Missing middle- Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Perhaps they were looking more over in Lyon Village, which does feel like the city as opposed to homes in the Williamsburg, country club Hills, etc. neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

I bought a SFH in Arlington in 2008 because it was more urban than other nearby areas. I wanted something walkable and near transit. I actually don't know many people who moved to Arlington for "quiet." People looking for quiet and privacy tend to move further out IME.

I would love it if increased density led to better restaurants and shopping on Langston Blvd in Cherrydale. Fingers crossed.

I disagree. We bought a house on the arlington/mclean border because it’s a quiet neighborhood, tons of trees and wide roads. Nothing like Roslyn/ballston/Clarendon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

I bought a SFH in Arlington in 2008 because it was more urban than other nearby areas. I wanted something walkable and near transit. I actually don't know many people who moved to Arlington for "quiet." People looking for quiet and privacy tend to move further out IME.

I would love it if increased density led to better restaurants and shopping on Langston Blvd in Cherrydale. Fingers crossed.

I disagree. We bought a house on the arlington/mclean border because it’s a quiet neighborhood, tons of trees and wide roads. Nothing like Roslyn/ballston/Clarendon.

Couldn’t you just move over the border to McLean and be just as happy? What did you value about Arlington verses McLean when you bought?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Perhaps they were looking more over in Lyon Village, which does feel like the city as opposed to homes in the Williamsburg, country club Hills, etc. neighborhoods.

DP. I don’t see the incentives for MM housing in those neighborhoods and if you look at the map most of the MM projects are near amenities. I live in a SFH in 22207 because when we outgrew our condo in LV we couldn’t afford a SFH in that neighborhood. I would never rent here or buy a duplex or multi family housing (unless I could purchase the whole building). It’s not walkable. The rents in the R-B corridor are higher than in other parts of the county. So if I were a developer looking to build a rental that’s where it would make sense to focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Umm, OK. If someone wants a "city," there are SFHs in the "city" of DC. Arlington is a suburb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Perhaps they were looking more over in Lyon Village, which does feel like the city as opposed to homes in the Williamsburg, country club Hills, etc. neighborhoods.

DP. I don’t see the incentives for MM housing in those neighborhoods and if you look at the map most of the MM projects are near amenities. I live in a SFH in 22207 because when we outgrew our condo in LV we couldn’t afford a SFH in that neighborhood. I would never rent here or buy a duplex or multi family housing (unless I could purchase the whole building). It’s not walkable. The rents in the R-B corridor are higher than in other parts of the county. So if I were a developer looking to build a rental that’s where it would make sense to focus.

I agree with this. And to put an even finer point on it, the developers will look for land alone the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor that’s the cheapest. Which means not Lyon Village. That neighborhood is the most expensive per square foot in all of Arlington County. If the developers want to build plexes to rent out, they will target places like Virginia Square and Lyon Park where the land prices are lower. Maybe duplexes make sense in LV, but I think the building lots are too expensive for a 4-6 plex of rental units. There are other metro-accessible neighborhoods with cheaper lots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Umm, OK. If someone wants a "city," there are SFHs in the "city" of DC. Arlington is a suburb.

The densest census district in the entire DMV isn’t even in DC. It’s Ballston. Like it or not, Arlington isn’t a suburb anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

I bought a SFH in Arlington in 2008 because it was more urban than other nearby areas. I wanted something walkable and near transit. I actually don't know many people who moved to Arlington for "quiet." People looking for quiet and privacy tend to move further out IME.

I would love it if increased density led to better restaurants and shopping on Langston Blvd in Cherrydale. Fingers crossed.

I disagree. We bought a house on the arlington/mclean border because it’s a quiet neighborhood, tons of trees and wide roads. Nothing like Roslyn/ballston/Clarendon.

Couldn’t you just move over the border to McLean and be just as happy? What did you value about Arlington verses McLean when you bought?

No, many reasons why we didn’t want to be in Fairfax county, but the most important is our kids are already in the school system and multiple sports so we were not interest in shifting. We love it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Umm, OK. If someone wants a "city," there are SFHs in the "city" of DC. Arlington is a suburb.

The densest census district in the entire DMV isn’t even in DC. It’s Ballston. Like it or not, Arlington isn’t a suburb anymore.

Just because someone lives in a "city," that doesn't mean that want multiplexes next door to them. Can you imagine if this was proposed for AU Park, for example?

Like it or not, this will not help property values unless you have a teardown. If you have a $1.5 million house in North Arlington, this is bad for you -- your house is too expensive to be a teardown but if a multiplex gets build next door, your property value will decrease. Pretty telling how a PP was in favor of it but admitted to having a teardown -- those are the folks who will benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

I bought a SFH in Arlington in 2008 because it was more urban than other nearby areas. I wanted something walkable and near transit. I actually don't know many people who moved to Arlington for "quiet." People looking for quiet and privacy tend to move further out IME.

I would love it if increased density led to better restaurants and shopping on Langston Blvd in Cherrydale. Fingers crossed.

I disagree. We bought a house on the arlington/mclean border because it’s a quiet neighborhood, tons of trees and wide roads. Nothing like Roslyn/ballston/Clarendon.

Couldn’t you just move over the border to McLean and be just as happy? What did you value about Arlington verses McLean when you bought?

Couldn’t you just move over the border to DC instead of trying to make other people change and conform to your lifestyle?

[Anonymous]

So called missing middle is a hypocritical and contradictory admission from urbanists that they don’t actually want density.

If they did, they would stick with a giant high rise, but it turns out they don’t want that. They want SFHs.

They can’t afford that though, so they are demanding in their minds the next best thing, because what they want (despite claims otherwise) is unobtainable.

Then when they’re done destroying your neighborhood, turning it into a slum, they’ll leave because they were never committed to the community in the first place.

Rinse, repeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

I bought a SFH in Arlington in 2008 because it was more urban than other nearby areas. I wanted something walkable and near transit. I actually don't know many people who moved to Arlington for "quiet." People looking for quiet and privacy tend to move further out IME.

I would love it if increased density led to better restaurants and shopping on Langston Blvd in Cherrydale. Fingers crossed.

I disagree. We bought a house on the arlington/mclean border because it’s a quiet neighborhood, tons of trees and wide roads. Nothing like Roslyn/ballston/Clarendon.

Couldn’t you just move over the border to McLean and be just as happy? What did you value about Arlington verses McLean when you bought?

Couldn’t you just move over the border to DC instead of trying to make other people change and conform to your lifestyle?

I already have a house (one of the nice ones, according to some people). Yeah, we will move if we no longer like Arlington. But I’m not too worried about it.

I was more curious why someone right on the border of McLean felt they wanted Arlington over an adjacent suburb. And PP answered my question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So called missing middle is a hypocritical and contradictory admission from urbanists that they don’t actually want density.

If they did, they would stick with a giant high rise, but it turns out they don’t want that. They want SFHs.

They can’t afford that though, so they are demanding in their minds the next best thing, because what they want (despite claims otherwise) is unobtainable.

Then when they’re done destroying your neighborhood, turning it into a slum, they’ll leave because they were never committed to the community in the first place.

Rinse, repeat.

+1. This summarizes it so perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So begins the decline of Arlington. More people will choose McLean or Bethesda once they see how neighborhoods get transformed by this stupidity.

I don’t think this will happen. I think people will continue to want Arlington for their commutes, or being near amenities, etc. Many of us may go private (like our family). But Arlington is still going to be desirable.

For many people, the dream of owning a SFH is about being on a quiet, peaceful street relatively free of density, not one clogged with cars and people. If people want density, they choose a townhouse or condo. Make no mistake, many people's property values will be negatively impacted.

It's like when you're considering buying a house, but the one next door has all the hallmarks of being inhabited by a hoarder (stuff all over the lawn and backyard, poorly cared for) -- you take a pass and wait for something better to come along. No different here.

Yesterday I literally had someone tell me they chose a SFH in Arlington bc it reminded them of a “city.” The home buying demographic is changing. People are valuing different things.

Umm, OK. If someone wants a "city," there are SFHs in the "city" of DC. Arlington is a suburb.

The densest census district in the entire DMV isn’t even in DC. It’s Ballston. Like it or not, Arlington isn’t a suburb anymore.

Just because someone lives in a "city," that doesn't mean that want multiplexes next door to them. Can you imagine if this was proposed for AU Park, for example?

Like it or not, this will not help property values unless you have a teardown. If you have a $1.5 million house in North Arlington, this is bad for you -- your house is too expensive to be a teardown but if a multiplex gets build next door, your property value will decrease. Pretty telling how a PP was in favor of it but admitted to having a teardown -- those are the folks who will benefit.

I definitely hear your concern, but I still think there were decent policy reasons to make the change. And not many people were nuanced in their opposition- they want all-in asking for no change, ever.

I still think SFHs are a scarce resource in Arlington and they will get scarcer if other housing types are allowed. I just don’t see anyone losing money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So called missing middle is a hypocritical and contradictory admission from urbanists that they don’t actually want density.

If they did, they would stick with a giant high rise, but it turns out they don’t want that. They want SFHs.

They can’t afford that though, so they are demanding in their minds the next best thing, because what they want (despite claims otherwise) is unobtainable.

Then when they’re done destroying your neighborhood, turning it into a slum, they’ll leave because they were never committed to the community in the first place.

Rinse, repeat.

If you want a real answer, they are arguing for a spine along the R-B corridor instead of bullseye development around the metro stops. And Plan Langston Blvd contemplates mid- to high-rises all along the highway. I’m not a “YIMBY” but MM isn’t their only initiative. More high-rises are coming.