Why has Montgomery County Let itself go downhill (Silver Spring, Germantown: short sales, foreclosures)

[foco]

Maryland as a whole is viable economically solely because of its proximity to the federal government. This has allowed to be relatively unconcerned about attracting business and being attractive to residents. Over the past decade it has gone from the middle of the pack in overall tax burden to one of the highest in the nation. In 2009 George Mason University produced the first ever comprehensive ranking of American states "on their public policies affecting individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres." Overall, Maryland ranked 46 of 50 states, including 47 in regulatory policy and dead last in personal freedom (lower rankings are better).

Mercatus Center at George Mason University - Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom

[diplomat74]

like i said the only thing Montgomery county and maryland have going for it right now is BRAC and the other federal institutions in the state, I guess the same thing could be said about northern virginia with its reliance on the pentagon and defense contracting

[foco]

This tells you everything you need to know about where MoCo has gone over the past decade:

Budget more than doubled from $2 billion to $4.3 billion while the population has gone up only 10%.

School enrollment has remained flat while the school budget has more than doubled. Have test scores?

[$mk8795]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

20 years late, yes. Thanks, in no small part, to the efforts of the "smart growth" advocates whom you so openly despise.

Its not smart growth b you peoples definition. The subway out to Loudon Conty is to Compliment All of the "Sprawling" Growth that has Bless the Fairfax/Loudon County since the 1990's. Speaking of Smart Growth if you people were active on yur definition of "Smart Growth" then why did the so-called Smart Growth Cheap Talkers spoke againt Extending the Metro Green Line Subway to BWI via Laurel and Columbia. Also the way you people preach about Building Mass Transit Rail instead of multi-Lane Highways is "Smart Growth" then claim Arlington as being an Example of "Smart Growth" but the FACT still Remains that Arlington has Multi-Lane Sprawling Freeways I-395, I-66, US 1, US 50, VA 110, GW Parkway, and the Pentagon Loop in which is FARRR More Limited Access Freeways then what Montgomery has in Total..........

[$mk8795]

Originally Posted by 14thandYou

Would love to see what stats you "checked" to make that determination. Please, do share.

Fairfax County is Pro Business and Montgomery County is Anti-Urban Growth....

[$mk8795]

Originally Posted by cpterp

If you must post please stop the ranting and insults and actually contribute to the discussion. You really hurt your credibility and that of those who agree with you.

And if you must post I would appreciate it that you stop maing Slanderous remarrks about me because you don't accept my views on the anti-Growth Groups that have been Historically trying to Block most Development(Science City in Gaithersburg), Highwaays(ICC, Techway/Second Potomac Crossing, and I-270 Widening/HOT Lanes), Retail(Montgomery Mall Expansion and New Outlet Mall in Southern Frederick County) Projects in Suburban Maryland.

I see that you have some Severe issues with people that criticize Anti-Growth Special Interest Groups....

Well if you don't like my posts then your welcome to scroll past them, I could care less if you don't read my posts.........

[Bigbluelandrover]

I did not read all of the posts because some of them are just babbling on about nothing.

Having moved here from the midwest I was a bit let down by the appearance of the so called "rich" county of Montgomery. We settled on Moco due to the promximity to work and the school system. I live in the "BAD" part of Moco on the east side bordering 495. I LIKE the diversity of my community, the people I have met and the fact that my kids like where they attend school. (although the schools on this end could be better). I like being close to the expressways and close to downtown Silver Spring and a quick trip to Columbia Mall and Baltimore. I plan on buying a home here.


Now for the dislikes. I can visibly see that there are neighborhoods and areas in decline AND the fact that the county pumps money into Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac-hell the ENTIRE west end of the county. Look at 270 vs 95 (which could use express lane for all the psychos that need to drive 95 miles an hr). Drive up New Hampshire and compare it to Rockville Pike or any of the main roads on the west side. There is low income housing on this side, a lot of immigrants (that isn't always bad but whatever), more crime, NO real shopping mall (besides Wheaton) No newer housing for moderate income couples or even newer condos. (in the $300-$425k range). I do not mean TH's. Areas like White Oak, Hillandale, Burtonsville, Colesville seem to get shafted and our area has the FDA, and other employers over here. We have educated, dual-income families and I think with a little vision our area could become more in line with the west side of the county. Our area does have homes and streets that rival Kensington and Bethesda/Rockville some areas have homes on really good sized lots.

I expected a better looking suburb and I see a lot of crumbling streets, houses in need of a touch up, and streets that need paving (yes there are some GRAVEL roads in MOCO).

[diplomat74]

there is a drastic difference between east and west montgomery county today. With the west half looking more like fairfax with job centers up and down the I270 tech corridor, very wealthy/educated households, and new urban development planned. The east half on the other hand continues to decay with ever increasing crime and poverty and beginning to look more like PG County then the rest of montgomery county. The western half better be careful because the crime and problems of poverty are begininng to spread to gaithersberg and germantown. The only chance for job growth and income growth I see for the east side is for it to take advantage of being home to the FDA headquarters but I havent seen anything yet.

[bunky3301]

Originally Posted by Bigbluelandrover

I did not read all of the posts because some of them are just babbling on about nothing.

Having moved here from the midwest I was a bit let down by the appearance of the so called "rich" county of Montgomery. We settled on Moco due to the promximity to work and the school system. I live in the "BAD" part of Moco on the east side bordering 495. I LIKE the diversity of my community, the people I have met and the fact that my kids like where they attend school. (although the schools on this end could be better). I like being close to the expressways and close to downtown Silver Spring and a quick trip to Columbia Mall and Baltimore. I plan on buying a home here.


Now for the dislikes. I can visibly see that there are neighborhoods and areas in decline AND the fact that the county pumps money into Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac-hell the ENTIRE west end of the county. Look at 270 vs 95 (which could use express lane for all the psychos that need to drive 95 miles an hr). Drive up New Hampshire and compare it to Rockville Pike or any of the main roads on the west side. There is low income housing on this side, a lot of immigrants (that isn't always bad but whatever), more crime, NO real shopping mall (besides Wheaton) No newer housing for moderate income couples or even newer condos. (in the $300-$425k range). I do not mean TH's. Areas like White Oak, Hillandale, Burtonsville, Colesville seem to get shafted and our area has the FDA, and other employers over here. We have educated, dual-income families and I think with a little vision our area could become more in line with the west side of the county. Our area does have homes and streets that rival Kensington and Bethesda/Rockville some areas have homes on really good sized lots.

I expected a better looking suburb and I see a lot of crumbling streets, houses in need of a touch up, and streets that need paving (yes there are some GRAVEL roads in MOCO).

I have to agree with majority of your post. I grew up in southern PG county (in Clinton and I'm 42 now) and living in MoCo was high living. Most wanted to achieve that at sometime in there life if they were to stay in the area.

Well I had been gone since 1997 and got back here this time last year, a shock to my system of how MoCO has changed. My wife being military and getting orders to Bethesda Naval Hospital this time last year disappointed us a little having to leave sunny San Diego, but I said it won't be to bad we'll be going to one of the nicest counties in Maryland. I thought.

I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that MoCo would slowly turn into portions of PG and that seems to be what is happening and its sad.

I agree that the East side of the county is in worst decline and it's one reason we didn't move to that side. We live in Kensington now but are getting ready to close on a house in Silver Spring just over the Kensington border. But I have to admit that the roads aren't any better over here. Maybe the house's are somewhat better , but overall I don't think we're that far behind the east side. We have our FAIR share of short sales and foreclosures over here as well that are eyesores for the most part.

There certainly is going to be more developed or more attention to the west side than the east simply for the business thats over there. I don't really have a problem with that either.

The main thing that bothers me mostly about the anti-business leadership of the County government is that the RESIDENTS keep electing these people back into office. It may not be the same names , but there political ilk is the same.

Its time to get some pro-business leadership back into this whole area of MoCo and PG counties. Its time to use the HIGH property taxes people pay around here and get some services for them. Its time to stop being a santuary city and paying for non-citizens/non taxpayers social benefits like healthcare and footstamps/WIC etc. I know that immigration is hot issue these days and I'm all for legal immigration. I also know that its not a reality to make the estimate 12 million illiegals leave. If I were in charge for one day I would make it possible for them to simple get in LINE for citizenship and eventually become citizens and taxpayers etc.Weed out any criminals and there are some. No I don't really think thats fair giving them a shot at citizenship since coming here illegally, but I think at this time its our only choice. Beside they have been here for some time and both parties have really done little to stop it. Most are productive and hard working, I've seen it first hand. I think it would make and let them assimulate to society alot faster as well.

Sorry for the ramble but MoCo and its problems are extremely serious and if there not addressed with some real CHANGE soon , but if the status quo continues than only the residents who pull the same side of the ballot box have themselves to blame. Just my opinion.

[Bigbluelandrover]

Sad but true. I actually like some of the quirks about where I live. It isn't the Stepford village like parts of NOVA. However, it is funny to me that people think MOCO is all that when LARGE parts of it look busted. Like north of Kensington towards Rockville--parts of Rockville, parts of Germantown even. I don't see how it compares to NOVA when MOST of that area is in good shape--with the exception of the area south of rt1.