Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that adding housing supply won't change the supply-demand curve. The basic facts are:

1. there's a housing shortage
2. more housing will help alleviate the housing shortage
3. some people are highly motivated to assert that fact 1 and fact 2 are not facts

My post wasn’t meant to imply 1 and 2 aren’t facts. Simply that there are factors that may mitigate the intended impact, potentially significantly. I don’t think construction of new hosing via 3-6 plexes or bonus height density will outweigh population pressures for decades. The lending environment is pretty unfavorable right now. Some people are also highly motivated to simplify complex scenarios and bury unintended impacts by attacking those who raise them as opposed to addressing their arguments.

I was just noticing there is a ton of land along the George Washington Parkway that could be sold to developers for housing. The National Mall has lots of flat, open space. Fort Ward also has lots of space, don’t mind the historical significance and past. This. Is. A. Crisis.

Or we could allow developers to build 2-6 unit buildings where they are currently only allowed to build 1-unit buildings.

Because that would impact this crisis, right? If every detached single family home in Alexandria was razed and replaced with a 3-plex that would increase housing stock by roughly 30,000 - if that. But what is not factored in is there are plenty of people who would still want a detached SFH willing to pay as much or more than developers on a very limited supply. Doing nothing for housing supply. And increasing those McMansion so loathed by Yimbys. So why not Fort Ward? Shouldn’t all cards be on the table to avert this crisis?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that adding housing supply won't change the supply-demand curve. The basic facts are:

1. there's a housing shortage
2. more housing will help alleviate the housing shortage
3. some people are highly motivated to assert that fact 1 and fact 2 are not facts

My post wasn’t meant to imply 1 and 2 aren’t facts. Simply that there are factors that may mitigate the intended impact, potentially significantly. I don’t think construction of new hosing via 3-6 plexes or bonus height density will outweigh population pressures for decades. The lending environment is pretty unfavorable right now. Some people are also highly motivated to simplify complex scenarios and bury unintended impacts by attacking those who raise them as opposed to addressing their arguments.

I was just noticing there is a ton of land along the George Washington Parkway that could be sold to developers for housing. The National Mall has lots of flat, open space. Fort Ward also has lots of space, don’t mind the historical significance and past. This. Is. A. Crisis.

Or we could allow developers to build 2-6 unit buildings where they are currently only allowed to build 1-unit buildings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that adding housing supply won't change the supply-demand curve. The basic facts are:

1. there's a housing shortage
2. more housing will help alleviate the housing shortage
3. some people are highly motivated to assert that fact 1 and fact 2 are not facts

My post wasn’t meant to imply 1 and 2 aren’t facts. Simply that there are factors that may mitigate the intended impact, potentially significantly. I don’t think construction of new hosing via 3-6 plexes or bonus height density will outweigh population pressures for decades. The lending environment is pretty unfavorable right now. Some people are also highly motivated to simplify complex scenarios and bury unintended impacts by attacking those who raise them as opposed to addressing their arguments.

I was just noticing there is a ton of land along the George Washington Parkway that could be sold to developers for housing. The National Mall has lots of flat, open space. Fort Ward also has lots of space, don’t mind the historical significance and past. This. Is. A. Crisis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that adding housing supply won't change the supply-demand curve. The basic facts are:

1. there's a housing shortage
2. more housing will help alleviate the housing shortage
3. some people are highly motivated to assert that fact 1 and fact 2 are not facts

My post wasn’t meant to imply 1 and 2 aren’t facts. Simply that there are factors that may mitigate the intended impact, potentially significantly. I don’t think construction of new hosing via 3-6 plexes or bonus height density will outweigh population pressures for decades. The lending environment is pretty unfavorable right now. Some people are also highly motivated to simplify complex scenarios and bury unintended impacts by attacking those who raise them as opposed to addressing their arguments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

Yeah, I'm tired of hearing that adding housing supply won't change the supply-demand curve. The basic facts are:

1. there's a housing shortage
2. more housing will help alleviate the housing shortage
3. some people are highly motivated to assert that fact 1 and fact 2 are not facts

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

This proposal will not correct that issue unless you are talking about bonus height density. Most of the housing that will come out of this proposal will not be affordable. Rather, proponents argue, its existence will one day relieve pressure on the median and above median income markets, bringing down rent across the board.

The problem with this argument is that this area will continue to remain popular based on its proximity to DC and employers.

They also argue their current infrastructure/school projects will prepare the area for future needs. But they also continuously use old assumptions to determine future need. For example, they say new apartments are not a primary source for school kids historically. But if their argument is that SFHs are going to become unaffordable, then at some point those new apartments will become a source for school kids.

People on this thread should be paying closer attention to the bonus height density. The mayor is working carefully to avoid discussion of the impact of bonus height density on his most recent posts, and how it would impacts those lovey garden apartments with parking nestled along arterials. The last time bonus height density was proposed it blew up because as one area became eligible for bonus height density, more areas around it could become eligible in the future. And those lovey garden apartments- some were actually outlined in the prior proposal as bonus height density eligible.

When the bonus height density reg failed, the major decided to stop putting out these initiatives in pieces and asked staff to push out one package on a fast track. There will be a lot of nuances in this pretty large set up proposals that will make it every different from the missing middle in Arlington- and a lot larger.

City council is also fast tracking this so it’s not an election issue. If they really think this proposal was supported by the city and the best thing for the city, they would allow it to become an issue in the next election (one where, rumor has it, the mayor does not intend to run, which is why you will hear ago Gaskins and others kicking off campaigns in the near future). Naysayers will say we’ve been talking about this vaguely for a while (while also saying you can’t saying anything negative or engage in real discussion till the proposals are out). But the truth is this was fast tracked based on the prior timeline and done so intentionally to avoid citizens having time to fully comprehend also the more nuanced impacts of the proposals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Two is not the max you are allowed more people for the dining room as well at my complex.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

And why is this economic reality now to be the burden of Alexandrians? 15 square miles of land certainly cannot even make a dent in this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Fine, 2 adults in the 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment that's affordable with a $57,000 gross income. Now, where should their children live? And where should the other relatives live whom they have taken in to help with the rent?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

2 adults is the usual max. You might be shocked to know but many people in the US live in 1 Br apts. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s not bad and it doesn’t mean the people living in them are “less than” though apparently it dies in your eyes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

How many working full time adults should live in a 595 sf 1 BR/1 BA apartment?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

The idea here seems to be that there is no housing crisis if vacant units are available. But there are always going to be vacant rental units available, just like there are always going to be units available for sale. People move in, people move out, people die, people combine households, people separate households...

Also, let's look at those units at The Sherwood at Southern Towers.

391 sf studio, 7 available, starting from $1498/month
514 sf studio, 10 available, starting from $1499/month
653 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 1 available, starting from $1690/month
721 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 8 available, starting from $1678/month
725 sf 1 BR/1 BA, 10 available, starting from $1755/month
884 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 2 available, starting from $2238/month
928 sf 2 BR/1 BA, 4 available, starting from $2290/month
1450 sf 2 BR/2 BA, 2 available, starting from $3013/month
1250 sf 3 BR/2 BA, 1 available, starting from $3002/month

So I guess you are trying to say these rents are outrageous and unaffordable ?

In reality, these rents aren’t too far off from the affordable housing rents offered by the City. Btw the City updates the list monthly.

https://www.alexandriava.gov/sites/default/files/2023-08/AUGUST%202023%20CAU%20Monthly%20Report%2008-03-2023.FINALTOUSE.pdf

And from your other example income of $57k is achievable if there are 2 working full time adults in the household. What then happens is they will often take in other relatives to help with the rent and no they don’t add them to the lease.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain to me like I am 5 how there is a housing crisis in Alexandria when the last report on homelessness said there were 152 people in the City experiencing homelessness in 2023 - down from 198 in 2019?

I will concede the large influx of undocumented immigrants to our sanctuary city may need housing, but I truly doubt they will be renting the $3.5k a month apartment in the six-plex built on Loyola avenue with no parking spot for their unmarked work van. And why would a young couple choose to live in that same six-plex when they can move into The Porter and get happy hours in the lobby? So maybe that couple would move into a $1million duplex built on that same lot, so the removal of SFH zoning has now increased housing capacity by 1 for that lot. And not anything affordable. And not a speck of grass remaining.

My favorite talking point of the council is removal of SFH zoning is desegregation - not even hiding behind the implication that POC cannot afford SFHs so something lesser needs created. What a pessimistic view.

https://housingmatters.urban.org/research-summary/addressing-americas-affordable-housing-crisis
https://www.politico.com/interactives/2023/50-mayors-us-cities/housing/
https://nhc.org/two-issues-define-americas-new-housing-crisis/
https://www.fanniemae.com/research-and-insights/perspectives/us-housing-shortage
https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/priced-out-the-state-of-housing-in-america
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/05/business/single-family-zoning-laws/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/14/1109345201/theres-a-massive-housing-shortage-across-the-u-s-heres-how-bad-it-is-where-you-l
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/nowhere-live-profits-disinvestment-and-american-housing-crisis
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/upshot/housing-shortage-us.html

But in the City of Alexandria, right now, where is the crisis? Where are the droves of Residents (the Council's constituency) that are in "a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger" over housing? Unfortunately financial inequities exist, and they always will even in countries purporting to be socialist / communist (look at the immigrant populations in Sweden and France). Alexandria need not destroy itself so DINKs can buy Del Ray townhouses or the Hill staffer can rent an apartment in Potomac Yard. Weirdly, there are plenty of apartments available in the West End - there are 46 units available right now at The Sherwood at Southern Towers, so they are at 89% occupancy. Right --- that developer who will make a cool million knocking down that perfectly good SFH to build three townhouses doesn't get a dime if we just encourage occupancy of the existing housing stock. So it is a crisis of not getting the house one wants or thinks they deserve - what if one wants a SFH, do they not deserve that?

Go the YIMBY website. Virtually all of the people ar the meeting were white. The former mayor who is black is against the plan

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The City doesn’t lack housing. There are massive condo buildings in west Alexandria and they are not full. If the City was serious they would move on from public housing and provide home buyer assistance.

Image if they had done that 20 years ago. They would have given a generation of families a hand up. But instead the liberals choose the thing that makes them feel good - a hand out.

+1. The Blake on Beuregard is 70% vacant. They are so desperate that they are offering two months free rent and no security deposit if your credit is over 800.

This has nothing to do with housing. This is about social justice in their mind. Stick it to the white man. That's the council's primary objective in everything. Social justice, not actual governance.

Try getting a 800 credit score from the typical Alexandria renter.