Arlington Missing Middle Housing Q&A

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

Your biggest concern about your sick elderly neighbor is what will happen to the house? And you're calling me obnoxious and lecturing me about the community you have built? Ha.

He's not exactly on death's doorstep. Most likely he'd just move on with family. So no, not super worried about the grumpy neighbor.

So you'll be down one grumpy neighbor and up one multi-plex. Maybe it's a wash!

Be as glib as you want. Not even close. It's probably $200k or more to us.

Aren’t MM opponents arguing MM will increase property values?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

DP. Agree and in a similar situation as PP but with a much younger elderly neighbor. Change is inevitable. But I do worry about lead dust that would be caused by demolition given the age of most Arlington homes.

[Anonymous]

We are putting our $1.5-1.6M SFH in North Arlignton on the market next month and I can only hope a developer will buy it and build a six-plex. My NIMBY limousine liberal neighbors all deserve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

No, it's the middle of a neighborhood of SFHs. Just like where developers have gotten permits for other 6plexes. There's no incentive in MM for these to be built near metro or on busy roads. None. Developers can build wherever they can get a lot.

There's a huge difference between living next to a new SFH and. 6 unit apartment building. HUGE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

I love that people post snarky comments and then prove that they are clueless about MM. Why would you ask about busy roads or near a metro? You know that isn't in a requirements, right? There's no part of MM that focuses development in those locations, nor is that what's happening. Developers are building 4-6 unit apartment buildings in the middle of SFHs because they can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

I love that people post snarky comments and then prove that they are clueless about MM. Why would you ask about busy roads or near a metro? You know that isn't in a requirements, right? There's no part of MM that focuses development in those locations, nor is that what's happening. Developers are building 4-6 unit apartment buildings in the middle of SFHs because they can.

I'm well aware of what passed. What I don't understand is why PP thinks there is a "very significant change" that a 6 plex will get built on a nearby lot. How could anyone know that with such certainty? I'm not being snarky, I don't want a 6 plex next door either but it's like anything else: we will move if the bad about Arlington outweighs the good. That's just how we feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

I love that people post snarky comments and then prove that they are clueless about MM. Why would you ask about busy roads or near a metro? You know that isn't in a requirements, right? There's no part of MM that focuses development in those locations, nor is that what's happening. Developers are building 4-6 unit apartment buildings in the middle of SFHs because they can.

I'm well aware of what passed. What I don't understand is why PP thinks there is a "very significant change" that a 6 plex will get built on a nearby lot. How could anyone know that with such certainty? I'm not being snarky, I don't want a 6 plex next door either but it's like anything else: we will move if the bad about Arlington outweighs the good. That's just how we feel.

It's a very privileged position not to have to worry about the costs of moving (financial, but also social emotional and on our time), as well as the immediate hit to our property value that comes as soon as a permit is granted for the lot next door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

But if someone buys the house, tears it down, and put up a giant SFH, that will be fine? Even if the family that buys it has five kids and an in-law or two and nanny live with them? (I have no idea why the huge new houses near me have four or five cars in the driveway, but I assume it's not because the parents two or three cars each)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

I love that people post snarky comments and then prove that they are clueless about MM. Why would you ask about busy roads or near a metro? You know that isn't in a requirements, right? There's no part of MM that focuses development in those locations, nor is that what's happening. Developers are building 4-6 unit apartment buildings in the middle of SFHs because they can.

I'm well aware of what passed. What I don't understand is why PP thinks there is a "very significant change" that a 6 plex will get built on a nearby lot. How could anyone know that with such certainty? I'm not being snarky, I don't want a 6 plex next door either but it's like anything else: we will move if the bad about Arlington outweighs the good. That's just how we feel.

It's a very privileged position not to have to worry about the costs of moving (financial, but also social emotional and on our time), as well as the immediate hit to our property value that comes as soon as a permit is granted for the lot next door.

Of course it's a privileged point of view. Most Arlington SFH owners are privileged, including us. We may not get our first choice of every scenario but we have options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

But if someone buys the house, tears it down, and put up a giant SFH, that will be fine? Even if the family that buys it has five kids and an in-law or two and nanny live with them? (I have no idea why the huge new houses near me have four or five cars in the driveway, but I assume it's not because the parents two or three cars each)

I'm not thrilled with how much lot coverage Arlington permits for new builds. I'd much prefer a some yard and trees, but I'd deal. We wouldn't move not to live next to another SFH. That wouldn't affect our property value, nor would it necessarily be louder or less private or have more cars. It would be a pain to live next door through construction, but we'd survive.

The SFHs on our street, including the new builds, typically have two cars (one for each parent) and 1-3 kids. Usually one car parks on the driveway and one on the street, as the lots aren't wide enough for a double garage.

A SFH or addition next door was a known risk when we bought. MM hadn't even been proposed.

[Anonymous]

I think many people assumed that MM developers would focus on areas near public transit or in locations that make sense for more density (e.g., walkable to a supermarket or on a major road). I think they also assumed that developers would build something reasonable to the location. Instead we're getting developers building the biggest possible thing they can with the most units possible without regard for the location. Below is a linkntk a 6plex that Arlington has permitted that in the middle of a neighborhood and that's not walkable to anything. To fit 6 units on the small lot, there will have to be no green space and the minimum required parking. Every adult living there will have a car given the location, with most of those cars being parked on the street.

Most people who live in apartments or condos appreciate being walkable to things. Those who live in non-walkable locations like having green space. This building will meet neither criteria. It's just developers cashing out at the cost to the community.

[/url]https://redf.in/Cqyjaf[url]

[Anonymous]

https://redf.in/Cqyjaf
Fixed link.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

We were concerned about the same thing happening in our neighborhood and asked an agent at a nearby new house that was open on Sunday. She said that most of the people who had been to the open house were from DC, Clarendon, Ballston, and Alexandria and wanted to be away from the density and other issues. The builder of that house has permits to do MM housing in areas closer to Ballston which are already a mixed bag. She said he would rather build houses in neighborhoods like ours because there was a demand for people who wanted to get away from the density. She said he had just bought a house a few blocks away from someone who had lived there for nearly the same amount of time as your neighbor and he didn't even consider MM.

Maybe our neighborhoods will survive without the apartment buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad. Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC. I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords. They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!

That's a really obnoxious thing to say. In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes. It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years. He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years. So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building? Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard? Do we risk the drop in our property value? Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends? We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years. It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.

I just hear whining. Should have lived further out

+1. If someone buys the lot it will be a multiplex or a new SFH, and all the trees will be cleared. You won't have a leafy private yard no matter what happens. Why are you so certain a 6 plex will get built anyway? Is this near metro or a busy road?

DP. Agree and in a similar situation as PP but with a much younger elderly neighbor. Change is inevitable. But I do worry about lead dust that would be caused by demolition given the age of most Arlington homes.

Lead dust is the least of your worries when an Arlington house is demolished. A builder tried to tear down a house in our neighborhood with asbestos siding with no protection for the workers or the surrounding areas. The County actually responded quickly and made him pay for an enviornmental company to remove the asbestos siding and dispose of debris correctly.