Wisconsin Ave Development Project

[Anonymous]

So we'll just lose everyone who wants a house in DC but can't afford $2 million. That's a stretch even for a two-income family with high-paying jobs. They'll move to the burbs where townhouses are available and the schools are better. It's sad. Meanwhile, we build thousands of one bedroom condos, presumably for voucher holders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have young adult children, and they are definitely not seeking 700 square foot 1 1/2 bedroom condos. They want three bedroom townhouses under 2000 square feet for under a million. Do such homes exist? All the new townhouses I see are $2 million and 3000 square feet.

There is nothing west of the Park or close in Chevy Chase/Bethesda for under a million.

Not everyone can afford CC/B. DMV has plenty of other options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wish is for them to route traffic around the back of the old Mazza Gallery in a loop and close off Wisconsin ave to traffic in front of Mazza Gallery. Make it an open space/streatery.

I like that idea. Like a Bethesda Row kind of plaza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But do working class families want to live in condos or will they move to the suburbs where townhouses are available. I still say what we really need in this city are modest townhouses under a million.

For now, they are in parts of the city east and south of the Mall. In another 5 years, they won't be under a million either.

I'm not convinced about that looking at trends.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with the poster who said movie theaters are going away. I think they are still a great entertainment option. I prefer a night out at a movie with dinner and drinks either before or after. I can’t be alone in that thinking. Staying home is nice some times but some movies are more fun to see in a theater …

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live off Mass Ave so I am a bit further away. I am thrilled at this development. Getting into downtown Bethesda is trickier than FH/TT.

Excited to see those areas become better than they were in the late 90s/early 2000s.

Between this and the new Westbard development, I am liking it!

Why do you like it? The Westbard development will destroy the character of that neighborhood- the new Giant is unappealing and does not cater to the neighborhood population at all. I see the for lease signs in tenley and the wegmans and just don’t think these new developments address the demand - which is SFH not mixed use 1/2 bedrooms on the 8th floor with vouchers. It is too bad.

You prefer the character of a massive parking lot and a shopping center that looks like it should be in a Moscow suburb?

How does the giant NOT cater to the population?I am part of the population as are many of my neighbors in Sumner and we are thrilled with the new Giant. It’s 10x better than the Safeway..the parking isn’t ideal but it’s not a big deal.

Once Westbard is done in 2027-2028 it will be such a nice walkable amenity to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Excited for the new BBQ joint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with the poster who said movie theaters are going away. I think they are still a great entertainment option. I prefer a night out at a movie with dinner and drinks either before or after. I can’t be alone in that thinking. Staying home is nice some times but some movies are more fun to see in a theater …

I agree. We sometimes go out to movies in Bethesda or Georgetown and make an evening of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have young adult children, and they are definitely not seeking 700 square foot 1 1/2 bedroom condos. They want three bedroom townhouses under 2000 square feet for under a million. Do such homes exist? All the new townhouses I see are $2 million and 3000 square feet.

Move to Rockville? You can’t afford NWDC if that’s the case. Idk why people think the world should cater to their budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But do working class families want to live in condos or will they move to the suburbs where townhouses are available. I still say what we really need in this city are modest townhouses under a million.

I really want a modest townhome on the beach in Santa Monica for under a $1M. It’s so unfair I can’t have that!

[Anonymous]

True, but I still don't know who is going to live in all these condos. The planners suggest it will be families but that's not the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm fine with higher density in Friendship Heights, as long as it is respectful of the adjacent neighborhoods. But it's true that DC needs to stop densifying everything. People choose to live here because it does not have suburban massing. I know I do.

Wanna bet that people will still choose to live here after these improvements? They will. Maybe not you, but then again, your personal preferences are not the primary concern. Or secondary, or tertiary, or . . . you get the idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But do working class families want to live in condos or will they move to the suburbs where townhouses are available. I still say what we really need in this city are modest townhouses under a million.

Are you familiar with Anacostia?

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with the argument that not everyone can live everywhere, but if we want to attract a more economically diverse population, we need townhouses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:True, but I still don't know who is going to live in all these condos. The planners suggest it will be families but that's not the case.

They're for childless adults. Families will move elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Trader Joe's is coming to Chevy Chase Pavillion.

FH could be incredible if it was connected on the MD side. You could create another Reston Town Center or whatever they call the area in Rockville/North Bethesda with the REI and LL Bean.

You have a wasted surface lot behind the new Mazza replacement, wasted surface lot at the Saks in CC MD. You have the Lord & Taylor site...it seems crazy to turn that into the new bus depot...although I guess that opens up development of the current bus depot.

It needs to be far more mixed-use...apartments, retail, entertainment (Dave & Busters, Pinstripes type places), etc.

Turning Friendship Heights and AU Park into some high rise city with Dave & Busters? No thanks.

That would be awesome. Right now it is basically nothing and wont be converted into a SFH or open space area…so what would you suggest?

BTW…I don’t care nor even understand what Smart growth is. I want a fun, dynamic destination with lots for everyone to do.

Building lots of townhouses makes more sense than apartments and condos. Increasing density without drastically altering the area.

the region invested billions into the metro station. you don't build low density townhouses on top of such a regional investment.

I get it, you live in a single family home not far from Friendship Heights. You chose to purchase there based on proximity to metro and other amenities. Guess what, other people want to enjoy the same benefits. You can enjoy what you have and let new people also enjoy it as well.

Beautiful! the "new" people can move into the existing SFHs and rowhomes in the neighborhood when they come on the market! Then "other" people can enjoy the same benefits.

Where you and I part company is when you think I should have thousands of _additional_ people living within a mile of me -- in multifamily housing that doesn't yet exist. And for which there is not demonstrated demand, as shown by flat in-migration and empty new construction apartments a mile down the road.