DC housing priorities and the dearth of 'family housing'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

I agree with you and that's why I said "most" - I was thinking more of the JKLM cohort. I think you would agree that areas of DC that people consider integral to the fabulous urban core *generally* do not have covetable schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

I agree with you and that's why I said "most" - I was thinking more of the JKLM cohort. I think you would agree that areas of DC that people consider integral to the fabulous urban core *generally* do not have covetable schools.

JKLM cohort here. my kids go to Murch, I bike to work donwtown, walk to transportation, stores, playgrounds, library, movie theaters. if I need mik, I just walk one block to buy it. we are a family of 4 and have only 1 car (bought because DH works in MOCO not close to metro). other people we know are in the same situation. a classmate of my oldest kid has a two working parents and no car at all. we could have bought in MOCO but did not like the suburban lifestyle. there are areas of upper NW that are far from transportation and stores and are more suburban, but this is not the rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

I agree with you and that's why I said "most" - I was thinking more of the JKLM cohort. I think you would agree that areas of DC that people consider integral to the fabulous urban core *generally* do not have covetable schools.

JKLM cohort here. my kids go to Murch, I bike to work donwtown, walk to transportation, stores, playgrounds, library, movie theaters. if I need mik, I just walk one block to buy it. we are a family of 4 and have only 1 car (bought because DH works in MOCO not close to metro). other people we know are in the same situation. a classmate of my oldest kid has a two working parents and no car at all. we could have bought in MOCO but did not like the suburban lifestyle. there are areas of upper NW that are far from transportation and stores and are more suburban, but this is not the rule.

The thing is, I think that we have different concepts of what constitutes an urban core experience. When I think of an urban environment, I picture Dupont, Chinatown, Cap Hill, maybe Logan Circle, where you have the density of everything, not just the essentials you mentioned. I too can walk to metro, bus stop, library, two stores, four playgrounds and two coffee shops, but I live in Falls Church near Tyson's Corner and would never call my environment anything urban. I just think that an urban environment, in my mind, should offer more density than that.

[Anonymous]

Jesus Christ op, entitled much? It is astonishing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

I agree with you and that's why I said "most" - I was thinking more of the JKLM cohort. I think you would agree that areas of DC that people consider integral to the fabulous urban core *generally* do not have covetable schools.

JKLM cohort here. my kids go to Murch, I bike to work donwtown, walk to transportation, stores, playgrounds, library, movie theaters. if I need mik, I just walk one block to buy it. we are a family of 4 and have only 1 car (bought because DH works in MOCO not close to metro). other people we know are in the same situation. a classmate of my oldest kid has a two working parents and no car at all. we could have bought in MOCO but did not like the suburban lifestyle. there are areas of upper NW that are far from transportation and stores and are more suburban, but this is not the rule.

VEry same lifestyle as a lot of close-in neighborhoods. 3 out of my 4 mieighbors bike to work. I don't use a car at all. We have the same amenities within blocks. We are in VA--just 1 mile to the border.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

Those are not very good schools, maybe they will improve later.

[Anonymous]

Tommy Wells seems interested in keeping families in the district. I'm not a supporter but intrigued by some of his ideas about retaining the 33- 45 year old family set in the city.

In 10 years , what will happen when all of the Millenials will want to have kids too? Will all of these microunits be converted into 2 bedrooms by combining 3 of them? I doubt it because of they way they are designed right now, it would be a tough retrofit. Or maybe it will fuel another building boom since it will require tear downs for a new type of housing.

Essentially, all U.S. cities, not just DC have to stop chasing the "quick" money of entertainment districts that center around just bars and restaurants. Look at the mess that is Adams Morgan. Million dollar condos/ homes but bar fights and stabbings at least once a month and no decent neighborhood restaurants that have plates that cost less than $10.00 or good quality food (except Amsterdam falafel). I fear that H street is going to end up like that.

Crazy mayor aside and real estate bubble aside, Toronto is a city of 3 million, extremely multicultural and diverse socio- economically, and they have GREAT schools in the city. We could do the same thing here.

It would be great if we started making more economic and social investments in our schools, community centers, spiritual centers and arts organizations. Those are the things that make a city, a city- the cultural fabric, not just the commercial enterprises.

We are excited to be raising a family in DC when it is a city developing its own character outside of the federal persona. There is a deep responsibility in that and it will require a lot of work, struggle and hard conversations on a community-level.

We are not in politics or fed workers or have any great wealth (in fact, we have negative financial net worth since we have student loans and do not own a home yet). But we think our lives are not defined by our balance sheets. We like urban living and want to see DC become a great, affordable place for singles, families and the elderly to live in.

I feel like there are a lot of people in this forum who would be interested in talking about those ideas in a "real", not snarky way and maybe putting some of the ideas into action. If so, email me at [e-mail] and maybe we can start an alternative forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP you are one of only a relatively few people that want to raise a family in the district. Everyone else prefers good schools and low crime.

That's not true anymore. My DCPS is full to bursting with kids from families who have the means to move elsewhere but chose to stay in the city. DC is a great place and I'm happy to be raising my kids here instead of MoCo where I grew up.

Yes--DC has a lot of areas that are more suburban than the suburbs!! A lot of the those far-reaching NW suburbs are less urban than close-in with nothing to walk to.

I think, perhaps, OP is talking more along the lines of the urban center.

Most DCPS schools that are bursting at the seams happen to draw from neighborhoods that are quite suburban in nature.

Trying to stay out of this argument because it happens weekly, but: not in our neighborhood. We live on Capitol Hill and many of the schools are full to capacity or even over-full. And we are definitely not suburban.

I guess if you close enough schools over time some of the few that are left will appear to be bursting at the seams.

[Anonymous]

The condos/apartment developments are really only concentrated in SW DC and relatively narrow strips of NW DC (14th Street area, Mass Ave., etc.). There are barely any condos in all of NE or SE, for example. Brookland has a ton of 3+ bedroom houses with yards starting just under $500k, for example. It's not urban living like U Street or Bloomingdale, but it's nice.

[Anonymous]

I think, too, that there are probably multi-bedroom condos coming...but the demographic will be downsizing babyboomers. In this new development, for example, there will only be 2 bedrooms:
http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/46-unit_bethesda_condo_project_to_deliver_in_2016/8015

But they will not be coming to developments in the DC urban core because they're targetting downsizing babyboomers. No one who's giving up a large home in Potomac wants only one bedroom, but these are folks for whom the large condos on Connecticut and Mass aves are edgily urban.

Part of it is that the 33-45 demographic are basically gen x and that's asmall generation. On the bright side, there are about as many milleniials as gen x-ers and even though they aren't quite at the stage in thier life yet where schools and such seem a big deal to them, eventually they will and they may be large enough to consolidate the gains and peferance shifts gen x initiated (and be large enough to counterbalance the AARP set).