stop denegrating PG county! (Baltimore, College Park: realty, housing, condo)

[laurelengineer]

I hate when people cite anecdotal evidence, especially old anecdotal evidence. Here are facts that one might want to consider when moving to or avoiding Prince Georges at this present time:

• In the first 6 years of this century, the County added 16,743 housing units. Of these, 16020 were single family units. A puny 700 were apartments.
• PG has led every jurisdiction in DC in commercial construction in 2004 and 2005 (source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
• PG is projected to add more jobs than any county in MD by the year 2030 (source MWCOG)
• PG has removed 18,000 affordable apartments from county (source: Tenants Push Against the Tide - washingtonpost.com)
• PG is currently developing multiple metro stations for transit oriented development (i.e. high density mixed-use development surrounding metro stations)
• PG is much cheaper on the inside part of the county, where the metro is, than the outer part of the county. Therefor, as the aforementioned apartments are torn down and the metro stations are built out, the criminals will have to leap-frog completely out of the county into surrounding jurisdictions in order to afford a place to live.

When you add this all up, it makes a compelling case for living/working in the County. But, hey, it's a free country; everyone is free to fully believe in their own biases as long as they want to. Just remember this post when your commute slowly stretches from 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs to.... while you're still sitting on I-95, I'll have long been home enjoying a microbrew with the missus and just hanging out in my leafy backyard.

PS - the list above is exactly the model followed by Montgomery County 20 years ago: Kick out the poor, and build only expensive housing. It's cruel, but PG doesn't need to be sole refuge of the region's shrinking poor population.

[RFMD]

Originally Posted by laurelengineer

I hate when people cite anecdotal evidence, especially old anecdotal evidence. Here are facts that one might want to consider when moving to or avoiding Prince Georges at this present time:

• In the first 6 years of this century, the County added 16,743 housing units. Of these, 16020 were single family units. A puny 700 were apartments.
• PG has led every jurisdiction in DC in commercial construction in 2004 and 2005 (source: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments)
• PG is projected to add more jobs than any county in MD by the year 2030 (source MWCOG)
• PG has removed 18,000 affordable apartments from county (source: Tenants Push Against the Tide - washingtonpost.com)
• PG is currently developing multiple metro stations for transit oriented development (i.e. high density mixed-use development surrounding metro stations)
• PG is much cheaper on the inside part of the county, where the metro is, than the outer part of the county. Therefor, as the aforementioned apartments are torn down and the metro stations are built out, the criminals will have to leap-frog completely out of the county into surrounding jurisdictions in order to afford a place to live.

When you add this all up, it makes a compelling case for living/working in the County. But, hey, it's a free country; everyone is free to fully believe in their own biases as long as they want to. Just remember this post when your commute slowly stretches from 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs to 2 hrs to.... while you're still sitting on I-95, I'll have long been home enjoying a microbrew with the missus and just hanging out in my leafy backyard.

PS - the list above is exactly the model followed by Montgomery County 20 years ago: Kick out the poor, and build only expensive housing. It's cruel, but PG doesn't need to be sole refuge of the region's shrinking poor population.

I 'am glad you used civility and facts and not media hype, generalizations as many do on this board.

The fact remains Prince Georges County is within the hub of a major economic center. When you see luxury condominiums going up in a presently high crime area-Executive PressReleases
or luxury townhomes in such an area starting at $400,000-New townhome development coming to Central Avenue
you can bet that gentrification will also transform this area. You also have the example of apartments in high crime areas being converted into condominiums-Executive PressReleases

Prince Georges County unlike Nova, DC, Mont county has a great deal of lateral build-out remaining with a ton of upscale homes being built-New Homes Guide: Search > Planned Communities
that will also significantly shape the demographics of this area.

Quoting such things as a guy got shot in the face and generalizing such acts to the majority of the county is irresponsible. I can read the police blotter in surrounding jurisdictions and see the same things going on in less populated areas. Crime is an issue in the county in certain areas but people like to come on the board and paint a picture like the wild wild west exist in the entire county. Much of that is media driven. Why don't some of you talk about the many criminals in politics creating policies for the wealthy and rich which is creating an environment of economic disparity among people and fueling a great deal of the crime in the general society? When the powers that be make law to protect the interest of credit card companies pharmaceutical companies and other big business there is gong to be problems folks. When there are billions of dollars made in the sale of guns and drugs there are going to be problems. When 90% of the wealth is in the hands of 5-10% of the people there are going to be problems no matter where you live. Add to that the problems that is associated with all the people coming from other countries to provide cheap labor. I guess the powers that be no longer can get it from one segment of society so they open the flood gates and get it from another. It is pathetic when the guy coming from outside the country is paid $12 dollars an hour to help build a home and the home sells for 3/4 of a million dollars with so much built in profit there are going to be problems down the line folks. The rich getting richer the poor getting poorer.

Keep running folks thinking you found a perfect utopia insulated from the ills of society. As the demographics of this country continues to gentrify economically and change in such regions as DC those economically challenged will no longer be able to reside here. Residential property within all of the DC metropolitan area will be a premium and Prince Georges County included will not be the same.

[prettygirl]

P.G county for the most part is going through a transition... That is all good. BUT... If crime continues at the rate it is going and Jack Johns keeps mis-placing school funds then the county will never get back to it's "hay day". My parents were told that PG county was the place to relocate to so my dad belived them and took the job at Andrews AFB. He said if he would have know that I was going to be going to one of the wors school districts in the country he woukd have relocted to N. Md. and just commuted or just kept us in school overseas. I have been looking at other counties and I'm very impressed with Washington and Fredrick the school systems are awsome! Along with others... Even some of the dag on private schools are bad in the county! More pepole need to get out and VOTE and make sure that we get the right pepole in office so that P.G can get better. But life is to short and I have a son to think about and I ahve to relocate for him to make sure he gets a good education and he can go and ride his bike in peace...

[jessy0780]

Originally Posted by RFMD

Quoting such things as a guy got shot in the face and generalizing such acts to the majority of the county is irresponsible. I can read the police blotter in surrounding jurisdictions and see the same things going on in less populated areas. Crime is an issue in the county in certain areas but people like to come on the board and paint a picture like the wild wild west exist in the entire county. .

Pay attention, I said there are parts of P.G. that are nicer, but unfortunately, a lot of it has gotten very bad. I grew up there, went to school there and lived there for the majority of my life. My family is still there. My best friend teaches at the same high school we went to. 10 years ago, I didn't have any problems there, now she has to put up with being threatened by students and having parents curse at her when she calls them because their child doesn't turn in any work. Not to mention the security guards and police that are at the school every day. If the leaders of the county could get it together and start cracking down, it could be a wonderful place to live in, until then PG will to continue to have high crime and poverty rates. There's so many areas along 450 and rte 1, where businesses have closed down and nothing has been done. Look at Landover Mall- I remember going shopping there with my family, but for years there hasn't been anything worth going over there for. I sincerely hope that one day, P.G. will live up to it's potential- but it's got a long way to go.

[RFMD]

Prettygirl:

First of all the county executive's name is Jack Johnson.

Second: Do you have a link or facts supporting your allegation of Jack Johnson misusing school funds? He is the only county executive in many years to fully fund the school budget in the county.
The school system is one area that certainly needs improvement and the resources are being allocated to do just that-Board Approves $1.68 Billion Budget for Schools - washingtonpost.com

The school system still needs improvement to equal surrounding jurisdictions which I may say are some of the best in the entire country however the county is going in the right direction:County students improve in math, reading; still trail state average in some grades

When you look at some of the largest school districts relatively speaking Prince Georges County is not too bad when it comes to graduation of students :USATODAY.com - Big-city schools struggle with graduation rates
Looking at the list Gwinnett County in Georgia which is not a predominantly minority school district is considered to be a top notch school district in the state of Georgia. Just go over to that forum and you will see people touting that county as having good schools. The Prince Georges County school system with a predominantly minority school population and being a slightly larger school district is just behind Gwinnett County.

[jessy0780]

Originally Posted by Tank1906

Isn't 311 a non-emergengy number, not sure but I think it is? Sorry you got robbed but that happens everywhere. Read what papers for more what? Loud music at a graduation party, really? Never heard of that, only in P.G. I'm just curious where this utopia is that many on this board live in or plan to live in. I take it most here aren't multi-millionaires so gatted communities aren't in the cards. Without that, you're going to always get some crap with your goodies. I have family that have lived in New Carrolton for that period and they still enjoy it to this day. Try and keep perspective. You want your grandpeeps out of the entire county? Why not the East Coast or North America? Criminals never have and never will respect physical borders. If they live in D.C. and commit crime in P.G., theyll do it anywhere. Run if you choose but you can't outrun what you don't know.

Back to "read the papers". The D.C. area news outlets have been notorious for continually reporting every insignificant criminal thing that happens in P.G. This negligence has clearly worked as many believe that P.G. is completely unsafe and void of good people while the rest of the region is perfect. Trust me, more bad sh*t happens in places like Fairfax than you can imagine(because it's not in "the papers" in doesn't happen). That place is a stronghold and breeding ground for ms-13, rolling 60s crips, bloods etc. I know this because I know the gang members! A bad neighborhood is a bad neighborhood any whatever county it's in. (Kentland-PG; Culmore-Fairfax) but don't generalize.

First, 311 was a typo- I meant 911, and my point was that no one should ever be put on hold when calling 911- no matter where they call from- those few minutes could be a matter of life or death to someone. Again- that part is not about PG County- I know there have been instances elsewhere in the country where the 911 emergency system has been inadequate- and it's unacceptable.
And no, getting robbed does not happen everywhere. A person should be able to feel safe down the street from their home, and it's disgusting that not one person in the viscinity had a reaction to it at all. If I saw a robbing taking place, I would call 911 and probably try to comfort the person after the robber had left. Not one person in that shopping center did anything- because they were used to it, in that area or Riverdale, it's commonplace- the police officer told me that when I told him that I honked my horn and yelled, and no one even looked up.
Also, in case you didn't realize, there are noise ordinances against music that disturbs others- we're not talking about a party going on at the house next door- we're talking about a street behind and SIX houses away that could be heard inside the house with all doors and windows closed. That is ridiculous!
Yes I want my grandparents out of PG County-at least the area they're in right now, I think they are vulnerable there, being older and an easy target. There are plenty of areas in Maryland that are more safe than where they are. I live in Howard County, and yes of course there's some crime here, but nowhere near what's in P.G. County, and you'd better believe that when there is, it's a big deal in the papers. You think I should keep perspective??? I lived there- I know first hand what's going on- I've seen my neighborhood and the surrounding areas go down hill over the years. Its awful and depressing, and as long as people (county politicians and leaders) keep denying that it's going on, it'll never be fixed. If you want to call my wanting my family to be safe running, fine- but I would certainly hope that most people would want the people that they care about to live in an area where they can feel safe- not one that has a history of break ins, car theft, petty violence, etc.- no matter what county or state that area is in. If my grandparents chose to live in a nicer area of PG County- maybe some areas of Laurel or Upper Marlboro, then I would be supportive of that- though I'd rather have them closer to us so that I can help then out when they need things.
Maybe you could explain how a criminal thing could be insignificant- I think the people have a right to know what is happening in their community.
And, honestly- I could care less about Fairfax, or even Kentland- my family is not there, it's the concern of the people who live there what state their neighborhood is in.

[howsitgoingdude3]

Originally Posted by lscalder

howsitgoingdude3: What is wrong with you instead of you helping your own people who needs help you are on here agreeing with Terrapin don't you see she just doesnot like any black person in Pg county meaning she more then likely do not like you either because of your color. It so funny i thought America was over the race thing and I guess not why not judge each person by their own actions instead of judging the entire county base upon a very small population. Crimes are every where and just because someone choose to dress a certain way does not mean they are a gangsta. Majority of the gangsta wear suits. teh real gangsta in America are the America government and they wear suits every single day.

I donot think America is ready for change we have one of the most intelligent African AMerican presidential canditate which is so wonderful to but not to others because he is been threat and he is the first to have secret service this early in the election and its all because of his color. It is so sad that people like you Terrapin cannot look pass skin color.

No, the question isn't what's wrong with me the question is what the hell is wrong with you and the other blacks that go around supporting this unlawful truant behavior displayed by young black children, teenagers, and adults in PG County. I'm so sick of that bs line "just because he dresses like a thug doesn't mean he is one." You know what I say if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is probably a duck. Iscaleder I’m not even that old I’m under 25 years of age and I can see the inherent problems with allowing young soon to be adults to dress like dare I say "dam fools." How can you tell a child in PG County not to dress like a hip-hop gangster when their 30 year old dad is walking around with Timber Land Boots and wife beater on acting as if he’s mad at the world, because he thinks it supposedly owes him something because he's a black person. Get out of here with that nonsense. I'm sorry to upset you, but when my "race card" came in the mail i ripped it up and threw it away, so I can agree with whoever the hell I want to agree with. I'm sorry you might not have got this news brief, but just in cased you missed it!! This just in NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE THINK ALIKE!!

You and your turn a blind eye attitude to reality is what is wrong with PG COUNTY YOUR KIND OF BLACK PERSON IS MORE DANGEROUS TO OTHER BLACKS THEN A KKK MEETING IN THE early 1900's. YOU, WHO THINK THAT IT IS OK FOR PEOPLE TO ACT AND TALK LIKE IDIOTS IS WHAT HELPS PREVENT SUCCESS IN LARGE AMOUNTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU, WHO CONSTANTLY LIVE IN THIS BLAME EVERYTHING BUT THE REAL PROBLEM FIRST IS WHY OVERALL PG COUNTY IS A DUMP! You’re the same people that will yell out white racism, equal opportunity, level playing field etc...when your kids are too dam lazy to pass the SAT or the MCAT with flying colors cause they refuse to be labeld a "sell out" or "acting white." I GOT a 1300 on my SAT btw and it is because I studied, I worked hard, my parents taught me to strive for the best, and part of being the best is having the attitude that you are the best, and you display that by the way you walk, talk, and treat other human beings and most of the kids I briefly lived around in PG county had no respect for others nor themselves and it starts at home!

My point is people like you who turn a blind eye to others and support them in debauchery are equally as dangerous if not more than the people you "claim" to want to help etc.

I would never step into this county again there are plenty of areas where successful blacks reside. I’m sorry PG is not a breeding ground for successful blacks nor is it a one stop shop. My kids (when I have them) won't need to grow up around all black people to feel proud of being black, because like any good parent I would instill a sense of pride and community within them so no matter where they go they'll always feel proud of who they are what they are and what they stand for. I cannot stand you other whiny blacks, that sit around and whoa is me oh poor me. You have 15 year old black kids going through the system that cannot read or do basic arithmetic what kind of fantasy world are you living in???? And I don't owe PG or any other black person anything other than my parents. NO ONE IS GOING TO SAVE YOU YOU NEED TO SAVE YOURSELF. IF YOU GIVE A MAN A FISH HE"LL GO HUNGRY THE NEXT DAY, BUT IF YOU TEACH A MAN TO FISH HE"LL BE ABLE TO FEED HIMSELF FOR A LIFETIME!!!!!!!!!! "Oh no he didn't go Ronald Regan on me." Oh yea I did!!! [/quote]

[howsitgoingdude3]

[quote=Tank1906;897563]I grew up in inner city D.C. for 16 years and lived in PG for the last 14 years. I've attended both D.C. and P.G. public schools, HD Woodson and Forestville High Schools. Earned a Masters Degree and make an excellent salary. With that I LOVE PG COUNTY! You will not find this level of concentrated african-american affluence anywhere in the country. Any person (especially black) that refuses to set foot back in a county as such is dare I say it, a straight sell out! There are very poor people in PG as there are in every county or place in the U.S. Will you not step foot back in those counties? I was a parole officer in Fairfax County, Virginia for 5 years aka the richest county in America and they have some of the most dangerous neighborhoods I have ever experienced. I have been to every hood in D.C. and some of Fairfax is worst. It seems many on this board have lived very sheltered lives and take whatever they hear or experience in very short doses and create their own ficticious generalized reality. "I did a few pet rescuses so the whole counties poor", "I go to UMD and we all scared" (of what?). Those same UMD folks will head down to DC to party in and through some truly crazy places. "I lived there a couple years and wont go back", please, trust we don't want your sellout ass back! I caught that little snipe at HBCs.

For those of you who don't understand the true meaning of poor, try the eastern shore of maryland like somerset county. That will put the breaks on any talk of PG and poor.


Tank, if you don't mind I’m going to quote the most ridiculous line I’ve heard in my brief twenty something years on this planet.

"You will not find this level of concentrated African American affluence anywhere in the country. Any person (especially black) that refuses to set foot back in a county as such is dare I say it, a straight sell out!"

Okay, so help me to understand this better. We have now elevated sell out status to blacks who choose or would prefer to

1. Send there kids to Top Notch Private or (Dare I have to) Public Schools
2. Live in a suburban area that does not have a murder and crime level equivalent to that of a major city
3. Any black person that desires to live amongst a racially mixed group of individuals is also considered a sell out? (Tank, am I reading all of this correct) I didn't get my new issue of "Black Like me, Black like you A story of the forgotten monolithic blacks of North America" this month, so forgive me.

Wow, Tank, I mean that quote pretty much sums it up. I mean you're way out there and before you can truly advance in society you must come to terms with the fact that just because we may look a like does not inherently mean we will think alike. Yes, we both have two eyes, a mouth, a nose, and a host of other appendages and our skin may also be the same complexion, but the similarities end there. I'm sorry I do not prescribe to a "monkey see, monkey do attitude" that is obviously still very pervasive amongst the PG county faithful. What I will do is let the actions of prominent blacks speak for me who live in the DC area, so of whom (very few) might have grown up in PG county, but now choose to reside elsewhere and the reasons are simple.

1. Education
2. Safety
3. Quality of Life

How dare you call someone a "sell out" who values these three things above all else in preparing their offspring for success? How can you come to such a conclusion, because my opinion is different then yours? Because I value certain things you do not? Look my parents are successful blacks and that's enough of a black role model I need. Furthermore ha-ha calling someone a sell-out is merely a word, but you know who the true sell-out is? Yes, you! Why are you a sell-out I'll tell you why?

If given the opportunity to tell a black person where to live you'd rather forgo go all logic in terms of

1. Educational value for their children
2. Safety for their children
3. Depending on their economic status you'd rather forgo quality of life
4. Above all else you value this very small group of upper class successful blacks that are not the majority in the county failing realize that you are constantly overlooking the same people you claim to want to help

Yea, Oh and my snipe at HBC’s is simple. We live in a different time period and the majority of HBC are not very good schools nor or they the only option for extremely intellectually talented black youth. Yes, you have a handful that are very good, but they're no where near the best schools in this country (although I will say Spellman and Morehouse hold their own), but those aren't Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, and they never will be, so ask yourself what's more important living in a PG HBC fairytale where you pretend you know the outcomes or living in the real world where choices matter no matter what your skin color?

[RFMD]

[quote=howsitgoingdude3;921262]

Originally Posted by Tank1906

I grew up in inner city D.C. for 16 years and lived in PG for the last 14 years. I've attended both D.C. and P.G. public schools, HD Woodson and Forestville High Schools. Earned a Masters Degree and make an excellent salary. With that I LOVE PG COUNTY! You will not find this level of concentrated african-american affluence anywhere in the country. Any person (especially black) that refuses to set foot back in a county as such is dare I say it, a straight sell out! There are very poor people in PG as there are in every county or place in the U.S. Will you not step foot back in those counties? I was a parole officer in Fairfax County, Virginia for 5 years aka the richest county in America and they have some of the most dangerous neighborhoods I have ever experienced. I have been to every hood in D.C. and some of Fairfax is worst. It seems many on this board have lived very sheltered lives and take whatever they hear or experience in very short doses and create their own ficticious generalized reality. "I did a few pet rescuses so the whole counties poor", "I go to UMD and we all scared" (of what?). Those same UMD folks will head down to DC to party in and through some truly crazy places. "I lived there a couple years and wont go back", please, trust we don't want your sellout ass back! I caught that little snipe at HBCs.

For those of you who don't understand the true meaning of poor, try the eastern shore of maryland like somerset county. That will put the breaks on any talk of PG and poor.


Tank, if you don't mind I’m going to quote the most ridiculous line I’ve heard in my brief twenty something years on this planet.

"You will not find this level of concentrated African American affluence anywhere in the country. Any person (especially black) that refuses to set foot back in a county as such is dare I say it, a straight sell out!"

Okay, so help me to understand this better. We have now elevated sell out status to blacks who choose or would prefer to

1. Send there kids to Top Notch Private or (Dare I have to) Public Schools
2. Live in a suburban area that does not have a murder and crime level equivalent to that of a major city
3. Any black person that desires to live amongst a racially mixed group of individuals is also considered a sell out? (Tank, am I reading all of this correct) I didn't get my new issue of "Black Like me, Black like you A story of the forgotten monolithic blacks of North America" this month, so forgive me.

Wow, Tank, I mean that quote pretty much sums it up. I mean you're way out there and before you can truly advance in society you must come to terms with the fact that just because we may look a like does not inherently mean we will think alike. Yes, we both have two eyes, a mouth, a nose, and a host of other appendages and our skin may also be the same complexion, but the similarities end there. I'm sorry I do not prescribe to a "monkey see, monkey do attitude" that is obviously still very pervasive amongst the PG county faithful. What I will do is let the actions of prominent blacks speak for me who live in the DC area, so of whom (very few) might have grown up in PG county, but now choose to reside elsewhere and the reasons are simple.

1. Education
2. Safety
3. Quality of Life

How dare you call someone a "sell out" who values these three things above all else in preparing their offspring for success? How can you come to such a conclusion, because my opinion is different then yours? Because I value certain things you do not? Look my parents are successful blacks and that's enough of a black role model I need. Furthermore ha-ha calling someone a sell-out is merely a word, but you know who the true sell-out is? Yes, you! Why are you a sell-out I'll tell you why?

If given the opportunity to tell a black person where to live you'd rather forgo go all logic in terms of

1. Educational value for their children
2. Safety for their children
3. Depending on their economic status you'd rather forgo quality of life
4. Above all else you value this very small group of upper class successful blacks that are not the majority in the county failing realize that you are constantly overlooking the same people you claim to want to help

Yea, Oh and my snipe at HBC’s is simple. We live in a different time period and the majority of HBC are not very good schools nor or they the only option for extremely intellectually talented black youth. Yes, you have a handful that are very good, but they're no where near the best schools in this country (although I will say Spellman and Morehouse hold their own), but those aren't Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, and they never will be, so ask yourself what's more important living in a PG HBC fairytale where you pretend you know the outcomes or living in the real world where choices matter no matter what your skin color?

I don't know why people even respond to your nonsense. True hate and bitterness. CAPITALIZED STATEMENTS TO EMPHASIZE YOUR HATE AND BITTERNESS AND TO MAKE SURE YOUR POINT IS MADE. You can feel the hateful energy behind your post. You show your age.

A word of wisdom: Never look down upon people or feel that you are better than a group of people. Your high and mighty persona is pathological.

[maat]

Originally Posted by RFMD

I don't know why people even respond to your nonsense.

I know, but he finally managed to get at my last nerve.

Did you hear LaVar Arrington is opening a sports bar at The Boulevard this Fall? Good location, close to Fedex field. That's what he was doing in the area when he had the motorcycle accident Monday afternoon.

I haven't heard a word about what Magic is up to. I have a feeling it has to do with the Suitland Manor project. One of the developers trying to get the work is affiliated with Magic.