Lived in DC 5 months and wow has it been an experience (mall, move to)

[Tiger Beer]

I think the high COL in the 'acceptable' areas of DC, and the high crime rates in the low COL areas already is a major deterrant.

Maybe a better option would to provide more density and housing options in the suburban areas...and making the high crime areas safe enough for newcomers to live in in the urban areas.

[Baller Inc.]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I think the high COL in the 'acceptable' areas of DC, and the high crime rates in the low COL areas already is a major deterrant.

Maybe a better option would to provide more density and housing options in the suburban areas...and making the high crime areas safe enough for newcomers to live in in the urban areas.

Agree. Too segregated and too big of a gap between rich and poor in DC.

[prairiestate]

The city needs a massive tree planting program. I was there over Labor Day weekend. With the wide streets, large plazas, gleaming white buildings, and lack of trees I think it was somewhere around 150 degrees walking around the city. DC desperately needs more shade.

[terrence81]

I think it depends on what part of the city you are in. Some parts have plenty of mature trees like Cleveland Park while a few other places could use some more trees. Downtown comes to mind but lots of trees in a dense business area seems counter productive.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

The city needs a massive tree planting program. I was there over Labor Day weekend. With the wide streets, large plazas, gleaming white buildings, and lack of trees I think it was somewhere around 150 degrees walking around the city. DC desperately needs more shade.

What are you talking about? DC is one of the greenest, tree-friendly cities around.

And who are these people claiming DC is not hilly? Have they seen Mount St Alban, Fort Reno, Capitol Hill, the Rock Creek Valley, the Potomac Valley, or Batter Kemble? DC as a whole is located in a valley of two rivers. How in the name of God could it not be hilly?

Some of you might actually want to spend some time here before offering "analysis." Maybe I will write some comments on Praetoria. Never been, but what difference would it make?

[smakawhat]

Originally Posted by Moth

What are you talking about? DC is one of the greenest, tree-friendly cities around.

It could be better, and I agree with the other poster that we need MORE green and trees in the downtown area.

[prairiestate]

I guess I must have been hallucinating from the heat and missed all the trees downtown, around the capital, the mall, Constitution Ave. and L'enfant Plaza.

[smakawhat]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I guess I must have been hallucinating from the heat and missed all the trees downtown, around the capital, the mall, Constitution Ave. and L'enfant Plaza.

I just came back from Portland Oregon. Trust me... that's a green city with huge green trees everywhere downtown. It would be real cool of DC had that much green growth. DC still is very good though on the green, but the mall is deteriorating, and many of the neighborhood trees I find small and to some degree not well kept. It's still pretty good but could be better.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I guess I must have been hallucinating from the heat and missed all the trees downtown, around the capital, the mall, Constitution Ave. and L'enfant Plaza.

That must have been it because DC's one of the greenest cities in the country. But the areas you're referencing are mostly federal lands where the tourists congregate, so the city has no real control over them. There are still a lot of trees on those properties, but I guess they aren't overhanging the sidewalks and there's a lot of open space, so that's probably what you noticed.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by Moth

What are you talking about? DC is one of the greenest, tree-friendly cities around.

And who are these people claiming DC is not hilly? Have they seen Mount St Alban, Fort Reno, Capitol Hill, the Rock Creek Valley, the Potomac Valley, or Batter Kemble? DC as a whole is located in a valley of two rivers. How in the name of God could it not be hilly?

Some of you might actually want to spend some time here before offering "analysis." Maybe I will write some comments on Praetoria. Never been, but what difference would it make?

Take a breath... It'll be okay. I've lived here for many years, walk up and down hills regularly, and still wouldn't put DC on my list of "hilly cities". A few undulations does not a San Francisco make. There are places where the hills are a major part of the culture and life of the city, not just minor ups and downs that are glossed over. Perhaps I've just lived in truly hilly places that give me a skewed perspective.