Reply to Arlington Missing Middle Housing Q&A

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think there were a lot of issues with MM (the package that got passed, the lengthy yet shallow process, etc). [b] But at the end of the day, we can just move if it's that bad.  [/b]Arlington isn't the "be all end all." The schools are just ok to good-ish, the neighborhoods aren't very charming, and the only major positive is proximity to DC.  I think people have really lost perspective. But I do understand the utter frustration with our county overlords.  They aren't the sharpest tools in the shed for sure!  [/quote]
That's a really obnoxious thing to say.  In addition to having built a community of friends in Arlington, many of us have invested into our homes.  It's not that easy to "just move."

We happen to live next door to a gentleman who has lived in his home for almost 70 years.  He's recently started having health problems. There's a very, very significant chance that his tiny house is going to be replaced by a 6plex in the next few years.  So, do we stay in a home that we love and have spent a lot of money to remodel to our tastes and risk living next door to an apartment building?  Do we risk the loss of privacy and quiet enjoyment of our yard?  Do we risk the drop in our property value?  Or do we move now and give up our interest rate and move our kids away from their friends?  We'd been planning to stay in this house until our kids were in college, so probably another 15-20 years.  It's literally a decision that affects if our leafy backyard remains private or is next door to a multistory apartment building.[/quote]

But if someone buys the house, tears it down, and put up a giant SFH, that will be fine? Even if the family that buys it has five kids and an in-law or two and nanny live with them? (I have no idea why the huge new houses near me have four or five cars in the driveway, but I assume it's not because the parents two or three cars each)[/quote]
I'm not thrilled with how much lot coverage Arlington permits for new builds.  I'd much prefer a some yard and trees, but I'd deal.  We wouldn't move not to live next to another SFH.  That wouldn't affect our property value, nor would it necessarily be louder or less private or have more cars.  It would be a pain to live next door through construction, but we'd survive.

The SFHs on our street, including the new builds, typically have two cars (one for each parent) and 1-3 kids.  Usually one car parks on the driveway and one on the street, as the lots aren't wide enough for a double garage.

A SFH or addition next door was a known risk when we bought.  MM hadn't even been proposed.   [/quote]

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