Anonymous wrote:Oh yay, the anti-SFH missing middle kooks are at it again. The MoCo YIMBYs are over here trying to convince local politicians that we should model ourselves after the new zoning policies in PORTLAND of all places, touting the decrease in average property values there…of course, with no idea how much of that decrease was due to the decrease in quality of life and not just an increase in “affordable” housing. At least it’s comforting to know that they have infected Virginia, too.

So in a meeting at George Mason Univeristy, the head planner for the City of Portland (who grew up in Arlington) said that in the last 20 years of up zoning in Portland, 5,000 of the projects were Accessory Dwelling Units that people built in their back yards for family members or rentals. She dashed the dream that the townhouses, semi-detacheds, and 3 to 6 plexes that Arlington approved in July will not take existing housing out of the stock and replace it with affordable owner occupied housing. The YIMBYs lead by the Alexandria renter who styled himself "An Arlington refugee" who couldn't afford to live in Arlington and that's why he wanted Expanded Housing Options in Arlington. Now switching to Alexandria up zoning, he is a loyal son of Alexandria.

So far this has what has happened in Arlington: Buiilders have applied for 22 EHO permits. Fifteen of them are for three to six plexes which are high likely to be rentals because it will be too expensive and difficult to have condo ownership with a small number of units. The remaining semi-detached and townhouses have projected prices of $1.3 to $1.5M. Only two of the projects are in neighborhoods that are not already mixed use.

YIMBYs wanted this type of housing in Arlington so that they could have cheaper access to North Arlington schools. It will be interesting to see if anyone want to have cheaper access to any Alexandria schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.

Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

Hey go back to posting hour bike lobby crap on AlxNow. You know the roads are crowded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.


Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

My son has a weekly physical therapy appointment 1.3 miles from our home in Alexandria. Due to traffic congestion, it takes 25 minutes to get there in the evening by car. It would take the same by bus.

In that case, if it were me, I would take the bus. Less stress, fewer miles on the car.

It's unfortunate how much car traffic slows down buses, though. We need more dedicated bus lanes.

FORCING people to take the bus is not a great plan for most.

Nobody is forcing (let alone FORCING) anybody to take the bus. The PP is continuing to drive to the appointment. It's just less convenient to drive than it used to be; or, conversely, more convenient to take the bus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.


Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

My son has a weekly physical therapy appointment 1.3 miles from our home in Alexandria. Due to traffic congestion, it takes 25 minutes to get there in the evening by car. It would take the same by bus.

In that case, if it were me, I would take the bus. Less stress, fewer miles on the car.

It's unfortunate how much car traffic slows down buses, though. We need more dedicated bus lanes.

FORCING people to take the bus is not a great plan for most.

Anonymous wrote:

The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.


Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

My son has a weekly physical therapy appointment 1.3 miles from our home in Alexandria. Due to traffic congestion, it takes 25 minutes to get there in the evening by car. It would take the same by bus.

In that case, if it were me, I would take the bus. Less stress, fewer miles on the car.

It's unfortunate how much car traffic slows down buses, though. We need more dedicated bus lanes.

The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.


Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

My son has a weekly physical therapy appointment 1.3 miles from our home in Alexandria. Due to traffic congestion, it takes 25 minutes to get there in the evening by car. It would take the same by bus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Frankly there aren't roads here that can support more density than the 12,000-13,000 people we already have a square mile for the city thanks to the mayor and his "road diets" and bike lanes. Please have your voice heard at one of the community meetings.

September 14: Community meeting, Location coming soon.
September 23: City Council Public Hearing, City Hall.

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/08/24/city-of-alexandria-rolls-out-timeline-for-massive-housing-reform-project/

That being the case, their housing plan should focus on mass transit and walkability.

A housing plan should focus on housing.

Anonymous wrote:City of Alexandria: Let's allow private-property owners to have more choices about how to use their property.
DCUM: NO! Terrible! Communism!11111111!

Let’s do that without making anyone contribute to the storm water infrastructure! Pack them in! I got my mind on my money and my money in my mind!

What’s the worst that can happen? Wait…

Anonymous wrote:Frankly there aren't roads here that can support more density than the 12,000-13,000 people we already have a square mile for the city thanks to the mayor and his "road diets" and bike lanes. Please have your voice heard at one of the community meetings.

September 14: Community meeting, Location coming soon.
September 23: City Council Public Hearing, City Hall.

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/08/24/city-of-alexandria-rolls-out-timeline-for-massive-housing-reform-project/

That being the case, their housing plan should focus on mass transit and walkability.

City of Alexandria: Let's allow private-property owners to have more choices about how to use their property.
DCUM: NO! Terrible! Communism!11111111!

Anonymous wrote:The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.

Impossible, you say? So everyone is just sitting at home? Or, if you mean impossible to travel on by car, how come there are so many cars on the roads?

Oh yay, the anti-SFH missing middle kooks are at it again. The MoCo YIMBYs are over here trying to convince local politicians that we should model ourselves after the new zoning policies in PORTLAND of all places, touting the decrease in average property values there…of course, with no idea how much of that decrease was due to the decrease in quality of life and not just an increase in “affordable” housing. At least it’s comforting to know that they have infected Virginia, too.

The schools have been overcapacity for years the roads are impossible to travel on now in the city. City officials have seriously lost their minds. When city council was asked about class sizes and overcapacity issues years ago and asked what their plans are with all the 10 newish affordable housing buildings the literally sat there and blinked. You can't make this incompetence up.

I want to have an open mind, but have no trust whatsoever in Wilson and city staff that they are properly taking into account future costs - primarily education but also infrastructure - this sort of thing is going to impose on taxpayers. You got to get past that before you even start on the NIMBY/YIMBY stuff.

Frankly there aren't roads here that can support more density than the 12,000-13,000 people we already have a square mile for the city thanks to the mayor and his "road diets" and bike lanes. Please have your voice heard at one of the community meetings.

September 14: Community meeting, Location coming soon.
September 23: City Council Public Hearing, City Hall.

https://www.alxnow.com/2023/08/24/city-of-alexandria-rolls-out-timeline-for-massive-housing-reform-project/