Bought in Columbia Forest 4 years ago. Many of my neighbors own multiple properties and Porsches. Clearly a financially savvy group. VERY quiet. Not much crime that I'm aware of. But I'm always hearing about the crime in N Arlington. Honestly I wouldn't trade it. I was a North Arlington Snob until it came time to buy a house. $750k with a kitchen so small you can't turn around in it. I have a big kitchen and a quarter acre and lots of mature trees. I feel like I'm in the country with all the big trees. Our house value has already gone up well over $100k in 3 years. What's not to love? Families are desperate to get their kids into Claremont and I've heard parents rave about Wakefield. One told me that because there are so many immigrants that the teachers really get a lot more involved with their students. I'm glad many people send their kids north. Smaller classrooms for my kids.

Be ready for a fight. You will be called racist, classist, you name it. The only way to halt the drive to build more housing on the pike is to convince politicians. Look what happened with the street car.

But even then the damage is done at Barcroft. Perhaps those families who don't want a year round school can have an alternative other than randolf or carlin springs, similarly challenged schools.

Anonymous wrote:I'd have to assume adding more low-income housing would have a spill-over effect on any areas zoned for Kenmore MS and Wakefield HS as well.

Of course it would, and does. It will also spill over into all of the other elementary schools. The crisis is real, and the board's only answer to it so far has been, " this is something we will have to come to grips with".

... Or we can get organized and work to effect some change in our communities.

Yes they will. Assuming kenmore is still around. They are already close to losing its accreditation. Wakefield right now is actually decent.

I'd have to assume adding more low-income housing would have a spill-over effect on any areas zoned for Kenmore MS and Wakefield HS as well.

Sorry for the typos.

16:47 a you missed the point on thee money part. Yes your assessment went up, but because you live in thst neighborhood with thst school your house is worth about 30-50 percent less than if you live in north arlington. Thst is a fact.

And you can list all of the program you want, those programs are not raising the scores at Barcroft. That school has some of the lowest student achievement in the county, for both the poorer kids and the not so poor kids. That is a fact. Look it up. Statistically speaking YOUR kids are not performing as high as they would in a school where the majority of kids are poor.

At this point there need to be a complete moratorium on new cheap housing in the western pike, whether it is government subsidized or just cheap. There are no seats for these kids, period. The kids need extra support so it is not the same situation as the over crowding in north Arlington. And lady, try to sell your house now living in the Barcroft school boundary. Regardless of your "assessment" your property values have tanked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain market rate affordable housing to me?

I used to live at the Halstead and when we first rented we had a "discount" that they told us was below market rate. So they said market rate for our 2 bedroom 2 bath was 2800 or so, and we paid 2150. So, I assume we are talking about a different market rate?

I guess I am just saying it confuses me and would love to be better educated on the topic! TIA

Market rate housing is housing rented at the going rate. Market rate affordable just means that the particular going rate is lower than average. The Hallstead is nice, no? Isn't that one of the newer buildings close to Penrose?

Market rate affordable is cheap simply because the going rate is cheap. Think of older, crumbling garden style apartments down the Pike.
You got a " discount" ... Sort of... I wouldn't consider your rental cheap.

Market rate affordable down the road is 1200 for 3/4 bedrooms. They aren't set at those prices due to regulating by the gov't - they are just not great housing.

Thanks for the answer. And yes, the Halstead is nice (or I thought so anyway!). It was built in 2009 I think. What you said makes sense. So people generally like subsidized affordable housing vs. affordable market rate housing. Is that because the buildings look nicer or is there another reason.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain market rate affordable housing to me?

I used to live at the Halstead and when we first rented we had a "discount" that they told us was below market rate. So they said market rate for our 2 bedroom 2 bath was 2800 or so, and we paid 2150. So, I assume we are talking about a different market rate?

I guess I am just saying it confuses me and would love to be better educated on the topic! TIA

Market rate housing is housing rented at the going rate. Market rate affordable just means that the particular going rate is lower than average. The Hallstead is nice, no? Isn't that one of the newer buildings close to Penrose?

Market rate affordable is cheap simply because the going rate is cheap. Think of older, crumbling garden style apartments down the Pike.
You got a " discount" ... Sort of... I wouldn't consider your rental cheap.

Market rate affordable down the road is 1200 for 3/4 bedrooms. They aren't set at those prices due to regulating by the gov't - they are just not great housing.

Can someone explain market rate affordable housing to me?

I used to live at the Halstead and when we first rented we had a "discount" that they told us was below market rate. So they said market rate for our 2 bedroom 2 bath was 2800 or so, and we paid 2150. So, I assume we are talking about a different market rate?

I guess I am just saying it confuses me and would love to be better educated on the topic! TIA

Anonymous wrote:It is not 50 percent less in south arlington. at most 30 less. The nice sFh areas are getting pricey and people want decent schools to match. Barcroft is extremely poor planning and the county should make that right.

The county wants to keep the low income housing in western pike. It is easy, minimal neighborhood fuss because the neighborhood is already largely low income. The sFh areas are conflicted because those are the neighbors and it doesn't feel good to trash talk their kids and needs like that. But, the schools are a mess and property values are tanking. In other parts of south arlington the property values are increasing, it is only the western pike area that is suffering and the county is just fine with that.

I'm sorry, but I live in a neighborhood zoned for Barcroft Elementary and you are full of s*** because our assessment just came in a good percentage higher than it was last year. I was talking with some neighbors and theirs did, too.

My husband and I support affordable housing that is done right. I'm talking about communities built by APAH and AHC. They have the support systems in place to assist their residents both young and old because they team up with partners like Greenbrier Learning Center, The Reading Connection, Doorways for Women and Families, La Cocina Virginia, etc. It's the "market rate" affordable housing that I have a problem with. There are lots of problems in those communities and no support for residents.

My kids currently attend one of the Title 1 S. Arl. elementary schools and the kids who live in APAH and AHC communities do far better (for the most part) than those who do not.

Anonymous wrote:It is not 50 percent less in south arlington. at most 30 less. The nice sFh areas are getting pricey and people want decent schools to match. Barcroft is extremely poor planning and the county should make that right.

The county wants to keep the low income housing in western pike. It is easy, minimal neighborhood fuss because the neighborhood is already largely low income. The sFh areas are conflicted because those are the neighbors and it doesn't feel good to trash talk their kids and needs like that. But, the schools are a mess and property values are tanking. In other parts of south arlington the property values are increasing, it is only the western pike area that is suffering and the county is just fine with that.

Hello! I am a resident of one of the aforementioned neighborhoods. Not Barcroft, but I believe my family will certainly be affected by the changing policies set forth by the board. Please make an effort to attend one of the upcoming meetings. The board listens to loudest voices. We need to make ourselves heard.

It is not 50 percent less in south arlington. at most 30 less. The nice sFh areas are getting pricey and people want decent schools to match. Barcroft is extremely poor planning and the county should make that right.

The county wants to keep the low income housing in western pike. It is easy, minimal neighborhood fuss because the neighborhood is already largely low income. The sFh areas are conflicted because those are the neighbors and it doesn't feel good to trash talk their kids and needs like that. But, the schools are a mess and property values are tanking. In other parts of south arlington the property values are increasing, it is only the western pike area that is suffering and the county is just fine with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who do not support affordable housing move to north arlington. Those who do stay in south arlington. Very simple.

I disagree. There are many of us who have remained silent because we thought the county would stand by the plan they put in writing 4 years ago. They committed to geographic diversified affordable housing. They have since decided to scrap that and just stick it where it is easiest. Barcroft school is an example of poor planning. You will start hearing the displeasure of the sfh owners in these neighborhoods now.

This is why you house is worth 50% of where this isn't a problem. I have no problem with them putting affordable housing on the western pike and I am an Arlington voter and campaign contributor. We will continue to support and lobby against degrading any other school districts.

If you don't like it move, if you can't afford to doesnt that make you part of the problem?

Please rewrite that in English.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those who do not support affordable housing move to north arlington. Those who do stay in south arlington. Very simple.

I disagree. There are many of us who have remained silent because we thought the county would stand by the plan they put in writing 4 years ago. They committed to geographic diversified affordable housing. They have since decided to scrap that and just stick it where it is easiest. Barcroft school is an example of poor planning. You will start hearing the displeasure of the sfh owners in these neighborhoods now.

This is why you house is worth 50% of where this isn't a problem. I have no problem with them putting affordable housing on the western pike and I am an Arlington voter and campaign contributor. We will continue to support and lobby against degrading any other school districts.

If you don't like it move, if you can't afford to doesnt that make you part of the problem?