The Pandemic Hit Cities Hard And Then There's Washington, DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

I never go downtown because I don't work. But I know, for example, that most of the major law firms are soon to require their workers to return to the office full or nearly full time. The delta variant has slowed things down, to be sure, but DC is going to come back.

I don't get why so many on DCUM seem to delight on DC having problems. It's an odd psychology.

No one is delighting. That’s your odd assumption.

Look - the WSJ had a front page article about this. There has to be *some* truth to it.

Sure, some law firms are requiring lawyers to return FT. But major law firms aren’t a large % of employers in the district. Look at what government agencies and contractors require. That’s what matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post has run articles with District leaders almost begging for a return to the offices. Feds definitely aren’t ever coming back en masse and this will inform other sectors decisions. WFH is here to stay as the President has alluded to.

Based on quotes in the article, the plan from city officials is to convert hotels in downtown to residences with the goal to provide demand for retail and restaurants. But who wants to live at Metro Center?

All the people who want to be close to the River, museums and sporting events, with easy access to bike trails and other amenities.

Wake up. The developers who would transform those buildings think demand is soft so they won't do it. Retrofitting can be more expensive than building from the ground up.

Yes, it is expensive and therefore potentially cost prohibitive. But it is also Metro Center. So they are going to have to convince people to pay premium rent to live in one the most undesirable places in area? A neighborhood with no green space, no grocery stores or entertainment venues? Sounds like a dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

+1. Funny that PP even brings up her hot neighborhood and the market value of her home. It’s obvious she is in deep and unable to see the forest from the trees. Downtown is suffering and it will spread. Clients aren’t coming back to office for a long time. Conference and tourists? Same story. There is a world of hurt coming.

I'm a he, not a she, and I'm a long term thinker. It may take a longer time than some may have anticipated, but as long as DC remains the capital of the US it's not going to just dry up and blow away.

It's very clear that many of the naysayers don't live in the city. You live in the suburbs.

[Anonymous]

I’m one who moved. Our very high income family was sick of being taxed like crazy, having no school, and (most of all) being surrounded by loons who think looting is a form of free speech and that encampments of human poo/drugs are appropriate near schools.

We are enjoying our lower tax rate, and REALLY enjoying living with people who have common sense!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not surprised that DC has been hit harder than other cities.

There are many people who live in NY, LA, SF etc because they are world class cities and have a lot to offer.

Most people live in DC because of....work. Now there have been shifts in work structures that will likely result in a portion of DC office workers having a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement. I don’t see these people staying chained to DC like I might expect someone to still stay in NY or LA.

On top of that, add in the high COL, social unrest, homeless people and crime. DC is on the decline. It’s pretty easy to figure this out. Now see what happens with a government shutdown!

spoken like someone who has never lived in the district.

I lived in DC for years. I don’t think I ever met anyone who moved to DC for anything other than work. I never met anyone who moved to DC because it is such a great city. I did meet people who enjoy living in DC. But DC isnt a city like NY where recent college grads move there without having a job yet because they so badly want to live in NY.

DC is a company town that revolves around the government. Even removing 25% of the workforce will have a profound effect

You don't live here now. For whatever reason (my guess being the city was too black for your children) you left. Your bias is showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

+1. Funny that PP even brings up her hot neighborhood and the market value of her home. It’s obvious she is in deep and unable to see the forest from the trees. Downtown is suffering and it will spread. Clients aren’t coming back to office for a long time. Conference and tourists? Same story. There is a world of hurt coming.

I'm a he, not a she, and I'm a long term thinker. It may take a longer time than some may have anticipated, but as long as DC remains the capital of the US it's not going to just dry up and blow away.

It's very clear that many of the naysayers don't live in the city. You live in the suburbs.

No one is saying this. We simply are concerned about the state of downtown and think DC may be facing a downtown. We think similar to the WSJ article - that DC is more vulnerable to remote work arrangements than other cities. It’s also possible to live in DC (not the burbs) and read the WSJ article and see the writing on the wall. The problem is that DC has been doing so well for so long, that it’s now hard to step back and see that the future might not be that bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m one who moved. Our very high income family was sick of being taxed like crazy, having no school, and (most of all) being surrounded by loons who think looting is a form of free speech and that encampments of human poo/drugs are appropriate near schools.

We are enjoying our lower tax rate, and REALLY enjoying living with people who have common sense!

Thanks for confirming that most of the posters on this thread get off on the city's problems.

Oh, and I'll bey your "very high income family" makes less than mine. Otherwise you would have gone private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not surprised that DC has been hit harder than other cities.

There are many people who live in NY, LA, SF etc because they are world class cities and have a lot to offer.

Most people live in DC because of....work. Now there have been shifts in work structures that will likely result in a portion of DC office workers having a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement. I don’t see these people staying chained to DC like I might expect someone to still stay in NY or LA.

On top of that, add in the high COL, social unrest, homeless people and crime. DC is on the decline. It’s pretty easy to figure this out. Now see what happens with a government shutdown!

spoken like someone who has never lived in the district.

I lived in DC for years. I don’t think I ever met anyone who moved to DC for anything other than work. I never met anyone who moved to DC because it is such a great city. I did meet people who enjoy living in DC. But DC isnt a city like NY where recent college grads move there without having a job yet because they so badly want to live in NY.

DC is a company town that revolves around the government. Even removing 25% of the workforce will have a profound effect

You don't live here now. For whatever reason (my guess being the city was too black for your children) you left. Your bias is showing.

Haha. I know it’s hard to hear that DC doesn’t have the same appeal as NY or that the boring US government is the main employer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one who moved. Our very high income family was sick of being taxed like crazy, having no school, and (most of all) being surrounded by loons who think looting is a form of free speech and that encampments of human poo/drugs are appropriate near schools.

We are enjoying our lower tax rate, and REALLY enjoying living with people who have common sense!

Thanks for confirming that most of the posters on this thread get off on the city's problems.

Oh, and I'll bey your "very high income family" makes less than mine. Otherwise you would have gone private.

DP. Why is it so hard to understand that some people with means no longer want to live in DC, even if private would be an option? Anyone who knows anyone in DC has known countless families who have relocated permanently over the last 2 years.

I know it’s easier to chalk it up to those leaving not being as wealthy as you or not being able to afford private, but that shows how small minded you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

I never go downtown because I don't work. But I know, for example, that most of the major law firms are soon to require their workers to return to the office full or nearly full time. The delta variant has slowed things down, to be sure, but DC is going to come back.

I don't get why so many on DCUM seem to delight on DC having problems. It's an odd psychology.

No one is delighting. That’s your odd assumption.

Look - the WSJ had a front page article about this. There has to be *some* truth to it.

Sure, some law firms are requiring lawyers to return FT. But major law firms aren’t a large % of employers in the district. Look at what government agencies and contractors require. That’s what matters.

It's an opinion piece supported by a few anecdotes of people who left town, some of whom would have left anyway. DC has always been a transient city.

And I used law firms as an example. They're hardly the only employers who are requiring workers to come back -- and, yes they are a large percentage of employers. DC's downtown is full of law firms, for pete's sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not surprised that DC has been hit harder than other cities.

There are many people who live in NY, LA, SF etc because they are world class cities and have a lot to offer.

Most people live in DC because of....work. Now there have been shifts in work structures that will likely result in a portion of DC office workers having a hybrid or fully remote work arrangement. I don’t see these people staying chained to DC like I might expect someone to still stay in NY or LA.

On top of that, add in the high COL, social unrest, homeless people and crime. DC is on the decline. It’s pretty easy to figure this out. Now see what happens with a government shutdown!

Well, some of us who have lived here for generations watched people swoop in for work with little interest in the city beyond trying to mold it to meet their needs and interests. This reads like you’re getting your impressions of DC solely from Fox News.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

I never go downtown because I don't work. But I know, for example, that most of the major law firms are soon to require their workers to return to the office full or nearly full time. The delta variant has slowed things down, to be sure, but DC is going to come back.

I don't get why so many on DCUM seem to delight on DC having problems. It's an odd psychology.

So if you go downtown, you will understand what the discussion is about. It is not about your neighborhood. It is about what is happening in downtown DC primarily.

I also don't know where you are getting your information about law firms. All firms I know are moving or already have been in hybrid since the summer, allowing up to 3 days remote per week. There is no scenario within the next 2 years that commuting patterns, foot traffic, office vacancy rates, etc return to pre-pandemic levels.

The question is whether this will be enough for things to muddle through and no one really knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one who moved. Our very high income family was sick of being taxed like crazy, having no school, and (most of all) being surrounded by loons who think looting is a form of free speech and that encampments of human poo/drugs are appropriate near schools.

We are enjoying our lower tax rate, and REALLY enjoying living with people who have common sense!

Thanks for confirming that most of the posters on this thread get off on the city's problems.

Oh, and I'll bey your "very high income family" makes less than mine. Otherwise you would have gone private.

I definitely left because of people like PP. one of many reasons. DC doesnt even have that many wealthy residents. The wealthy residents are poor compared to the wealthy in LA, NY etc. I mean it’s one thing to be living in some fancy apartment in a world class city with kids in fancy prep schools. But someone from NW DC talking about their very high income? It’s laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one who moved. Our very high income family was sick of being taxed like crazy, having no school, and (most of all) being surrounded by loons who think looting is a form of free speech and that encampments of human poo/drugs are appropriate near schools.

We are enjoying our lower tax rate, and REALLY enjoying living with people who have common sense!

Thanks for confirming that most of the posters on this thread get off on the city's problems.

Oh, and I'll bey your "very high income family" makes less than mine. Otherwise you would have gone private.

DP. Why is it so hard to understand that some people with means no longer want to live in DC, even if private would be an option? Anyone who knows anyone in DC has known countless families who have relocated permanently over the last 2 years.

I know it’s easier to chalk it up to those leaving not being as wealthy as you or not being able to afford private, but that shows how small minded you are.

I live in DC and know a lot of people here. I also know a lot of people in other places who've re-located. I don't know a single family in DC who has left the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many of you actually live in DC. We live in the U Street/Logan area and it's basically like there never was a pandemic. If you need to move to Frederick because of housing prices and "social unrest," well, good luck to you. You'll be replaced soon enough by the more prosperous.

Oh, a couple days ago a realtor knocked on my door and literally begged me to sell my townhouse. If DC is dying, you sure can't tell from the real estate prices.

So many suburbanites seem to get off on DC's impending demise. It's ain't gonna happen.

I believe you that your neighborhood is doing great. People who used to go into offices and spend money downtown are now spending their money closer to home. When is the last time you went downtown?

I never go downtown because I don't work. But I know, for example, that most of the major law firms are soon to require their workers to return to the office full or nearly full time. The delta variant has slowed things down, to be sure, but DC is going to come back.

I don't get why so many on DCUM seem to delight on DC having problems. It's an odd psychology.

So if you go downtown, you will understand what the discussion is about. It is not about your neighborhood. It is about what is happening in downtown DC primarily.

I also don't know where you are getting your information about law firms. All firms I know are moving or already have been in hybrid since the summer, allowing up to 3 days remote per week. There is no scenario within the next 2 years that commuting patterns, foot traffic, office vacancy rates, etc return to pre-pandemic levels.

The question is whether this will be enough for things to muddle through and no one really knows.

This. There have been some major changes that will affect DC more than other cities. The effects are TBD.