GGWash?

[Anonymous]

Three bedroom condos suck because most condos allocate common charges based on square footage. And newer condos often have higher assessed values. Also a parking issue as a lot you pay common charges on spots and at best two spots only.

At that point a SFH makes sense. My house has lots of parking. I have four drivers and three cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I resent the attitude that neighbors should have no say in preserving the character of their neighborhoods. Plus there's a constant theme of "I can't afford to live in the hippest areas of DC, so you all need to build enough to make the area more affordable". Sorry - doesn't work like that.

Totally. All of this. Nothing ever fully captures anything from the side of those who take a financial risk. It’s always this perceived attack on monies interests and how they rape the poor and yada yada. Most landlords are small time. I wish there was more of a vocal voice for these folks.

It’s hard for me to understand. The folks on the inside clearly see the whole picture. They are fundraising, etc. But their readership and foot soldiers that they have cultivated, I cannot fathom how they have been convinced to support policies against their own interests. There is no mechanism by which hundreds of “luxury” apartments in a desirable area will make that area cheaper for them. They may cite obscure “studies”, but here in this area there is a positive feedback loop. More “luxury” apartments in an area breed more luxury apartments.

Because flooding supply makes housing more obtainable than if thee is minimal or now housing available. Even if it is "luxury."

This really isn't hard.

Housing is not like agricultural commodities. Developers can and do without delivery to manage supply. Your presumption that there would be some price discovery as a market clearing mechanism presumes that someone would be at financial risk of losing money. In your scenario, who would lose money in this theoretical “flooding” of supply to clear prices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three bedroom condos suck because most condos allocate common charges based on square footage. And newer condos often have higher assessed values. Also a parking issue as a lot you pay common charges on spots and at best two spots only.

At that point a SFH makes sense. My house has lots of parking. I have four drivers and three cars.

Why do you have four drivers? I know the answer. Adult children.

Do they vote communist? Because if so they are part of the problem too. I’m not criticizing your choice to help your children. But not everyone has that privilege, and so long as they realize that and stop trying to make everywhere an unlivable hell. They likely can live a dense urban lifestyle, including in some areas lives they claim matter, but don’t. Again that’s not on you. But if they hold such beliefs, you need to either set them straight or are them off.

And no, I don’t live in a SFH, and don’t feel any hostility or jealousy to people who do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three bedroom condos suck because most condos allocate common charges based on square footage. And newer condos often have higher assessed values. Also a parking issue as a lot you pay common charges on spots and at best two spots only.

At that point a SFH makes sense. My house has lots of parking. I have four drivers and three cars.

Why do you have four drivers? I know the answer. Adult children.

Do they vote communist? Because if so they are part of the problem too. I’m not criticizing your choice to help your children. But not everyone has that privilege, and so long as they realize that and stop trying to make everywhere an unlivable hell. They likely can live a dense urban lifestyle, including in some areas lives they claim matter, but don’t. Again that’s not on you. But if they hold such beliefs, you need to either set them straight or are them off.

And no, I don’t live in a SFH, and don’t feel any hostility or jealousy to people who do.

?????

[Anonymous]

I like GGW because it often has good updates on complex topics, particularly Metro

My issue is with their glaring mistakes. This morning one of their contributors said that there is little new housing development in North Arlington. From his perch in gentrified Shaw, he may think that North Arlington is north of Lee Hwy rather than north of Arlington Blvd. Most of the housing development in Arlington has occurred north of Arlington Blvd including north of Lee Hwy

It did not help that he was talking about redevelopment along the Lee Hwy corridor and not understanding that is a small part of North Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three bedroom condos suck because most condos allocate common charges based on square footage. And newer condos often have higher assessed values. Also a parking issue as a lot you pay common charges on spots and at best two spots only.

At that point a SFH makes sense. My house has lots of parking. I have four drivers and three cars.

Why do you have four drivers? I know the answer. Adult children.

Do they vote communist? Because if so they are part of the problem too. I’m not criticizing your choice to help your children. But not everyone has that privilege, and so long as they realize that and stop trying to make everywhere an unlivable hell. They likely can live a dense urban lifestyle, including in some areas lives they claim matter, but don’t. Again that’s not on you. But if they hold such beliefs, you need to either set them straight or are them off.

And no, I don’t live in a SFH, and don’t feel any hostility or jealousy to people who do.

The driving age is 16 to get a learners permit in Maryland. All my kids are under 21 my 14 year old gets permit in less than two years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I resent the attitude that neighbors should have no say in preserving the character of their neighborhoods. Plus there's a constant theme of "I can't afford to live in the hippest areas of DC, so you all need to build enough to make the area more affordable". Sorry - doesn't work like that.

"Character" us often code for 'keeping it white and rich" - that may not apply to you, but it does for many in DC and the region. You may have more altruistic reasons, but for many, the idea that the rich people have their nice neighborhoods and want to preclude new development (where it is legal) to keep others out is a red flag.

Huh. Usually when I see “character” brought up it goes something like this: white person who’s lived in the neighborhood 5-10 years complains about noise/crime/trash/fireworks/homelessness/drug use/parking/etc…. People of all races jump all over them and say “why are you trying to destroy the character of the neighborhood!!? I’ve lived here longer than you therefore your desire to “improve” the neighborhood doesn’t matter!”

Maybe it’s because I don’t live in a rich, white neighborhood. I also don’t read GGWash, unless it’s another epic comments section about Macmillan “park”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like GGW because it often has good updates on complex topics, particularly Metro

My issue is with their glaring mistakes. This morning one of their contributors said that there is little new housing development in North Arlington. From his perch in gentrified Shaw, he may think that North Arlington is north of Lee Hwy rather than north of Arlington Blvd. Most of the housing development in Arlington has occurred north of Arlington Blvd including north of Lee Hwy

It did not help that he was talking about redevelopment along the Lee Hwy corridor and not understanding that is a small part of North Arlington.

They don’t even cover metro well. Every other local source provides a synopsis the day after any meeting, which are equal to or superior to GGWash. The only thing they provide these days is the 20th fantasy map that makes no sense and is devoid of any mention of actual ridership. All Public and easily accessible and interactive information online. But your average urbanist (and their acolytes because GGWash is on the periphery) is afraid of numbers. Also facts.

Source: Graduated from a Planning School. Guess what the quantitative requirement is? The answer is none. As one person put it, the field is an exercise in creative writing. Or art. Just look at the “vision for Crystal City”. Kids drawings but not by kids. Compare this to JBG Smith’s investor video. That’s the difference. One is professional, and moves billions of dollars in product, and drives/meets urbanization, the other is one step above hand turkeys and finger paint.