"Zoning for Housing" in Alexandria -- no more SFHs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

I agree with this but I also see an issue with the false promise made by politicians pushing for it. They have explicitly pitched this as “people who are currently priced out can afford to be homeowners if we do this and this is about equity” instead of saying “hey it would be nice if more people could rent fairly expensive rentals in these neighborhoods”

Yes but the closer in the wealthier people are able to move means the closer in the less wealthy are able to move (even if it’s still bot as close).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very supportive. We are priced out and would be open to a multiplex. We need more equity in housing.

There are a million condos -- why do you want to live in one next door to single family homes?

For the very obvious reason that that’s likely a very desirable neighborhood and the condo will be an easier way to afford it.

When SFH neighborhoods start becoming filled with multi family units, it becomes a less desirable neighborhood. Some people seek SFH to get away from higher density. Why is it considered equity to change the structure of neighborhoods when it it forces people who seek less density to leave?

DP
A desirable land location is limited so it makes sense to allow more density.
For example if you have a single family house zoned short walk from a metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very supportive. We are priced out and would be open to a multiplex. We need more equity in housing.

There are a million condos -- why do you want to live in one next door to single family homes?

For the very obvious reason that that’s likely a very desirable neighborhood and the condo will be an easier way to afford it.

When SFH neighborhoods start becoming filled with multi family units, it becomes a less desirable neighborhood. Some people seek SFH to get away from higher density. Why is it considered equity to change the structure of neighborhoods when it it forces people who seek less density to leave?

DP
A desirable land location is limited so it makes sense to allow more density.
For example if you have a single family house zoned short walk from a metro.

And then the land becomes less desirable. People will move to where they again have SFH zoning and good schools. What then, run a BRT line out to the neighborhood and ruin that neighborhood, too, because it’s near “mass transit?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

Yes, I’m sure everyone benefits by decreasing rental options closer to their jobs. I am just not sure how…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in Arlington and just found out a builder is putting a 6 plex next to our house. The entire area has single family houses including a legit historic house. He has already told us that the plexes would be rented. We are resigned to the fact that our house will be a tear down and aren't putting any more money into it except for emergencies.

Jeez, how big is the lot?
Also - renters are not the enemy here. Just because they aren't purchasing doesn't mean they won't be a positive influence in the community.

DP. Of course renters aren’t the enemy but the point is they took advantage of middle and low income voters by selling them a bill of goods they had no desire to deliver. Why trot out the naacp to talk about how MM will increase black homeownership when you know that’s completely irrelevant?

Exactly. The cost and process to set up a condo structure in Virginia means only the duplexes and townhouses may be for sale. The 4-6 will be rentals in every. Single. Case. And the housing advocates lied through their teeth (or just didn’t understand their own proposal) and insisted we needed bigger plexes so people of color could get the level of affordability required to become homeowners. They should have just told the truth- lying makes you lose credibility for the entire effort. It’s absurd.

Of the 31 permit applications submitted, half are for 3 to 6 unit plexes that will certainly be rentals. Even some of the side/by/sides and townhouses could be rentals, partricularly as most of them are in areas that are near public transportation so that the builders can get away with a half parking space per unit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

My DH is an Alexandria police officer and we live in Fairfax County -- he wants to be as far away as possible from Alexandria. Remember, he sees the crimes that are not reported and knows how really bad Alexandria is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

My DH is an Alexandria police officer and we live in Fairfax County -- he wants to be as far away as possible from Alexandria. Remember, he sees the crimes that are not reported and knows how really bad Alexandria is.

Yeah, sure. If this is true, and I doubt it, he needs to find a new job.

[Anonymous]

Build more houses this size

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4905-River-Rd-Bethesda-MD-20816/37166706_zpid/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

My DH is an Alexandria police officer and we live in Fairfax County -- he wants to be as far away as possible from Alexandria. Remember, he sees the crimes that are not reported and knows how really bad Alexandria is.

Yeah, sure. If this is true, and I doubt it, he needs to find a new job.

You are going to lose a lot of Alexandria police officers EMTs and fire fighters if you make them live in the city. It would be like DC where certain officials must have residency but rent a cheap apartment with a few other people and live outside the city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very supportive. We are priced out and would be open to a multiplex. We need more equity in housing.

There are a million condos -- why do you want to live in one next door to single family homes?

For the very obvious reason that that’s likely a very desirable neighborhood and the condo will be an easier way to afford it.

When SFH neighborhoods start becoming filled with multi family units, it becomes a less desirable neighborhood. Some people seek SFH to get away from higher density. Why is it considered equity to change the structure of neighborhoods when it it forces people who seek less density to leave?

DP
A desirable land location is limited so it makes sense to allow more density.
For example if you have a single family house zoned short walk from a metro.

And then the land becomes less desirable. People will move to where they again have SFH zoning and good schools. What then, run a BRT line out to the neighborhood and ruin that neighborhood, too, because it’s near “mass transit?”

But Alexandria doesn’t have good schools. Didn’t the high school almost lose its accreditation a few years back???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of the city of alexandria is apartments and condos so this whole idea is asinine.

Correct! Everything this city does makes no sense and is backwards and totally insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

My DH is an Alexandria police officer and we live in Fairfax County -- he wants to be as far away as possible from Alexandria. Remember, he sees the crimes that are not reported and knows how really bad Alexandria is.

I belive that. The stories he could tell...

I wish the ACPD wasn't so quiet about what's happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more people living closer to their jobs, the better. Regardless of whether they rent or own.

Who are the people? Teachers and police officers want to own close to where they work so having more rentals doesn’t mean anything to them.

My DH is an Alexandria police officer and we live in Fairfax County -- he wants to be as far away as possible from Alexandria. Remember, he sees the crimes that are not reported and knows how really bad Alexandria is.

I belive that. The stories he could tell...

I wish the ACPD wasn't so quiet about what's happening.

What do you mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Known as missing middle in Arlington. I opposed but so far it’s been no big deal because there are caps on size, quantity, and height, and I think decent parking requirements were preserved. Also I live in N Arlington and neighbors have freaked out and gotten developers to stop townhouse plans and revert to SFH plans. In south Arlington, it will be more prevalent, compounding the existing issues with school overcrowding, parking, and space in general. It’s ok though, wealthy people will do option schools or lottery, and eventually leave the area, once again voting for and creating a problematic situation and then leaving the area.

Unlike N Arlington, Alexandria City has many SFHs are already built close together and parking is tight in many neighborhoods. There is a bigger mix of housing throughout the City due to decades of infill building.

Also there is only 1 high school and despite it being rated lower than Wakefield it is used by rich and poor alike. And they aren’t building another one since there isn’t enough support to do that.