Will Montgomery County ever elect a Republican?

[Anonymous]

Connie Morella?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair is an Obama Democrat. Elrich is a Bernie Sanders Socialist. There is a difference but both are left of center. I think it's time we balance things out with someone in the true center, or center-right. Another Hogan would be great.

When did Hogan win in Montgomery County? Last time he lost 55-44. It was worse four years earlier.

Blair better run.

Rice is good too. A little more moderate. I don't think you'll see anyone as centrist or center-right as Hogan any time soon though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When does the council vote on that bill? I think it is a poor one-size-fits-all proposal that will not really accomplish what they are going for, and in the process destroy actual relatively affordable SFH neighborhoods around forest glen, Wheaton, and glenmont. And nice (but more expensive) neighborhoods in silver spring and takoma park.

When you say that it will destroy the neighborhood, are you referring to the possibility of property owners building duplexes and other attached houses in those neighborhoods? Is that what you think will destroy the neighborhoods?

I have no problem with attached housing, I just think this blanket approach to refining is lazy and inappropriate. What works for one metro station may not be the best for another. At many of these stations there is underutilized land very close to the metro, why not work on those areas first before moving into existing residential neighborhoods? For instance, there is a redevelopment plan for the GA ave corridor by forest glen that includes rezoning some areas and building more housing- tons of opportunities there to make sure affordable housing is included. Of course, that sort of thing takes time. I think Jawando’s intentions are good but this is a lazy approach.

Have you ever lived in a tear down neighborhood? I guess in this case everyone thinks it’s ok because it will be duplexes/quadplexes interdispersed among existing homes rather than SFH mansions? I agree destroy was probably not the right word, some people like these sort of changes. But considering that the townhomes built by the metro stations are often more expensive than the nearby older SFH, I’m not sure this really addresses this middle housing gap. But I’m sure Jawando will find support from his pro development colleagues on the council.

Why not both? Owning property in your neighborhood should not come with the expectation that your neighborhood won't change.

Prices of new attached houses next to Metro stations, vs old detached houses in nearby neighborhoods, is apples vs oranges. Which do you think would cost less per unit, a new detached house replacing an old detached house, or a new duplex replacing an old detached house?

I’d rather zoning changes go through the existing process, rather than changing everything within an arbitrary distance in one full sweep. But if this is the route they want to take, they should consider doing the same for a radius around the future purple line stations too. I’d imagine a new duplex in the Ling Branch neighborhood would be cheaper than a new duplex right by the Takoma or Bethesda metro stations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When does the council vote on that bill? I think it is a poor one-size-fits-all proposal that will not really accomplish what they are going for, and in the process destroy actual relatively affordable SFH neighborhoods around forest glen, Wheaton, and glenmont. And nice (but more expensive) neighborhoods in silver spring and takoma park.

When you say that it will destroy the neighborhood, are you referring to the possibility of property owners building duplexes and other attached houses in those neighborhoods? Is that what you think will destroy the neighborhoods?

I have no problem with attached housing, I just think this blanket approach to refining is lazy and inappropriate. What works for one metro station may not be the best for another. At many of these stations there is underutilized land very close to the metro, why not work on those areas first before moving into existing residential neighborhoods? For instance, there is a redevelopment plan for the GA ave corridor by forest glen that includes rezoning some areas and building more housing- tons of opportunities there to make sure affordable housing is included. Of course, that sort of thing takes time. I think Jawando’s intentions are good but this is a lazy approach.

Have you ever lived in a tear down neighborhood? I guess in this case everyone thinks it’s ok because it will be duplexes/quadplexes interdispersed among existing homes rather than SFH mansions? I agree destroy was probably not the right word, some people like these sort of changes. But considering that the townhomes built by the metro stations are often more expensive than the nearby older SFH, I’m not sure this really addresses this middle housing gap. But I’m sure Jawando will find support from his pro development colleagues on the council.

Why not both? Owning property in your neighborhood should not come with the expectation that your neighborhood won't change.

Prices of new attached houses next to Metro stations, vs old detached houses in nearby neighborhoods, is apples vs oranges. Which do you think would cost less per unit, a new detached house replacing an old detached house, or a new duplex replacing an old detached house?

I’d rather zoning changes go through the existing process, rather than changing everything within an arbitrary distance in one full sweep. But if this is the route they want to take, they should consider doing the same for a radius around the future purple line stations too. I’d imagine a new duplex in the Ling Branch neighborhood would be cheaper than a new duplex right by the Takoma or Bethesda metro stations.

This is the existing process. I agree that Purple Line stations should be included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair is an Obama Democrat. Elrich is a Bernie Sanders Socialist. There is a difference but both are left of center. I think it's time we balance things out with someone in the true center, or center-right. Another Hogan would be great.

When did Hogan win in Montgomery County? Last time he lost 55-44. It was worse four years earlier.

Blair better run.

Rice is good too. A little more moderate. I don't think you'll see anyone as centrist or center-right as Hogan any time soon though.

What's Rice good at? Could you list some of his accomplishments, please - other than getting re-elected?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When does the council vote on that bill? I think it is a poor one-size-fits-all proposal that will not really accomplish what they are going for, and in the process destroy actual relatively affordable SFH neighborhoods around forest glen, Wheaton, and glenmont. And nice (but more expensive) neighborhoods in silver spring and takoma park.

When you say that it will destroy the neighborhood, are you referring to the possibility of property owners building duplexes and other attached houses in those neighborhoods? Is that what you think will destroy the neighborhoods?

I have no problem with attached housing, I just think this blanket approach to refining is lazy and inappropriate. What works for one metro station may not be the best for another. At many of these stations there is underutilized land very close to the metro, why not work on those areas first before moving into existing residential neighborhoods? For instance, there is a redevelopment plan for the GA ave corridor by forest glen that includes rezoning some areas and building more housing- tons of opportunities there to make sure affordable housing is included. Of course, that sort of thing takes time. I think Jawando’s intentions are good but this is a lazy approach.

Have you ever lived in a tear down neighborhood? I guess in this case everyone thinks it’s ok because it will be duplexes/quadplexes interdispersed among existing homes rather than SFH mansions? I agree destroy was probably not the right word, some people like these sort of changes. But considering that the townhomes built by the metro stations are often more expensive than the nearby older SFH, I’m not sure this really addresses this middle housing gap. But I’m sure Jawando will find support from his pro development colleagues on the council.

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to mention, this county is always way behind finding new schools in areas that experience quick growth. There needs to be dedicated funding now to accommodate a new influx of residents into schools that are, in many cases, already over capacity.

Isn't a dedicated increase in MCPS funding part of this? Or am I thinking of a different bill? That would be the only thing that would give me pause, otherwise I have no problems with it. The market is crazy right now, I know so many people trying to get out of DC apartments but and just can't find anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair is an Obama Democrat. Elrich is a Bernie Sanders Socialist. There is a difference but both are left of center. I think it's time we balance things out with someone in the true center, or center-right. Another Hogan would be great.

When did Hogan win in Montgomery County? Last time he lost 55-44. It was worse four years earlier.

Blair better run.

Rice is good too. A little more moderate. I don't think you'll see anyone as centrist or center-right as Hogan any time soon though.

For gov? Blair couldn't even get county exec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

Whom do you have in mind for doing this?

What mostly makes the stretch of Georgia Ave between Wheaton Metro and Forest Glen Metro ugly is Georgia Ave. If the state would agree to transform it from Polluting Killer Speedway to something people would choose to live along and use, things would be different, but the state shows no sign of agreeing to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

Whom do you have in mind for doing this?

What mostly makes the stretch of Georgia Ave between Wheaton Metro and Forest Glen Metro ugly is Georgia Ave. If the state would agree to transform it from Polluting Killer Speedway to something people would choose to live along and use, things would be different, but the state shows no sign of agreeing to do that.

Well wouldn't attached housing be allowed along there now? Or does it not apply to state roads? Like I said, may as well raze the whole thing than piecemeal, just give some developers and homeowners some incentives. If an ugly area like this isn't what the council has in mind for transforming, I don't know what is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blair is an Obama Democrat. Elrich is a Bernie Sanders Socialist. There is a difference but both are left of center. I think it's time we balance things out with someone in the true center, or center-right. Another Hogan would be great.

When did Hogan win in Montgomery County? Last time he lost 55-44. It was worse four years earlier.

Blair better run.

Rice is good too. A little more moderate. I don't think you'll see anyone as centrist or center-right as Hogan any time soon though.

What's Rice good at? Could you list some of his accomplishments, please - other than getting re-elected?

There are two types of politicians in the county right now. Those who came before term limits and those who came after. Those who came before were more likely to truly have public service at heart (whether we agree on their approaches or not). Those who have come after often care much more about developing name recognition so they can move on to another office. So Rice is one of the old school folks who don't feel a need to put out massive numbers of bills and resolutions and hold tons of media availability events like the newbies do. Rice is one of the last ones around who wasn't being proactive unless there was an identified need. He wasn't introducing bills for no reason other than getting his name out there.

But he's been a huge advocate of education in the county, and while the council can't do much in terms of MCPS due to state law, Rice has significantly aided Montgomery College in its growth and ability to stay well-resourced. Both in terms of operating budget and capital projects.

He's acted in other areas, too, taking the lead on things like property tax credits for surviving military spouses, tax exemptions for enterprise zones, public campaign financing, tax credits for historic preservation areas, storm water management, regulating e cigarettes. He was a lead sponsor on several other tax credit or tax exemption bills, with Floreen mostly, but those bills didn't get enough Council support and never went anywhere.

He's definitely a liberal, but he's more moderate in that he understands businesses are getting suffocated. He is able to see the nuances of proposed policy changes, and he's able to build consensus among other decision makers. He's not a bull in a china shop kind of leader -- like Elrich or Jawando. For them it's my way or the highway.

He's not perfect, and he's likely too moderate for the Silver Spring/Takoma Park crowd. But he is much more of a leader (and effective one at that) than anyone else in local politics right now. Albornoz and Friedson are good too, but they are new and need more experience for any higher office like CE. Give them some time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

Whom do you have in mind for doing this?

What mostly makes the stretch of Georgia Ave between Wheaton Metro and Forest Glen Metro ugly is Georgia Ave. If the state would agree to transform it from Polluting Killer Speedway to something people would choose to live along and use, things would be different, but the state shows no sign of agreeing to do that.

Well wouldn't attached housing be allowed along there now? Or does it not apply to state roads? Like I said, may as well raze the whole thing than piecemeal, just give some developers and homeowners some incentives. If an ugly area like this isn't what the council has in mind for transforming, I don't know what is!

WHO is going to raze the whole thing?

I don't think that the County Council's housing goals are based on your aesthetic sensibilities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

Whom do you have in mind for doing this?

What mostly makes the stretch of Georgia Ave between Wheaton Metro and Forest Glen Metro ugly is Georgia Ave. If the state would agree to transform it from Polluting Killer Speedway to something people would choose to live along and use, things would be different, but the state shows no sign of agreeing to do that.

Well wouldn't attached housing be allowed along there now? Or does it not apply to state roads? Like I said, may as well raze the whole thing than piecemeal, just give some developers and homeowners some incentives. If an ugly area like this isn't what the council has in mind for transforming, I don't know what is!

I looked it up. Those houses you find ugly, are on properties zoned R-60. Detached only.

http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/development/zoning/documents/R-60ZoningFactSheet5.2.13.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are two types of politicians in the county right now. Those who came before term limits and those who came after. Those who came before were more likely to truly have public service at heart (whether we agree on their approaches or not). Those who have come after often care much more about developing name recognition so they can move on to another office. So Rice is one of the old school folks who don't feel a need to put out massive numbers of bills and resolutions and hold tons of media availability events like the newbies do. Rice is one of the last ones around who wasn't being proactive unless there was an identified need. He wasn't introducing bills for no reason other than getting his name out there.

But he's been a huge advocate of education in the county, and while the council can't do much in terms of MCPS due to state law, Rice has significantly aided Montgomery College in its growth and ability to stay well-resourced. Both in terms of operating budget and capital projects.

He's acted in other areas, too, taking the lead on things like property tax credits for surviving military spouses, tax exemptions for enterprise zones, public campaign financing, tax credits for historic preservation areas, storm water management, regulating e cigarettes. He was a lead sponsor on several other tax credit or tax exemption bills, with Floreen mostly, but those bills didn't get enough Council support and never went anywhere.

He's definitely a liberal, but he's more moderate in that he understands businesses are getting suffocated. He is able to see the nuances of proposed policy changes, and he's able to build consensus among other decision makers. He's not a bull in a china shop kind of leader -- like Elrich or Jawando. For them it's my way or the highway.

He's not perfect, and he's likely too moderate for the Silver Spring/Takoma Park crowd. But he is much more of a leader (and effective one at that) than anyone else in local politics right now. Albornoz and Friedson are good too, but they are new and need more experience for any higher office like CE. Give them some time.

If you say so. Every time I have asked Councilmember Rice to do something, and he's said he'll do it, he hasn't done it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

On one hand, I am curious about the decision to use one mile, because except in areas with good bus connections, one mile from the metro is still pretty car dependent. However, that stretch of Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton and Forest Glen stations is so fugly- I can only imagine that most of those homes are rentals to begin with, they just look so worn down. Why not buy out the owners, raze them and put in attached housing along that ~mile stretch?

Whom do you have in mind for doing this?

What mostly makes the stretch of Georgia Ave between Wheaton Metro and Forest Glen Metro ugly is Georgia Ave. If the state would agree to transform it from Polluting Killer Speedway to something people would choose to live along and use, things would be different, but the state shows no sign of agreeing to do that.

Well wouldn't attached housing be allowed along there now? Or does it not apply to state roads? Like I said, may as well raze the whole thing than piecemeal, just give some developers and homeowners some incentives. If an ugly area like this isn't what the council has in mind for transforming, I don't know what is!

I looked it up. Those houses you find ugly, are on properties zoned R-60. Detached only.

http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/development/zoning/documents/R-60ZoningFactSheet5.2.13.pdf

Ok, so clearly I’m not understanding where exactly this new zoning applies, because that stretch is clearly within 1 mile of the metro stations.

Is there something in the bill to ensure the new structures are priced to the “missing middle” demographic? Because most of the new townhomes in the county in recent years are pretty high end. A far cry from the townhouses/duplexes of our childhood. Everyone we know that lives in one bought one because they did not want to deal with upgrades to an older home and/or deal with yard upkeep. Who’s to say that’s not what would continue? How are they proposing to ensure the new structures are affordable?