Reply to Say NO to Bowser on changing building height limits

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Reply to "Say NO to Bowser on changing building height limits"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
[quote]How about focusing on the public transport greenies love and building in the suburbs which could use a renewal/revival?[/quote]

More public transit is definitely a good idea.  But very expensive.   It can be part of the solution, but cannot be the only solution.

[quote]There are a million programs and options for homebuying for DC government workers in this city, and tons of subsidies for low income.[/quote]

Nonetheless low income and lower middle income people face great and growing challenges finding adequate housing.

[quote]Do you realize that the current housing voucher is well above market value?[/quote]

Market value in the few remaining non gentrified neighborhoods EOTR?  But those will likely be gentrified as well.

[quote] DC doesnt have a special obligation to draw and house every low income person in the reinstate area. [/quote]

Which is why its good that Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax all have programs for committed AH, and most of the suburban jurisdictions (all?) are creating more new market rate apts.  But DC needs to do its share as well, esp as many of these low income people were born in DC.

[quote]We dont have the infrastructure for that, or the taxpayer base.[/quote]

DC has the strongest finances of any local jurisdiction, I think.   And since the number of low income people in DC is not increasing, not sure what the infra issue is? You mean infra for more  total population?  But they pay taxes and can help fund infra.

[quote]However, there are still plenty of areas to find affordable housing or build without going higher  - Anacostia is lovely and the true suburb in the city. Have you ever visited? Rolling hills and bungalows. Maybe the hipsters should put their mt. Pleasant group homes there  and bring in the coffee shops? [/quote]

Bus Boys and Poets has already opened there.   There are definitely young upper middle class people moving there - the more hip to historic Anacostia, the less hip to other neighborhoods.  And that is certainly making Anacostia less affordable for a lower middle class AA family trying to buy.

[quote]Anyhow - its a tiny city with a tiny footprint.[/quote]

Aggravated by limits on density (and in particular on height) that make no sense.

[quote]There is zero need for high rise in DC which is basically "the heart" of a massive tristate city.[/quote]

Isnt the heart of a massive region the logical place for high rises?

[quote] The surrounding suburbs dont have the same height rules, so go live there.[/quote]

Actually Crystal City and Rosslyn have height rules, imposed by the FAA.  But yeah there is room for more density in the suburbs - but just as in DC, it takes battles with NIMBYs to get that.  And of course for people who work in DC,  living in the suburbs will mean more and longer car trips (even from those locations with good transit, which is hardly all of them)

[quote]Good thing Congress runs this city so Bowser has no hope. Viva Congress![/quote]

When Rep Issa was chair of the relevant committee, he was interested in changing the height limit. Not sure what the politics in the congress are now. Don't assume Congress would stop a good proposal for change.[/quote]

NY has height and tons of people still commute into the city. Why are cities obligated to house everyone who wants to live in them - especially one with a tiny footprint like ours, that was originally envisioned not to even have residents, in which essentially PG country, Chevy Chase, Arlington etc are interwoven extensions of our city? They work here, we work there.... Anacostia is a total untapped suburb too. There are plenty of ways to smart grow dc and the tristate by creating different kinds of zones and feels . Bowser's vision of a post apolocalyptic concrete jungle DC of skyscrapers throughout all 4 wards is not what people want. They want lifestyle choices. That's why some want to live here in the first place (and some dont).

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