I am PP and honestly don’t care where they build the density and retail. Wisconsin, Connecticut…they are both major thoroughfares. I find this “village in a community” concept laughable. It’s a practical strip of shops and restaurants, but that is all it is. There is little charm like you find in Old Town, nor are there really any community events or parades (other than CC Day which is weak) like in Palisades or elsewhere. |
Let's pretend for a minute that your unproven conclusions are wrong. Let's pretend that the deal is not a giveaway and that the people on the listserv have no connection to developers and are actual advocates for fair housing and equity. What else do you have an issue with? |
I don't get it. Why would apartments on top of the library/community center harm the "pedestrian-scale, neighborhood-oriented" atmosphere? Are you worried that the people in the apartments won't be pedestrians? Or won't be neighbors? |
They are scared that the residential towers will block their sun. |
Nobody is arguing over redevelopment of the Library and Community Center. Both need a renovation (at the very least). The problem is that should the current plan move forward, the new library and community center would be the lowest priority, with the mixed use private development being the primary goal. Many local residents (including myself) are doubtful that a new community center and library would even actually be built under the current plan - the private developer would no doubt rush to construct the apartments approved through this Trojan horse maneuver (including the necessary demo of the existing library/community center) while DC futzes around trying to fund the new library/community center. Eventually the apartments will be built while the new library/community center will be quietly shelved and replaced with even more apartments. |
If there is a clause in the contract that says community center and library must be complete before a single storefront or apartment could be rented, would you still have a problem with the development? |
Yes, I would still have a problem with it. Maybe less so, but it’s just not appropriate for the neighborhood. Chevy Chase remains one of the few thriving middle to upper middle class neighborhoods in DC where single family homes are predominant, and that needs to be protected before it turns into another Bethesda dominated by overpriced condos, apartments, townhomes, etc. |
How very droll of the entitled, white, boomer who adamantly believes their way of life is perfect and all others should just accept that. |
"Upper middle class" maybe for the folks who moved in 30 years ago. An entry level fixer upper inthis area goes for a cool $1.3mm. Upper middle class, this is not. |
This is nonsense and nobody actually fears this will happen. The RFP will require a new community center and library…the developer won’t just put up an apartment complex against the contract. |
Literally none of the new SFH owners are middle class…only the folks that move into the apartments could reasonably considered middle class. It is only the people that purchased their homes 30+ years ago that may be considered middle class…yet even my elderly neighbors that purchased that long ago are in fact UMC or downright wealthy (with one neighbor having a building named after them at an elite college). So, it is a mystery who these middle class residents may be. |
I find it odd when there are several large apartment buildings at Livingston street, why having one more two blocks away now means the area is Bethesda. We already have apartment buildings, so one more is just…one more. |
That is pretty middle class for the DC metro. But that is beyond the point. The point is that building massive apartment buildings on public land as a gift to wealthy developers is not what the community wants, and is not appropriate for the suburban, low density area, and would seriously impact the neighborhood. Connecticut avenue, and many of its side streets, are already at capacity (and add in the proposed bike lanes - it is only getting worse and worse), the parks are already overwhelmed, and there is zero access to reliable non-bus public transit, all without an influx of new residents. I’m all for building more density, but it needs to be built places that can support it. |
How do you define middle and upper middle class? |
The median home price in DC and in fact the DC metro area is around $650k. CC is not a middle class area…how many new homeowners are a teacher and a cop vs two BigLaw lawyers. None on the former yet two homes just sold on my block to the latter. |