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Our goal in the D.C. area is to have most of our population around Metro Stations. Montgomery County already has done that through zoning and the agricultural reserve. I know you don't know much about the D.C. area and where we direct our growth but you might want to look into it. Our existence and population centers are around Metro Stations. Within a couple miles of Metro stations pretty much covers much of our population. That is why our population density radiates in a hub and spoke manner. Our counties have area's with high density where people live and transit is in place and other area's where farming takes place. We don't sprawl like Chicago with consistent density everywhere and no agriculture left. We have concentrated high density around are Metro system and border cities.
Haha. You are funny. There is only development around a few Metro stations like King Street, Clarendon, Silver Spring, Ballston, and Rosslyn. And even then, those areas are still largely suburban. Then you have plenty of Metro stations with nothing around them at all.
The Metro doesn't go out far enough to reign in all future growth. And you can't force people into density - they have to want to be in it. This may all sound good on paper, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Yes you can force people into density. It's called growth boundaries and building permits. The government can do anything they want to do. We believe in smart growth up here. You can't live somewhere unless they are building something new. They can't build something new unless the government allows them to do it. Study plan Maryland.
And since you are so interested in the next 50 years, let me show you where people will be funneled in the D.C. area over the next 50 years. This map was made by our local governments showing where growth will be permitted over the next 50 years. Maryland also just passed Plan Maryland which will only allow dense urban development around Metro and Marc Stations to preserve land. You can study Portland Oregon to see what this type of legislation does.
Plans are great, and smart plans even better; 50 years, well reality and history would prove a 50 year plan is usually always 50 years away.
All plans change and the assumptions are NEVER correct; but I will say and have said before I do think DC is doing some the best and most comprehensive plans for growth/development. I like these ideas quite honestly. Just am not convinced all is reality - esp forward looking 50 years.
Wouldn't it be correct to change the bolded to "more of our NEW population"
There are throngs of sprawled areas already everywhere around DC. Are they buldozing Loudon County or something
What you describe is new developement and doesnt account for all that is already there. I actually think it is good but listening to you one would think the 3 million that already live in sprawled suburbs in DC are being forced into dense Metro corriders. Just is absolutely not the case
Also preserving farmland has been done in the Boston/NYC/Philly metros for more than 4 decades now; actually another thing I approve of and think is good for DC and that smarter growth is taking place but on the whole it is the NEW development (which as a percentage is relatively small in the grand scheme of things)
Reading your posts one would think the sprawl doesnt exisit or is being wiped off the map, just not the case
And because you don't read, you missed the part 4 minutes before you posted this where I already addressed that.
This should make it easy for you to see where most of the people live in the region. Click population density so you can see the corridors with density. The rest is very low density with people scattered.
Yep and not even close to 2.7 million in 500 sq miles, not even close
I am sure you can find the densest tracts in the whole MSA to get there with an avergae of 5K ppsm but it is not even close to continuous and this concentrated in the core; potentially radial; but not anywhere close to the core 500 sq miles holding this many people as you claim, and off by a factor of 100%.
Plans are great, and smart plans even better; 50 years, well reality and history would prove a 50 year plan is usually always 50 years away.
All plans change and the assumptions are NEVER correct; but I will say and have said before I do think DC is doing some the best and most comprehensive plans for growth/development. I like these ideas quite honestly. Just am not convinced all is reality - esp forward looking 50 years.
Couple things......
1. We are out of land
2. We have huge pollution in the world
3. We don't have the money to keep up with the infrastructure we have now much less new far flung infrastructure
So to sum it all up...
What exactly do you think could change in the next 50 years except promoting even more dense development than we are now?
Haha. You are funny. There is only development around a few Metro stations like King Street, Clarendon, Silver Spring, Ballston, and Rosslyn. And even then, those areas are still largely suburban. Then you have plenty of Metro stations with nothing around them at all.
Wow....reading comprehension is not your strong suit.
Ok, so we are talking about the next 50 years. Well, in the next 50 years, the region is developing around their existing infrastructure which happens to be Metro stations and Marc/VRE commuter rail stations. This is getting ridiculous. Did you even read what was posted? What does now have to do with CURRENT AND FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT?
1. We are out of land
2. We have huge pollution in the world
3. We don't have the money to keep up with the infrastructure we have now much less new far flung infrastructure
So to sum it all up...
What exactly do you think could change in the next 50 years except promoting even more dense development than we are now?
Change - A MILLION things
Do I think it will be more dense, probobably. Is DC out of Land? Absolutely NOT
I am am advocate for smarter growth; I just dont believe all plans are absolute truths, history would prove my lack of belief is 95 times more correct than any 50 year plan is
What you I think are missing is that DC is already overpiced for real estate. This development schema acts to accelerate prices (which as much as you will fight me on are overpriced because the artifical defict demand by the govt)
Equilibrium will eventually set in. Also people will not be forced to live in these areas, companies will start to get priced out, govt contraction is a real possibility. People can live in Hancok and commute to Gaithersburg for cheaper housing etc.
I think you also assume the voracity of the DC economy over the last 15 years is a constant.
I am not a hater but a realist. I sometimes feel like you read these and think well it rained yesterday, it will rain tomorrow, and the next day etc. simply not the case long term.
And yes I do find your posts unrealistic. While the links are great the way you proport them as absolutes to me are unrealistic and when you say 2.7 million people live in the core 500 sq miles, well that is just absolutely false so yes I do comment
Yep and not even close to 2.7 million in 500 sq miles, not even close
I am sure you can find the densest tracts in the whole MSA to get there with an avergae of 5K ppsm but it is not even close to continuous and this concentrated in the core; potentially radial; but not anywhere close to the core 500 sq miles holding this many people as you claim, and off by a factor of 100%.
It's not supposed to be continuous development. That is the point. It is supposed to be concentrated around urban centers. High density in cities around the region.
Do I think it will be more dense, probobably. Is DC out of Land? Absolutely NOT
I am am advocate for smarter growth; I just dont believe all plans are absolute truths, history would prove my lack of belief is 95 times more correct than any 50 year plan is
What you I think are missing is that DC is already overpiced for real estate. This development schema acts to accelerate prices (which as much as you will fight me on are overpriced because the artifical defict demand by the govt)
Equilibrium will eventually set in. Also people will not be forced to live in these areas, companies will start to get priced out, govt contraction is a real possibility. People can live in Hancok and commute to Gaithersburg for cheaper housing etc.
I think you also assume the voracity of the DC economy over the last 15 years is a constant.
I am not a hater but a realist. I sometimes feel like you read these and think well it rained yesterday, it will rain tomorrow, and the next day etc. simply not the case long term.
And yes I do find your posts unrealistic. While the links are great the way you proport them as absolutes to me are unrealistic and when you say 2.7 million people live in the core 500 sq miles, well that is just absolutely false so yes I do comment
How are we not out of land? Montgomery County for instance only has 4% of buildable land left. The rest is agricultural reserve. Prince George's County also has used way to much land in the last 100 years compared to the population. Virginia is worse than everyone. They are getting smart now about growth. You need to understand the cost of maintaining low density infrastructure. You also need to understand how traffic affects a regional economy. Just stay in Philly working in your profession and leave planning and government affairs to people in the field. Affordable dwelling units is how you control pricing in the D.C. area. It's our law and builders all have to include 15%-20% in every project.
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