What’s the most horribly planned community in the dc area?

[Anonymous]

Kentlands, Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

Cheverly, and it's not close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hyattsville on the University Park side. No planning. No sidewalks but tons of pedestrians. They clearly gave no thought as to how it would work. Now with the never-ending Purple line construction, it's even worse.

Does the purple line even go there?

I mean to say University Blvd side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Columbia, Md

What’s bad about it?

Also wondering. It seems to have been well planned and has a lot of walking trails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kentlands, Gaithersburg.

Multiple awards for smart design.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure most of these are not planned communities. "A planned community is a residential area that is developed with a specific plan in mind, encompassing not just the layout of homes but also the design of streets, infrastructure, and shared amenities." Reston is a planned community. Brambleton in Loudon County is another one. https://brambleton.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kentlands, Gaithersburg.

We all know that is patently false.

[Anonymous]

Columbia heights

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's Georgetown, or rather how they have NOT planned getting in and out of there.
Key bridge dump at bottom of M street gives me nightmares. That weird exit off key bridge to whitehurst that is like a side highway sidearm is super creepy. A beautiful riverfront area that's now in the shadow of the creepy freeway. I've said creepy a few times, so that's how I feel. Not sure why. I never go there anymore.

A lot of preservationists disagree and want to keep the historic Whitehurst Freeway. Even if it becomes a high line like park in the future. They like the remaining industrial vibes of the area under the freeway. It has a film noir feel. That’s why that memorable scene in True Lies was filmed there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kentlands, Gaithersburg.

We all know that is patently false.

Not PP but while it’s not badly planned I do find it a bit overrated.

[Anonymous]

Planned communities in the DMV include Reston, Columbia, King Farm, Kentlands, Brambleton, Dundalk (Baltimore), Hilton Village (Newport News), Greenbelt, McLean Gardens, Naylor Gardens, Buckingham, Colonial Village, Fairlington, Edmonson Village (Baltimore), Carlyle (Alexandria), Cameron Station.

Of those, I’d rank Brambleton and King Farm near the bottom. Genetic suburbia for the most part. Reston has appealing mid century modern architecture, Lake Anne (which feels like 1960s Europe), and the town center. So Reston is near the top. I’d rank McLean Gardens and Naylor Gardens near the top as well. Both beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about all the "new destinations" to live and shop:
Park Potomac
Pike and Rose

I am sure there are others, but for those who don't live there, parking is a nightmare. I avoid these locations

Pike & Rose is actually really nice. Have met friends there on many occasions, and the variety of restaurants and shopping is great. I always avoid the garage and park on the surface lot near the Chipotle. Usually can find a spot instantly, but one time it took a few minutes of waiting. I don't love having to pay, but the rates were really reasonable (I think maybe $2 per hour.)

Park Potomac is nice also, though not nearly as expansive. Never had an issue quickly finding free parking there.

[Anonymous]

I lived in DC like 90% of my life and moved to the burbs about 10 years ago. I really don't understand why MoCo doesn't have more sidewalks? There are stretches in Gaithersburg where its a major road and the sidewalks end at some point. 108 is like this. Once you get past the OGBC park, the sidewalks pretty much end on that main road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's Georgetown, or rather how they have NOT planned getting in and out of there.
Key bridge dump at bottom of M street gives me nightmares. That weird exit off key bridge to whitehurst that is like a side highway sidearm is super creepy. A beautiful riverfront area that's now in the shadow of the creepy freeway. I've said creepy a few times, so that's how I feel. Not sure why. I never go there anymore.

A lot of preservationists disagree and want to keep the historic Whitehurst Freeway. Even if it becomes a high line like park in the future. They like the remaining industrial vibes of the area under the freeway. It has a film noir feel. That’s why that memorable scene in True Lies was filmed there.

I never understood the Whitehurst Freeway hate. People act like it was built on top of a park or a bustling pedestrian promenade instead of directly on top of another road with virtually the exact same dimensions. If you removed it you'd just have another ugly road and M street would take 3 times as long to traverse since you took away its main bypass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty much the entirety of the DMV postwar suburbs.

This. DC proper is, while not the best designed city ever, compact and has individual neighborhoods with a lot of accessibility (unless you want to go upper NW and I have no doubt the folks who live there want to keep it that way). There are certainly annoying flaws in the design but due to structural racism and car money no American city really escapes at least one terrible car centric area.

But the suburbs of DC and Baltimore are terribly designed. It's either brand new drive to and walk around outdoor malls like Pike & Rose or stroad upon stroad or a series of disconnected planned communities you drive to to go visit friends or grocery shop or even visit a park. Having grown up in a major metropolitan suburb the absence of robust but not sprawling uptown areas is a real missing point for DC suburbs. Walking anywhere in most places unless you have gobs of money is simply not realistic and it breeds a lot less community.