Why has Montgomery County Let itself go downhill (Potomac, Newark: crime rate, house)

[filmsniffer]

Originally Posted by grindin

True, but to add that odd-numbered 3 digit interstates are spurs, whether they run North-South (ex., I-575 in Suburban Atlanta) or East-West (595 in South Florida runs east-west as a spur of 95). Even-numbered 3-digit interstates are often bypasses (I-495 in DC, I-295 in Richmond) regardless of direction.

-- From a closet Map/geography nerd

I am one, too! I also an avid RV driver.

Originally Posted by dkf747

I'm a map/geography nerd too! Add to that roadgeek (though I('m getting rusty) I see what you're saying now. Maryland doesn't follow the normal"rules" ( for example I-97). That's how they come up with numbers like 595.

I concur. That is supposed to be set in concrete EVERYWHERE; evidently not anymore. It can get confusing, like the I-97. Oh, I-370, anyone? UGH! And don't get me started on I-99 in PA...

I have begun to see proposals for new roads with numbers that doesn't belong anywhere near it's been suggested. Like I-3 in GA.

[TheseGoTo11]

In addition to having about half the Class A office inventory that Fairfax does, Montgomery County also lacks the vast yuppie apartment complexes you see in Arlington. As a result, companies hiring that demographic often prefer to locate in DC, Arlington or Tyson's. College educated people relocating to the DC area are choosing VA over MD right now by about a 3:1 margin, and that ratio has been expanding over time.

Biotech isn't big enough to sustain the entire county economy, and the DC area attracts less biotech VC than the Seattle, San Fran, San Diego, and Boston metros.

Montgomery's being pushed by the state to tighten its links to BWI, which was part of the rationale for the ICC. But it would be better off linking more closely to Dulles, especially with all the int'l flights into that airport and closer geographic proximity. But that's not going to happen, so it's likely to continue to be ignored by most new metro area residents with good jobs and the corporations who employ them.

[diplomat74]

that right there is moco's main problem that I have been trying address. Young professionals as well as companies that move to the dc area 9 times out of 10 never even consider moco, its always either dc or nova. Until moco builds it's own version of arlington (whiteflint-shady grove) and dulles corridor (I 270 tech corridor) then it will always lose out to nova for high paying jobs.

[cpterp]

Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11

In addition to having about half the Class A office inventory that Fairfax does, Montgomery County also lacks the vast yuppie apartment complexes you see in Arlington. As a result, companies hiring that demographic often prefer to locate in DC, Arlington or Tyson's. College educated people relocating to the DC area are choosing VA over MD right now by about a 3:1 margin, and that ratio has been expanding over time.

Biotech isn't big enough to sustain the entire county economy, and the DC area attracts less biotech VC than the Seattle, San Fran, San Diego, and Boston metros.

Montgomery's being pushed by the state to tighten its links to BWI, which was part of the rationale for the ICC. But it would be better off linking more closely to Dulles, especially with all the int'l flights into that airport and closer geographic proximity. But that's not going to happen, so it's likely to continue to be ignored by most new metro area residents with good jobs and the corporations who employ them.

As far as I know, Montgomery still attracts professionals in droves, which is why the population has remained steady/growing, despite residents moving to Frederick and other neighbouring counties for cheaper cost-of-living. I don't know where you guys get this stigma that MoCo, isn't attracting business or professionals. Honestly you guys make it seem as if NoVa and MoCo are night and day (in some ways they are), and that MoCo is some economically depressed, impoverished county, struggling to make it.

Bethesda is the most educated city in the country (50% of the residents have grad. degrees) located in the best educated state in the country, and while I must admit the county does lose large businesses to NoVa that's mostly has to do with the state (which doesn't have to appeal to business like VA does because of high taxes and other things) and not the county. Why do you think Discovery Communications chose to move to Silver Spring instead of Northern Virginia? Also, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, and Bethesda all have those "yuppie apartment complexes," though admittedly not as much as Arlington (although more upscale imho). Also, last time I checked Montgomery was still the 8th wealthiest county in the nation, although Fairfax and Loudon are 1st and 2nd.

Remember that the Dulles Corridor and Tysons have no rail transit access at all. Arlington is pretty good with TOD, but the rest of NoVa is digusting sprawl. Biotechs were never supposed to sustain the county, federal jobs and defense contractors are the biggest employers in the area. However, you can't just shrug off biotechs as if they don't count. The I-270 hub is the second largest in the nation after Boston, MA.

Why would the county want to link itself with Dulles at the expense of BWI? MD taxpayers pay for BWI, so it wouldn't make any sense to link to an airport in another state. BWI is a much nicer and more modern airport, has better rail access (Amtrak Northeast Corridor, MARC, Metro Green Line via B30, MTA Light Rail), is cheaper to fly out of, and has more domestic flights/destinations. The two airports see just about the same number of passengers, now that Dulles has been losing passengers/flights over the last few years, and BWI has been expanding, particularly with SWA. BWI is the 23rd busiest airport and IAD is the 21st.

Come on guys, Montgomery may have its faults, such as attracting large businesses, but it's like we're comparing platinum to white gold.

[tonyc]

Originally Posted by cpterp

Come on guys, Montgomery may have its faults, such as attracting large businesses, but it's like we're comparing platinum to white gold.

Ain't that the truth...I've worked in Ashburn, Arlington, Reston, Chantilly, Crystal City, Springfield, and other VA cities over the years. Would I live there...nah..no place like good old MCO...traffic and all...I ain't moving... It's just too too pretty!!

[diplomat74]

cpterp the reason why the population has remained steady/growing is because a rising birth rate, fueled in part by the county’s growing Hispanic population — and because many immigrants are choosing Montgomery County as their first point of entry in the U.S. In 1990, 18.6 percent of the county’s population was foreign-born, according to census data. By 2006, 29.3 percent of county residents had been born in other countries. I am not saying that is a bad thing but the population growth is def not from yuppies and professionals

[diplomat74]

dc examiner article even says that
"The most crowded school districts, Council member Valerie Ervin says, are not typically in developing areas, but rather in her district, one of the most densely populated in the county, which includes Wheaton and Silver Spring.
The result is a changing demographic landscape and different needs.
» Nearly one in four students in the public school system are now receiving free or reduced-price meals, the largest fraction since 1990.
» At least four Washington-based charities have established Montgomery County offices since 2003, citing a growing need among the area’s residents.
» County officials say complaints about overcrowded homes in Montgomery are up 20 percent this year. There had been 426 complaints by October of this year, according to housing officials, compared with 352 complaints in all of 2006. Tax officials haven’t overlooked the potential ramifications.
In 1998, Montgomery residents produced 13.3 percent of Maryland tax returns from people with no taxable income. In 2005, Montgomery County generated 14.6 percent of all state tax returns with no taxable income, according to information from the state comptroller’s office.
“There has been a very steady, very noticeable increase of the number of Montgomery County tax returns at the lowest income level,” said Sen. Rona E. Kramer, leader of the county’s Senate delegation.
Meanwhile, the county’s share of the state’s wealthiest residents decreased. In 1998, Montgomery residents were responsible for 41.3 percent of state income tax returns of people earning more than $200,000 in adjusted gross income. In 2005, the county was generating only 37 percent of those returns. Leggett acknowledged his concerns about the income shifts and said keeping the jurisdiction an attractive home for the wealthy led him to lobby state legislators to temper a recently approved income tax increase for upper-income brackets."



So moco is def getting poorer while nova continues to get richer

[tonyc]

Originally Posted by diplomat74

cpterp the reason why the population has remained steady/growing is because a rising birth rate, fueled in part by the county’s growing Hispanic population — and because many immigrants are choosing Montgomery County as their first point of entry in the U.S. In 1990, 18.6 percent of the county’s population was foreign-born, according to census data. By 2006, 29.3 percent of county residents had been born in other countries. I am not saying that is a bad thing but the population growth is def not from yuppies and professionals

but that's in all the counties..look even Herndon is often called Hernduras..come on now... And from what I observe...who could afford to buy those expensive homes in MCO...must be professionals..no

[TrippingJay]

Originally Posted by diplomat74

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So moco is def getting poorer while nova continues to get richer

24% of children at Fairfax County qualify for Free and Reduced Lunches, including the one my SO teaches at, where over 90% of the student population receives Free and Reduced Lunches.

For Prince William Schools 33 % of children qualify, Arlington Schools are at 30% and Alexandria is the largest with over 50% of its students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunches.

For Montgomery, 27% of students are eligible, a 3% difference from Fairfax. Overall, VA doesn't seem all that richer if you do the research.

[TrippingJay]

Originally Posted by cpterp

Come on guys, Montgomery may have its faults, such as attracting large businesses, but it's like we're comparing platinum to white gold.

Perfectly stated. Overall, I think both areas have made significant strides to attract and retain businesses. Frankly, I would hate to see either county suffer economically as I feel the effect would spread throughout the region.