Seriously...What is the basis of Hyattsville's new hype?

[sittilove]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I'll assume for now that you live in Bladensburg. Is this your honest objective opinion of Hyattsville, or are you frustrated that what is happening in Hyattsville hasn't made it to Bladensburg yet?

I have lived in the area for 21 years. It takes a long time for a place like Hyattsville to be revitalized. Especially in a county that doesn't get many praises. What you see now is Hyattsville still in transition. There are yet more developments in the pipeline that will further transform downtown Hyattsville as well as the area around the mall and even West Hyattsville which are big TOD zones.

The hype has come from what has happened in the last decade. There has been a rapid transformation of the area. It went from auto lots to breweries and DC area chefs in a matter of 10 - 15 years. And it has a pretty respectible arts community. Hyattsville took the art factor and used it to make Hyattsville what it is today. That's pretty remarkable and should be celebrated.

As far as white people are concerned, I always thought Hyattsville was already white even 20 years ago. At least in the homes around Dematha. So, there hasn't been a great white takeover. If there was, it began decades ago which was well before DC was pricing people out. Even before Downtown Silver Spring was a thing.

I remember when we had to get rides to the movies in downtown Silver Spring for fear of safety. There was nothing there. Not even the Discovery Channel.

Rising tides lift all boats. DC is pricing people out and they are looking for alternatives. Hyattsville is one of them.

If this transformation is in your backyard, I'm not sure why you are baffled. I would be excited. Bladensburg could be transformed next. Unless you don't want that?

No, of course all of these things are good. The problem however, is that the transformations that keep taking place tend to only begin (or even continue, given all the projects that have been abandoned) when white faces are in the horizon. So yes, this could happen to Bladensburg (which would be great, so long as they don't get rid of my old favorite thrift store!), but if it does happen, it seems clear that it will only happen when and if a pioneering white population begins to move further South.



The buildings, houses, layouts are all the same. What is changing to make the county notice other than the people?



But fair enough. What's good news is good news either way.

[adriftinthebay]

While I'm no fan of the race baiting tactics here, I think a lot of what the OP says is correct. Many areas primed for gentrification are selected beforehand based on "potential", which usually means proximity to things or people. There is nothing else special about Hyattsville and you know it -- it's "arts district" is manufactured.

The "why can't [insert group] have nice things" is annoying though. It sets the bar really low for some people and they will never climb up on their own that way. Why not use capitalism to your own advantage? Usually it's the bigger tax base from "white people" contributing to the economic growth, not the other way around.

[terplandlord]

The answer is.... Its in the path of money coming up Rt 1 from DC which is overflowing with money. It is located in a very convenient area and has some charm plus close proximity to UMD and also has abundant private schools nearby.

[DoughLow805]

What Hyattsville, particularly at PG Plaza, always (not always but for decades now) has been is perfect location for development of a modern millennial attracting town/city/suburb. If we take PG plaza metro and compare it to any other metro station in PG County, you've almost always had mix of residential, commercial, and transit within walking distance of each other. Then add in the fact that there was as lot of vacant land for development within that 0.5m walking distance marker directly beside the metro and mall. Then the proximity to UMD being only 1 stop away on College Park metro (which is still poorly located and developed around) and along the same train line that reaches Howard U where getting to school is a cinch and renting is cheaper to the point that they have actual student housing at the station. The rest of the area has some good assets to market...proximity to UMD and DeMatha...big nice parks...a long walk/bike trail...MARC at Riverdale Park's charming Town Center...Whole Foods in Riverdale Park (which doesn't get it's share of the hype for all the developments along Rt 1)..there are just things that other parts of PG don't have to offer that, aside from WF, have been there for a very long time.

[Veritas Vincit]

Originally Posted by gjosephunf

It is certainly growing due to Whole Foods, proximity to DC, and additional mixed-use developments planned along the RT. 1 corridor. Actually, crime is down 50% throughout the county and seems to concentrate along the SE DC border.

https://www.hyattsvillewire.com/2018...ry-apartments/

Vibrant and growing Hyattsville attracts local developers, new residents - Hyattsville Life & Times

I watch the local news...Hyattsville still is one of those places whose name is mentioned commonly in association with reported crimes. I am sure things have improved as they generally have in most places over the last few decades, but id say its still a bit sketch.

Theres two things driving this sort of thing, areas “on the rise”,...one is simply the need for people to live somewhere. The pricing changes get pushed down the ladder and you have people making decent but not Bethesda or Cleveland Park money who need to live somewhere fairly close to the city. Developers know this and can count on the demand IF there’s a perception that the area is safe enough.

But heres the deal with real estate..its to some extent about creating perceptions which then turn into reality if enough people buy what is sold. An influx of people who have something to lose and incentives to mostly play by the rules will make an area safer. So even if at the start of the whole thing it really is more of a “bad area” if enough people believe its on the rise, it will be on the rise. And people who need to live somewhere they can afford might be quite eager to believe.

Developers know that a combination of contemporary apartment styling and certain store and restaurant chains work as a beacon to the desirable crowd. The gambit is that you can put those ingredients into the heart of the hood and within a few years its more ladies in yoga pants walking their poodles than street people. You can see this in some of the most notorious old DC hoods. The crime and all that is still there, but theres growing bubbles of gentrification right in the middle. This is no doubt only possible due to the reduction in violent crime since the 90s which has made even poor neighborhoods seem reasonable enough options for those who dont look too hard and are eager to believe.

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by Veritas Vincit

I watch the local news...Hyattsville still is one of those places whose name is mentioned commonly in association with reported crimes. I am sure things have improved as they generally have in most places over the last few decades, but id say its still a bit sketch.

Theres two things driving this sort of thing, areas “on the rise”,...one is simply the need for people to live somewhere. The pricing changes get pushed down the ladder and you have people making decent but not Bethesda or Cleveland Park money who need to live somewhere fairly close to the city. Developers know this and can count on the demand IF there’s a perception that the area is safe enough.

But heres the deal with real estate..its to some extent about creating perceptions which then turn into reality if enough people buy what is sold. An influx of people who have something to lose and incentives to mostly play by the rules will make an area safer. So even if at the start of the whole thing it really is more of a “bad area” if enough people believe its on the rise, it will be on the rise. And people who need to live somewhere they can afford might be quite eager to believe.

Developers know that a combination of contemporary apartment styling and certain store and restaurant chains work as a beacon to the desirable crowd. The gambit is that you can put those ingredients into the heart of the hood and within a few years its more ladies in yoga pants walking their poodles than street people. You can see this in some of the most notorious old DC hoods. The crime and all that is still there, but theres growing bubbles of gentrification right in the middle. This is no doubt only possible due to the reduction in violent crime since the 90s which has made even poor neighborhoods seem reasonable enough options for those who dont look too hard and are eager to believe.

Yup, this why folks in Hyattsville "Hills" want to remove the other parts of Hyattsville from Hyattsville. "There is very little crime in the large area of Hyattsville being gentrified heavily whether it's called "Hyattsville Hills" or "West Hyattsville" idk, but the portions up Annapolis Road and Landover Road and up into University Blvd are always in the news cycle for a lot of really serious crimes. When you type in google "Hyattsville" and bring up the map, that portion has very little crime...so there has been efforts to separate themselves.

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by terplandlord

The answer is.... Its in the path of money coming up Rt 1 from DC which is overflowing with money. It is located in a very convenient area and has some charm plus close proximity to UMD and also has abundant private schools nearby.

What money are you talking about? Can you be more specific?

[lookingbutnotlost]

It's close to DC and people's commutes.

[Rufus Clay Banger]

Originally Posted by Merotti

I'm so sorry that you don't think that Hyattsville is a great place. I mean, I think you're basing your prejudice on the fact that the area was once predominately African American it seems. However Hyattsville has always had great structure in place, it just needs the right investment to make it a great place (which is happening now). Also, do not forget that Hyattsville is not far from University of Maryland College Park, DeMatha Catholic School, Mall at Prince George's, Washington, DC, and several transportation options (295, 495, Rt. 50, Metro, Purple Line coming soon). Your old vision of what Hyattsville ONCE WAS, should not cloud your vision of what COULD BE and WHAT IT IS BECOMING. There is alot of development happening that will attract the right people and as those people move in the area slowly changes to retain those people. The leadership in Prince George's is actively trying to change the image of the county and it is slowly working. I hope people like you can move past your previous sterotypes and prejudices and see the positives that Prince George's County has to offer.


Remember, just because YOU don't like something or don't think its worthy, doesn't mean everyone else will agree with your sentiments. Obviously the people who you think are "hyping" it up see something in Hyattsville that you can't see.

Leave it to a leftist to think the OP made their observations based on "stereotypes and prejudices." You folks have nothing if not for your race cards and perpetually aggrieved attitudes.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by sittilove

Or is this just DC spillover? People are being outpriced and now the inner loop of PG county doesn't look so bad anymore?

Ya think? lol