What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

DC is not a young person's city, certainly not in the way that other cities are.

Not much you can do to change that.

Why its not? Lots of young people dream of working and living on the Hill.

And lots of people do! Hundreds of group houses. The holdback seems to be jobs? For every recent grad or summer college student I know who ends up working on the hill, I know another one who never was able to secure a hill job

There are so many non-profit and advocacy jobs - more than anywhere else in the country. I find this whole thread to not reflect reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think it is harder to be young and broke-ish in DC, or at least in the way my friends lived in those post-college years. Not enough apartments (too many condos), rents are high for even pretty small places, not a real long-term rental culture like in NY. Also not enough independently owned and cheap (but delicious) restaurants in DC. I know every other city has expensive and fancy restaurants, but many ALSO have great dives, holes -in-the-wall, and take out places where you can eat cheaply and quickly if you need to. Often these are ethnic restaurants and most of the great/cheap ethnic places in the DC area are in the suburbs.
DC's too corporate or something.

True. Lots of young people move here for Hill jobs, non-profits, etc. with dreams of changing the world. But the $45k or whatever legislative assistants get paid these days, or entry level non-profit staffers, etc. doesn't go that far in DC. Much easier to make it on a Deloitte salary, and there are SO MANY of those types of jobs here. Thus a kind of corporate culture. That said, I still think it's a young professional's city for sure, and don't agree with the premise of the thread.

In 1993, my salary on the Hill was $15k with a Master's Degree. Somehow I made it, as others do.

what was the COL in 1993 compared to today?

$30,744. Not much more. I had 5 roommates and lived in the hood.

+1. And we still all managed to pay our student loans. Of course, this was before everyone “needed” a $200/month phone plan and $20 salads from Sweetgreen for lunch.

In all seriousness, this is really true.

[Anonymous]

I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

Yes!!! Transit + more creative culture. It's here in DC, you just have to look hard and be willing to go to sketchier neighborhoods where public transit is less reliable and safe. A vicious cycle. More nightlife, more affordable housing, more cafes and restaurants that are less expensive... and lower crime.

My parents were super relieved when I moved to Chicago from DC as a young thing in my 20's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.

It's more affordable than NYC, which is a mecca for young professionals.

[Anonymous]

Increasing residential density in the vast swaths of DC dominated by huge and empty office buildings. converting some of these medium height offfice buildings into residential would also force creation of more street level life in form of 1st floor restaurants, gyms, stores, medical offices, etc, to serve the increase in residential populaiton. Let's be honest, people aren't coming back full time to offices to create critical mass of people hanging out downtown on workdays supporting a bunch of local businesses. It's what perpetuates this feel of abandonment, empty storefronts, areas that have nice infrastructure and architecture and connectivity but are devoid of life. It's happening in other cities as well. DC has a nice city grid and can create really thriving urban culture. And DC is really compact, you don't even need to use metro to get from one place to another, you can walk or bike or scooter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.
Affordable housing.

It's more affordable than NYC, which is a mecca for young professionals.

So is DC. Which is why this thread is so pointless.

[Anonymous]

It’s WAY better now than when I graduated from college and moved here in the early 2000s. I moved to NYC for awhile and came back in 2011 and things were a lot more exciting. I had a great time being single and going to bars and parties and meeting a lot of interesting people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

Not picking on this poster in particular but for god's sake none of you all seem to know a thing about DC or people under 60.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so cringe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

Not picking on this poster in particular but for god's sake none of you all seem to know a thing about DC or people under 60.

If you are going to argue that DC has a worthwhile arts scene, I think it’s a strong demonstration that you have no idea what you’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

DC is not a young person's city, certainly not in the way that other cities are.

Not much you can do to change that.

Why its not? Lots of young people dream of working and living on the Hill.

DC does not offer what other cities offer. Compared to other cities, DC is not that walkable, and DC is not at the top of young people's lists of where to locate after college.

Working on the Hill is not that impressive to everybody - it only appeals to a certain personality. That type of personality is not appealing to most people.

For example, OP - you are acting like DC is the be all and end all and why WOULDN'T young people want to be here?? That is exactly what turns people off, especially young people who have choices.

Sure, if you live in Chevy Chase DC by Rock Creek Park, it isn't very walkable. But then again, not many young people are living there. Where young people live - H Street, SW, Navy Yard, Shaw, NoMA (Eckington) and Ivy City, it is very walkable.

The fact that you don't consider DC to be walkable mean either you live somewhere in the burbs, or simply are not familiar with the neighborhoods young people are migrating to.

I live in CCDC and I'm a 15-minute walk to three separate Metro stops. You're talking out of your ass.

Which metro stops are those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

Not picking on this poster in particular but for god's sake none of you all seem to know a thing about DC or people under 60.

If you are going to argue that DC has a worthwhile arts scene, I think it’s a strong demonstration that you have no idea what you’re talking about.

Because nothing attracts young professionals like a fine arts scene! Especially if it is both edgy and safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think DC is pretty attractive to young professionals. However, one area where it is lacking is in the creative field. DC has a lot of interesting stuff, but much of it is more middle of the road or even stodgy. A little more edge culturally would probably be attractive to a lot of younger people--that is something that draws people to NYC and other cities.

Not picking on this poster in particular but for god's sake none of you all seem to know a thing about DC or people under 60.

I am under 60 and have lived in several cities that are generally viewed as attractive to young people, including the Bay Area, Austin and Berlin. I am also very familiar with other cities. Based on that experience, it is very clear to me that DC is not cutting edge culturally. Yes, it is better than when I moved here. No doubt about that. But there is a lot of room for improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What would make DC more appealing for young professionals?

DC is not a young person's city, certainly not in the way that other cities are.

Not much you can do to change that.

Why its not? Lots of young people dream of working and living on the Hill.

And lots of people do! Hundreds of group houses. The holdback seems to be jobs? For every recent grad or summer college student I know who ends up working on the hill, I know another one who never was able to secure a hill job

There are so many non-profit and advocacy jobs - more than anywhere else in the country. I find this whole thread to not reflect reality.

Awesome with an biglaw or engineer spouse or a trust fund, not too workable if you are trying to make a living