Soooo, how is high-density looking to everyone now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What we do know is that the population projections thrown around by Trueblood, GGW and their echo chamber, to create the illusion of a market housing crisis to justify their massive zoning overreach, are wildly inflated over the conservative estimates of the District’s Chief Financial Officer. The CFO -- even pre-Covid, by the way — projected rather modest future population growth.Because the CFO’s office is supposed to be accurate as revenue and other assumptions depend on its work, I would trust the CFO’s projections more.

You: See, people are fleeing expensive cities for cheaper areas elsewhere!
Also you: What market housing crisis?

If demand didn't exceed supply, then it wouldn't be so expensive to live in DC.

There’s a lot of affordable housing in Prince George’s County but a lot of people have an aversion to considering the county as an extension of the DC market. One can speculate as to why.

Sure, and there's even more affordable housing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. So what? This isn't about affordable housing. This is about the overall cost of housing in DC. Overall, housing in DC is expensive, because demand exceeds supply, and housing in the desirable areas of DC is even more expensive, because that's how the housing market works. It's expensive because lots of people who have money want to live there.

[Anonymous]

In a surprise move that is shameless even by Bowser standards, the mayor this afternoon submitted her aggressive pro-developer Comp Plan amendments to the DC Council, claiming that it provides the blueprint for DC to recover from the coronavirus crisis! Because nothing says public health like and social distancing like pushing big increases in height and density to build high end condos in SFH residential neighborhoods. And the mayor said it is urgent that the Council pass this developer giveaway soon - at a time when the Council is meeting virtually with no provision for public hearings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a surprise move that is shameless even by Bowser standards, the mayor this afternoon submitted her aggressive pro-developer Comp Plan amendments to the DC Council, claiming that it provides the blueprint for DC to recover from the coronavirus crisis! Because nothing says public health like and social distancing like pushing big increases in height and density to build high end condos in SFH residential neighborhoods. And the mayor said it is urgent that the Council pass this developer giveaway soon - at a time when the Council is meeting virtually with no provision for public hearings.

Probably she's talking about the economic health of the city, no?

[Anonymous]

Sure, and there's even more affordable housing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. So what? This isn't about affordable housing. This is about the overall cost of housing in DC. Overall, housing in DC is expensive, because demand exceeds supply, and housing in the desirable areas of DC is even more expensive, because that's how the housing market works. It's expensive because lots of people who have money want to live there.

So you are insinuating that there is a magic 'price' at which housing would be fair for all. What is that price? What should the median price for housing be so that we can continue to build houses until we push the market to that magic price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Sure, and there's even more affordable housing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. So what? This isn't about affordable housing. This is about the overall cost of housing in DC. Overall, housing in DC is expensive, because demand exceeds supply, and housing in the desirable areas of DC is even more expensive, because that's how the housing market works. It's expensive because lots of people who have money want to live there.

So you are insinuating that there is a magic 'price' at which housing would be fair for all. What is that price? What should the median price for housing be so that we can continue to build houses until we push the market to that magic price.

No, nobody said anything about that.

[Anonymous]

Folks were wrong. Bowser isn’t the developers’ hoe. She’s their shameless hoe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In a surprise move that is shameless even by Bowser standards, the mayor this afternoon submitted her aggressive pro-developer Comp Plan amendments to the DC Council, claiming that it provides the blueprint for DC to recover from the coronavirus crisis! Because nothing says public health like and social distancing like pushing big increases in height and density to build high end condos in SFH residential neighborhoods. And the mayor said it is urgent that the Council pass this developer giveaway soon - at a time when the Council is meeting virtually with no provision for public hearings.

Source please. This can't possibly be true?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sure, and there's even more affordable housing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. So what? This isn't about affordable housing. This is about the overall cost of housing in DC. Overall, housing in DC is expensive, because demand exceeds supply, and housing in the desirable areas of DC is even more expensive, because that's how the housing market works. It's expensive because lots of people who have money want to live there.

So you are insinuating that there is a magic 'price' at which housing would be fair for all. What is that price? What should the median price for housing be so that we can continue to build houses until we push the market to that magic price.

No, nobody said anything about that.

This is actually what they inferred. They stated that housing is expensive because demand exceeds the supply. Therefor the price continues to increase.

So I am simply asking, what is the supply point that would push the price to the level you feel is 'fair'. There have been several questions asked in this thread about the supply side variable. Nobody wants to hazard an answer. So perhaps you can provide an answer to the only other unknown variable, the 'fair' price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Sure, and there's even more affordable housing in Martinsburg, West Virginia. So what? This isn't about affordable housing. This is about the overall cost of housing in DC. Overall, housing in DC is expensive, because demand exceeds supply, and housing in the desirable areas of DC is even more expensive, because that's how the housing market works. It's expensive because lots of people who have money want to live there.

So you are insinuating that there is a magic 'price' at which housing would be fair for all. What is that price? What should the median price for housing be so that we can continue to build houses until we push the market to that magic price.

No, nobody said anything about that.

This is actually what they inferred. They stated that housing is expensive because demand exceeds the supply. Therefor the price continues to increase.

So I am simply asking, what is the supply point that would push the price to the level you feel is 'fair'. There have been several questions asked in this thread about the supply side variable. Nobody wants to hazard an answer. So perhaps you can provide an answer to the only other unknown variable, the 'fair' price.

Yes, that's how the free market works. Things cost more when demand exceeds supply. The "fair" price is not an unknown variable because there is no such thing in a supply and demand model. There is such thing as a market-clearing price, which is the price when supply and demand are equal.

You seem to think that "housing is expensive" means "housing costs too much", but it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Food deserts make up about 11 percent percent of D.C.’s total area (6.5 square miles), and are concentrated in the neighborhoods of Anacostia, Barry Farms, Mayfair, and Ivy City. By area, the majority (51 percent) of all food deserts are located in Ward 8, while Ward 7 contains the second largest portion of food deserts (31 percent). On the opposite side of the spectrum, Ward 3 has no areas considered a food desert. Ward 2 does contain a food desert, but it is quite small—only 0.13 square miles."

https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/food-access-dc-deeply-connected-poverty-transportation/

The reasons for food deserts are very controversial. The old supermarkets that shuttered and left would say that there was no demand for fresh produce and foods that needed to be prepared at home. Today we call this thinking racist and would say that food deserts exist because of 'redlining' where the lack of economic prosperity denies the residents the ability to support their own food desires against their wishes.

Today's thinking is that if you were to drop a brand new Giant into Ward 8 with fresh produce, groceries and fresh food buffet items, it would be just as popular there as in Ward 3. Despite that 'thinking' Giant and Safeway are not racing to Ward 8.

So the grocery stores are leaving money on the table because they are racist? Honestly, help me understand this.

So the 'woke' thinking is that through 'redline' lending, banks did not allow housing loans to brown and black people for houses within a 'red line'. This meant that browns and black could only buy houses in areas that other browns and blacks had been approved to buy houses. Because of the lower buying power of that community it simply was not as economically attractive for CEO's to eye them for construction of Whole Foods etc. As for the Giant and Safeway's that were already there and subsequently closed, they were victims of the 'redline' policy as well because the local community did not have the income to spend on groceries.

The same argument is used to the lack of medical and urgent care in the same areas. Unfortunately, the two issues create a self priming cycle as without fresh foods, there is a disproportionate rate of high blood pressure and heart disease but there are not readily available medical services for the population. The population eats more prepared foods, high in salt further exacerbating the health issues.

i am vastly oversimplifying the 'redlining' argument, but it is the reason that gets bandied about for why a major supermarket would not swoop in and capitalize on the food desert.

But it still does not make sense. Even a supermarket that caters to a 100% food stamp clientele is still moving a ton of product and making good money. Are there other reasons such as theft/shoplifting that make the area unattractive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a surprise move that is shameless even by Bowser standards, the mayor this afternoon submitted her aggressive pro-developer Comp Plan amendments to the DC Council, claiming that it provides the blueprint for DC to recover from the coronavirus crisis! Because nothing says public health like and social distancing like pushing big increases in height and density to build high end condos in SFH residential neighborhoods. And the mayor said it is urgent that the Council pass this developer giveaway soon - at a time when the Council is meeting virtually with no provision for public hearings.

Source please. This can't possibly be true?

Sadly, it’s true:

https://thedcline.org/2020/04/23/press-release-mayor-bowser-presents-a-comprehensive-plan-proposal-that-will-guide-dc-through-coronavirus-recovery/

[Anonymous]

People will always want "something better." I remember as a child when my family moved from a small apartment to the suburbs into a rental house. And, then to the purchase of a tiny little house and then a bigger house that had three bedrooms and two bathrooms (No den, just a living room.)

And, i think people will be looking to move "out" more after being confined with the Covid.

Now is the wrong time to push for high density housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People will always want "something better." I remember as a child when my family moved from a small apartment to the suburbs into a rental house. And, then to the purchase of a tiny little house and then a bigger house that had three bedrooms and two bathrooms (No den, just a living room.)

And, i think people will be looking to move "out" more after being confined with the Covid.

Now is the wrong time to push for high density housing.

The mayor and Trueblood asset that high density is exactly what is needed and “even more critical” now, the magic elixir:

An updated Comprehensive Plan is even more critical now, given the current disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing for the District’s residents and businesses,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we move from response to reopening and recovery, this Comprehensive Plan will serve as an essential guide to ensure that the District not only recovers, but emerges stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more equitable than ever.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People will always want "something better." I remember as a child when my family moved from a small apartment to the suburbs into a rental house. And, then to the purchase of a tiny little house and then a bigger house that had three bedrooms and two bathrooms (No den, just a living room.)

And, i think people will be looking to move "out" more after being confined with the Covid.

Now is the wrong time to push for high density housing.

The mayor and Trueblood asset that high density is exactly what is needed and “even more critical” now, the magic elixir:

An updated Comprehensive Plan is even more critical now, given the current disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing for the District’s residents and businesses,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we move from response to reopening and recovery, this Comprehensive Plan will serve as an essential guide to ensure that the District not only recovers, but emerges stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more equitable than ever.”

vomit. vomit. vomit. who do I call to break thru this "closed Council meeting" tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People will always want "something better." I remember as a child when my family moved from a small apartment to the suburbs into a rental house. And, then to the purchase of a tiny little house and then a bigger house that had three bedrooms and two bathrooms (No den, just a living room.)

And, i think people will be looking to move "out" more after being confined with the Covid.

Now is the wrong time to push for high density housing.

The mayor and Trueblood asset that high density is exactly what is needed and “even more critical” now, the magic elixir:

An updated Comprehensive Plan is even more critical now, given the current disruptions that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing for the District’s residents and businesses,” said Mayor Bowser. “As we move from response to reopening and recovery, this Comprehensive Plan will serve as an essential guide to ensure that the District not only recovers, but emerges stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more equitable than ever.”

Can we get a 'clean' recovery plan? Why is politics incapable of providing ANY sort of plan as a clean bill? Can we solve the corona issue and then move to lining our pockets with densification? This is turning into never passing up a good crisis. Unbelievable...except that it is Mayor Bowser.