Giving up on North Arligton... Is South Arlington going to improve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

So tell us again the benefits of living among poor people, especially if they behavior like stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

So tell us again the benefits of living among poor people, especially if they behavior like stereotypes.

Well, I live in a S. Arlington neighborhood and I assume that some of my neighbors are lower income and they are the same as my upper income neighbors, so I am not really sure the problem. Look do high concentrations of lower income areas tend to have higher areas of crime yes. Does that same rule apple when there are mixed neighborhoods of people from all incomes? I don't think so (although admittedly I haven't done any studies). I know that in my neighborhood the community civic action meetings are packed with people that are concerned about their neighborhood and schools. There are loads of benefits of treating people with compassion and realizing that folks can be perfectly capable of functioning in society regardless of income if we stop treating them as less than or animals.

My husband grew up very poor and his family still is. They seem to be no different than I. They still strive for their kids to get a good education and no they aren't in jail or causing trouble all the time. They just want a good life for their family, which is basically all anyone wants. Lower income folks have as much of a right to exist in a neighborhood as I do.

I think there are immense benefits to being exposed to people off all different backgrounds (race, life stories and incomes) because it gives people an opportunity to learn how to see outside their own privileged and allows for greater change in society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

So tell us again the benefits of living among poor people, especially if they behavior like stereotypes.

Well, I live in a S. Arlington neighborhood and I assume that some of my neighbors are lower income and they are the same as my upper income neighbors, so I am not really sure the problem. Look do high concentrations of lower income areas tend to have higher areas of crime yes. Does that same rule apple when there are mixed neighborhoods of people from all incomes? I don't think so (although admittedly I haven't done any studies). I know that in my neighborhood the community civic action meetings are packed with people that are concerned about their neighborhood and schools. There are loads of benefits of treating people with compassion and realizing that folks can be perfectly capable of functioning in society regardless of income if we stop treating them as less than or animals.

My husband grew up very poor and his family still is. They seem to be no different than I. They still strive for their kids to get a good education and no they aren't in jail or causing trouble all the time. They just want a good life for their family, which is basically all anyone wants. Lower income folks have as much of a right to exist in a neighborhood as I do.

I think there are immense benefits to being exposed to people off all different backgrounds (race, life stories and incomes) because it gives people an opportunity to learn how to see outside their own privileged and allows for greater change in society.

Cam I ask which neighborhood? We live in south Arlington, but in an area where there are a lot of long-time residents, and there is tension between them and "gentrifiers." I wish we could get to a place where everyone works together but its challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

So tell us again the benefits of living among poor people, especially if they behavior like stereotypes.

Well, I live in a S. Arlington neighborhood and I assume that some of my neighbors are lower income and they are the same as my upper income neighbors, so I am not really sure the problem. Look do high concentrations of lower income areas tend to have higher areas of crime yes. Does that same rule apple when there are mixed neighborhoods of people from all incomes? I don't think so (although admittedly I haven't done any studies). I know that in my neighborhood the community civic action meetings are packed with people that are concerned about their neighborhood and schools. There are loads of benefits of treating people with compassion and realizing that folks can be perfectly capable of functioning in society regardless of income if we stop treating them as less than or animals.

My husband grew up very poor and his family still is. They seem to be no different than I. They still strive for their kids to get a good education and no they aren't in jail or causing trouble all the time. They just want a good life for their family, which is basically all anyone wants. Lower income folks have as much of a right to exist in a neighborhood as I do.

I think there are immense benefits to being exposed to people off all different backgrounds (race, life stories and incomes) because it gives people an opportunity to learn how to see outside their own privileged and allows for greater change in society.

Cam I ask which neighborhood? We live in south Arlington, but in an area where there are a lot of long-time residents, and there is tension between them and "gentrifiers." I wish we could get to a place where everyone works together but its challenging.

We live in Nauck. I am not sure the area is entirely devoid of tension between the long-time residents and gentrifiers. The only real controversy I remember is when the 7-11 went in and people were upset about it taking business away from Green Valley Pharmacy which is an old local business. But I have found the area very welcoming. As far as I can tell people seem to be working together to make a change. At the last community meeting there was a big push from the long time residents to redevelop a local park and to step up repairs on another park that had recently been vandalized. So it seems like the original residents are committed to change in the neighborhood. I will this neighborhood has a very strong church presence and the church has been very involved in improving the area. So that might make the difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

Well to be honest North Arlington is using south Arlington to house the affordable units and lower income residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

Well to be honest North Arlington is using south Arlington to house the affordable units and lower income residents.

It doesn't matter. The poor will continue to be pushed out. I think the county waited too late to strategize affordable housing, the majority of which is market rate. The county doesn't control it. Eventually the old garden aparmtents along Columbia Pike will be torn down to make way for new market rate housing. The county can push for trying to maintain a percentage of what's there, but that won't be enough. For the what it's worth I haven't noticed any tension between older residents and " gentrifiers" in my neighborhood. However, of the 7 houses around me, 5 of us moved in less than 5 years ago. There has been serious turn over on my street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

Well to be honest North Arlington is using south Arlington to house the affordable units and lower income residents.

It doesn't matter. The poor will continue to be pushed out. I think the county waited too late to strategize affordable housing, the majority of which is market rate. The county doesn't control it. Eventually the old garden aparmtents along Columbia Pike will be torn down to make way for new market rate housing. The county can push for trying to maintain a percentage of what's there, but that won't be enough. For the what it's worth I haven't noticed any tension between older residents and " gentrifiers" in my neighborhood. However, of the 7 houses around me, 5 of us moved in less than 5 years ago. There has been serious turn over on my street.

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/04/07/county-board-candidates-push-for-more-affordable-housing/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-streetcar-demise-sends-message-to-poorer-residents-keep-riding-the-bus/2014/11/19/6aeebf0e-702d-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

[Anonymous]

I don't think the demise of the street car will slow things down much. Especially with how bad the street car is going in DC. Starbucks and Chipolte don't seem worried

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That is where the Chipolte is going. i am not sure what else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

We are getting a chipotle?!?!? I am interested to see what will be in the new bottom level of the apts at Columbia Pike and Glebe... any idea?

That's where the Chipotle is going!!!! I'm hoping for some sort of frozen dessert option.

Menchies is just up the street and is delicious! http://www.menchies.com/

The Broiler also has really good soft serve lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another off the Piker here- I don't know how people can not see how much change is happening. We moved in 7 years ago, and it's a different place. Besides we are getting a Starbucks and chipotle! We've arrived!
All off the worry of affordable housing isn't necessary. The whole issue is that so much of it has disappeared. The county is committed, but don't see it keeping up with progress. There are too many people who will pay market rate to live closer. There is too much money to be made. It's frustrating that their only answer seems to be that very small strip, but it's a losing battle for the county anyway.
I hear Tyson's is booming- I guess many will relocate out there.

Yeah, this annoys me too. How can people say it won't improve where there are a TON of S. Arlington redevelopment projects in the work. But I guess the thing is, people won't say things are improving till all the poor folks are forced out of the boundries. That is why N. Arlington is so awesome right? I mean aside from the pretty landscaping.

Well to be honest North Arlington is using south Arlington to house the affordable units and lower income residents.

It doesn't matter. The poor will continue to be pushed out. I think the county waited too late to strategize affordable housing, the majority of which is market rate. The county doesn't control it. Eventually the old garden aparmtents along Columbia Pike will be torn down to make way for new market rate housing. The county can push for trying to maintain a percentage of what's there, but that won't be enough. For the what it's worth I haven't noticed any tension between older residents and " gentrifiers" in my neighborhood. However, of the 7 houses around me, 5 of us moved in less than 5 years ago. There has been serious turn over on my street.

http://www.arlnow.com/2015/04/07/county-board-candidates-push-for-more-affordable-housing/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/arlington-streetcar-demise-sends-message-to-poorer-residents-keep-riding-the-bus/2014/11/19/6aeebf0e-702d-11e4-893f-86bd390a3340_story.html

I was in the minority in my neighborhood in my support of the street car. I can't imagine someone running for the board without paying lip service to support of affordable housing. I don't think it makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

I lived in Parkway, which is between Glebe, I-395, and Four Mile Run.

If that family shares a duplex with you, hits you up for money every week for months, and has drunken fights between 11pm and 1am, then yeah, it's going to affect your life.

It wasn't just the immediate neighbors. There was a drug dealer complete with pit bulls across the street, two boarding houses within 6 houses on either side, and an extended family buying up every house on the block they could, whose only interaction with us was to yell at us to move our (legally parked on the street) cars whenever we parked in "their" parking spaces. I'm surprised you didn't remember those aspects of my story because I do mention them quite a bit.

I post my tale as a caution -- it's not always peaches and cream in (fill in emerging DC or close-in neighborhood here).

With that said, I'm honestly glad you won the neighbor lottery.


NP here. I've not heard of a Parkway neighborhood. It's not listed as a civic association on the county website. Were you in the Nauck neighborhood or Shirlington? I'm just curious.