Best and worst - neighborhoods with significant infill housing construction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's easier to tear down and put up an energy efficient, sealed house than to fix up an old one.

It takes less labor to tear down and rebuild, so it's cheaper for the builder. It's much less efficient in terms of energy and materials. The McMansions are built in a way that barely meets code, so they'll be easy to tear down in twenty years or so, if we still have lumber left.

Right cause these stats say that about mcmansions http://www.newdimensionsinc.com/Features/MAN.pdf . You are really ignorant to believe an oldrr house has energy efficiency and the safety of new modern codes. Don't hate on new things you cant afford

[Anonymous]

My mother moved into the house she grew up in in Silicon Valley after her parents died. Her neighborhood is in the #1 school district in California, so for awhile (2004-2006) a 1BR/1BA was selling for $1.2MM.

It's a 1940s neighborhood -- no HOA. Family torn down a bungalor and rebuilt down the street. He was involved with a couple of tech companies until he retired at 39.

Their brand new house literally (and yes, I know what literally means) touches every edge of the property line. From the street, it's a featureless box. They drive into the garage and enter the home from within. There is no front door. No one knows how big the house really is, but it's on at least 1/4 acre and rises 3 stories above ground -- they also dug a huge pit when they built it, so likely at least one floor below ground.

Truly hideous. And Zillow estimates it's worth $2.9 MM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother moved into the house she grew up in in Silicon Valley after her parents died. Her neighborhood is in the #1 school district in California, so for awhile (2004-2006) a 1BR/1BA was selling for $1.2MM.

It's a 1940s neighborhood -- no HOA. Family torn down a bungalor and rebuilt down the street. He was involved with a couple of tech companies until he retired at 39.

Their brand new house literally (and yes, I know what literally means) touches every edge of the property line. From the street, it's a featureless box. They drive into the garage and enter the home from within. There is no front door. No one knows how big the house really is, but it's on at least 1/4 acre and rises 3 stories above ground -- they also dug a huge pit when they built it, so likely at least one floor below ground.

Truly hideous. And Zillow estimates it's worth $2.9 MM.

And now I am dying for you to link to the satellite view!

[Anonymous]

9:37 - how do you look up FX permits?

[Anonymous]

Not 9:37, but here you go:

http://fido.fairfaxcounty.gov/DP1/Metroplex/FairfaxCounty/permit/WIZ_SELECTPLAN.asp?WIZ_JUMPTO=WP_ADDRINPUT

[Anonymous]

I drove through Lyon Village this afternoon. I can see the attractions - you really can easily walk to the restaurants on Wilson or to the Clarendon metro for a short commute to DC, yet it's still a neighborhood of SFHs removed from the hustle and bustle. But, overall, I think if I lived there now I'd be very tempted to cash out while it's still considered a "hot" neighborhood.

You can tell it was once an intact neighborhood of 1930s and 1940s homes that were very nice, appropriately sized for the lots, and generally designed with room for one car. It seems, however, that many people who live there have two or more cars, so there are cars on both sides of many streets. Just driving through on the weekend, I had to negotiate my right of way several times with other drivers. In addition, there are many houses that both literally and figuratively loom over the houses next door. I've seen plenty of teardowns in Bethesda, McLean and Vienna, but this is the only place I've come across where I could really see neighbors consistently getting mad about what's going up next door or down the block.

It's a shame that Arlington didn't put more rigorous zoning requirements in place or find a way to designate Lyon Village as "Historic Lyon Village" or the like.

[Anonymous]

The driving thing is sort of intentional -- narrow streets calm traffic and are pedestrian friendly. Also, a lot of the cars you see belong to visitors who don't want to pay for parking.

The looming, though -- that's Arlington Specialness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It's easier to tear down and put up an energy efficient, sealed house than to fix up an old one.

It takes less labor to tear down and rebuild, so it's cheaper for the builder. It's much less efficient in terms of energy and materials. The McMansions are built in a way that barely meets code, so they'll be easy to tear down in twenty years or so, if we still have lumber left.

Right cause these stats say that about mcmansions http://www.newdimensionsinc.com/Features/MAN.pdf . You are really ignorant to believe an oldrr house has energy efficiency and the safety of new modern codes. Don't hate on new things you cant afford

Oh please. For $2500 I airsealed and insulated our house up to, if not past those specs, and most of that was paid for by pepco rebates. Plus our house is a reasonably sized 2000 or so sq ft. (including a finished basement), so it takes a lot less energy to heat/cool it than some ridiculous McMansion. If you want to have the biggest house possible, by all means go for it, but don't pretend that you are actually saving resources by doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove through Lyon Village this afternoon. I can see the attractions - you really can easily walk to the restaurants on Wilson or to the Clarendon metro for a short commute to DC, yet it's still a neighborhood of SFHs removed from the hustle and bustle. But, overall, I think if I lived there now I'd be very tempted to cash out while it's still considered a "hot" neighborhood.

You can tell it was once an intact neighborhood of 1930s and 1940s homes that were very nice, appropriately sized for the lots, and generally designed with room for one car. It seems, however, that many people who live there have two or more cars, so there are cars on both sides of many streets. Just driving through on the weekend, I had to negotiate my right of way several times with other drivers. In addition, there are many houses that both literally and figuratively loom over the houses next door. I've seen plenty of teardowns in Bethesda, McLean and Vienna, but this is the only place I've come across where I could really see neighbors consistently getting mad about what's going up next door or down the block.

It's a shame that Arlington didn't put more rigorous zoning requirements in place or find a way to designate Lyon Village as "Historic Lyon Village" or the like.

Those are the side arteries. It is designed (and works) to limit cut through traffic, high speeds. Key Blvd, highland, the main thoroughfares are spaciously wide. Plus, none of us that live here drive. Walk to stores, gym, schools and bike or public transportation. Great parks for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Those are the side arteries. It is designed (and works) to limit cut through traffic, high speeds. Key Blvd, highland, the main thoroughfares are spaciously wide. Plus, none of us that live here drive. Walk to stores, gym, schools and bike or public transportation. Great parks for the kids.

I don't think the neighborhood really works as designed any more. It certainly wasn't designed with McMansions in mind and the number of cars on the streets belies the fiction that everyone who lives there walks everywhere.

[Anonymous]

One of the strategies of New Urbanism is getting exemptions from requirements that streets be as wide as they typically are in new developments. Slowing traffic is one of that reasons.

And to repeat: The cars you see parked on the streets do not necessarily belong to the residents, but to people visiting Clarendon/Courthouse. One indication of that is the fact that the streets further from Wilson have a lot more available parking. Do you think that's because the homeowners have only one car or have managed to fit two cars into the typical single-car garage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the strategies of New Urbanism is getting exemptions from requirements that streets be as wide as they typically are in new developments. Slowing traffic is one of that reasons.

And to repeat: The cars you see parked on the streets do not necessarily belong to the residents, but to people visiting Clarendon/Courthouse. One indication of that is the fact that the streets further from Wilson have a lot more available parking. Do you think that's because the homeowners have only one car or have managed to fit two cars into the typical single-car garage?

It doesn't matter. It doesn't feel like a New Urbanist design; it feels like an area where people tried to have their cake and eat it, too, and spoiled the recipe in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It doesn't matter. It doesn't feel like a New Urbanist design; it feels like an area where people tried to have their cake and eat it, too, and spoiled the recipe in the process.

It isn't New Urbanist design, FFS, because it is an older area. The point it, the streets's narrowness is a feature, not a bug.

[Anonymous]

and the new houses seem to attract a different element, as with any neighborhood. It makes a difference when people can actually afford their house, which seems more prevalent with the new houses than with those who can barely afford it. Since you asked.

This is easily picked apart, no? In these close-in suburbs we're talking about (Arlington, Chevy Chase, and I'll throw in Ward 3 too), the people who live in the 1939 Cape Cod that is still a 1939 Cape Cod (3b2ba) and not a 6,700 sq. ft. Luxury Home By BungalowCraftsman Dreams LLC .... these homeowners are one of two things:

1. They can "afford" (your word) the 1939 Cape because it's paid off completely or has a nominal mortgage for tax reasons. Owned since 1950, 1970, 1981, etc. They own the note.

Or

2. They do have a mortgage and they can afford that because they have jobs. The sale price of the 1939 Cape (vs. a 2011 behemoth) was in line with their jobs.

North Arlington/Bethesda/Ward 3 isn't Las Vegas or Florida. I'm told Manassas and parts of PG county ARE, and that there are many people in those who "can[t] actually afford their house." In contrast, the foreclosure and condemnation rate in the mentioned neighborhoods is basically nil

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
It isn't New Urbanist design, FFS, because it is an older area. The point it, the streets's narrowness is a feature, not a bug.

The point is that, what might have remained a virtue had people left well enough alone, is a bug when people build homes that are too big for the lots and many streets have cars - whether of residents, visitors or both - parked on both sides. LV still has a great location, and that trumps other factors for some, but the bloom is off the rose.