Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

So why doesn’t MoCo provide some incentives for developers to redevelop some of these spaces? Money talks. There’s a sector plan for GA Ave that is actually fairly thoughtful but there’s no funding. Why waste all this time in a plan to just shelve it? One of my issues with the rezoning is that it is likely going to take more moderately priced SFHs out to build these multi family complexes. Developers will be able to outcompete first time homebuyers with all cash offers. And you’d get more housing at once actually building a thoughtful complex rather than piecemeal knocking down houses.

Why should Montgomery County subsidize developers to build market-rate housing?

Also, why shouldn't two-unit, three-unit, or four-unit residential buildings be allowed in areas where currently only single-unit residential buildings are allowed? Why should the only choices for apartments be in big complexes on big roads?

Ask Hans. He specialized in subsidizing market rate housing and opposed multi-unit buildings as soon as there was a real proposal.

Why ask Hans? At this point, he's irrelevant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

So why doesn’t MoCo provide some incentives for developers to redevelop some of these spaces? Money talks. There’s a sector plan for GA Ave that is actually fairly thoughtful but there’s no funding. Why waste all this time in a plan to just shelve it? One of my issues with the rezoning is that it is likely going to take more moderately priced SFHs out to build these multi family complexes. Developers will be able to outcompete first time homebuyers with all cash offers. And you’d get more housing at once actually building a thoughtful complex rather than piecemeal knocking down houses.

Why should Montgomery County subsidize developers to build market-rate housing?

Also, why shouldn't two-unit, three-unit, or four-unit residential buildings be allowed in areas where currently only single-unit residential buildings are allowed? Why should the only choices for apartments be in big complexes on big roads?

Ask Hans. He specialized in subsidizing market rate housing and opposed multi-unit buildings as soon as there was a real proposal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

So why doesn’t MoCo provide some incentives for developers to redevelop some of these spaces? Money talks. There’s a sector plan for GA Ave that is actually fairly thoughtful but there’s no funding. Why waste all this time in a plan to just shelve it? One of my issues with the rezoning is that it is likely going to take more moderately priced SFHs out to build these multi family complexes. Developers will be able to outcompete first time homebuyers with all cash offers. And you’d get more housing at once actually building a thoughtful complex rather than piecemeal knocking down houses.

Why should Montgomery County subsidize developers to build market-rate housing?

Also, why shouldn't two-unit, three-unit, or four-unit residential buildings be allowed in areas where currently only single-unit residential buildings are allowed? Why should the only choices for apartments be in big complexes on big roads?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

So why doesn’t MoCo provide some incentives for developers to redevelop some of these spaces? Money talks. There’s a sector plan for GA Ave that is actually fairly thoughtful but there’s no funding. Why waste all this time in a plan to just shelve it? One of my issues with the rezoning is that it is likely going to take more moderately priced SFHs out to build these multi family complexes. Developers will be able to outcompete first time homebuyers with all cash offers. And you’d get more housing at once actually building a thoughtful complex rather than piecemeal knocking down houses.

Subsidizing market rate housing is exactly what we shouldn’t be doing. We need to be more deliberate about creating an environment that’s more attractive to employers. If we start attracting high paying jobs here again, developers will take their approved plans and start building houses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

So why doesn’t MoCo provide some incentives for developers to redevelop some of these spaces? Money talks. There’s a sector plan for GA Ave that is actually fairly thoughtful but there’s no funding. Why waste all this time in a plan to just shelve it? One of my issues with the rezoning is that it is likely going to take more moderately priced SFHs out to build these multi family complexes. Developers will be able to outcompete first time homebuyers with all cash offers. And you’d get more housing at once actually building a thoughtful complex rather than piecemeal knocking down houses.

Please write your Council Member about a NO vote for Reimer. Anyone would be better, but I am hoping for Pete Fosselman

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

OK. Who is going to do this? It's already allowed: every one of those shopping centers is already zoned as "high rise" mixed use. And it's already being done in places: for example, the west side of Federal Plaza. Also Twinbrook Quarter, but that's City of Rockville.

And multi-unit housing should ALSO be allowed in areas currently zoned R-60 (like Woodside), R-90, etc.

I'm not talking about Hans Riemer; he's out of office, I don't think he's going to be named to or win any other office, and that's fine with me. I'm talking about housing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

DP, but are you kidding? Every one- or two-story shopping center/strip mall with a giant parking lot in front needs to be redone as high-rise mixed use. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also upzone in other places, but remember that Hans Riemer opposed upzoning the last time it was in front of the council and also supported removing Woodside from the DTSS plan last fall. He’s hardly the housing advocate that people make him out to be. The housing production results that Riemer’s policies produced would make a NIMBY proud.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

In other words, solutions that would allow building more homes in areas that already have homes. So impractical!

Georgia Avenue and Rockville Pike are already zoned to allow residential development. Do you have any particular "underutilized" properties on Georgia or Rockville Pike in mind?

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Lets turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

DC, especially in SW, also has parcels that are far easier to develop into multifamily housing than old office buildings. They’re not being developed because developers are careful not to flood the market with supply. Every one of those lots, plus the office buildings, are potential housing in DC close to jobs. As a developer, I would not be inclined to put money into Montgomery County right now with all of the current and potential competition in jurisdictions where I can get more in rent.

The people who have advocated for Montgomery County to subsidize market rate housing instead of spending that money to attract employers did this county, the environment, and urbanism a great disservice. That group of people included Hans Riemer, and that’s the main reason he shouldn’t be planning chair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess he'll have to get a real, actual job.

Maybe his parents will fund another astroturf non-profit for him to run until the next election comes along?

Ah… is he a child of the elite? I’ve wondered.

Anonymous wrote:Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Let’s turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

This sounds like a practical solution that should be investigated, but the YIMBYs and pro developers want to instead argue about silly solutions that would force mini apartment buildings into neighborhoods of existing homes. So, of course, owners of SFH will fight against the entire agenda because they are forced to consider the practical with the impractical. Few people hate the idea of bikes lanes, but the 15 minute community crowd will become apoplectic at the mention of increased commute times as an effect of reducing auto travel lanes to fit these luxurious bike lanes.

It’s very strange…as if they are fighting the idea of auto travel and SFH rather than fighting for specific goals.

Lets see. DC is worried about empty office buildings downtown, and is trying to turn some of them into residential buildings, whether condos or apartments. NYC is doing the same. Meanwhile, in MoCo, no one is focused on the underutilized commercial space all across MoCo. Does someone honestly think that George Avenue and Rockville Pike will attract one or more corporate headquarters or even office buildings? Or mabe expensive new retail offerings? No real chance. Lets turn some of it into residential housing of all sorts.

Yeah Hans certainly has his fans in the GGW washington crowd and the like but if "everyone loved him" he wouldnt have finished a distant 3rd in a race with freaking Marc Elrich and David Blair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only in Moco that a guy who was term limited for council, and finished a very distant third in the exec race could then get a 228k a yr job that pays more than the executive, from his buddies on the council. Its the definition of failing up.

He doesn’t have a lot of buddies on the council, if he has any at all. Fortunately, there are at least three better qualified applicants. It’s going to be really embarrassing for him when he doesn’t get this job, just like he got passed over for a job in the Moore administration.

Why would he apply if he had not already had these conversations? The only hope I have that this is not a set up is Craig Rice not getting the job. But fair is never fair in Montgomery County and I could see a bizarre scenario where Raskin could be pushing for him or something for TKPK homerism.

I have to admit that watching him try to belatedly brown nose Moore was hilarious.

If Raskin liked him then he would have endorsed him for CE. The fact is that nobody can stand the guy and the other applicants have more relevant experience and education.

What are you talking about? Everyone loves him. He's an excellent leader. We need more people like him in local government.

Everything you said is incorrect. Perhaps it's how you feel, but it's not how most people feel. I hope Riemer never gets another government position.