permits for missing middle housing move forward?

[Anonymous]

Is a copy of Judge Schell's order available anywhere online?

[Anonymous]

Beaconcrest has some missing middle units on their website

https://beaconcresthomes.com/available-homes/index.php?id=VA&property_type=Townhomes