Growth of District and Alexandria exceeds suburbs (renters, condos)

[brooklynborndad]

not just a DC thing, but increasingly a national trend

Urban vs. Suburban Growth in U.S. Metros - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities

[vicnice]

In my mind it honestly doesn't make sense to live in the far out burbs. It's too expensive and prohibitive against living a proper and healthy life both physically and socially. I am never moving to the suburbs, anything outside the beltway is too far.

The burbs are too expensive because of
1. Gas - Commute
2. Time value - Long commute times
3. lost social encounters - Not going to that Tuesday night smithsonean free luncheon from Woodbridge at 6pm are ya?
4. Relationship issues - Clmmute = stress
5. Lost social interactions - you just meet more people in the city than the burbs

I moved out of the burbs and my rent went up 35%, but I am saving about FIFTY percent total spend. My rent could have doubled and my total spend would have gone down. Spend less on gas, and on food (walk to corner store) on parking etc.etc.etc.

Burbs don't make sense for alot of different reasons.

[stateofnature]

Obviously if you have children the burbs. vs the city dynamic changes dramatically.

[brooklynborndad]

there are certainly many people for whom suburban living makes sense. Whats interesting is how many people have found that residence in the urban jurisdictions does make sense for them. We have previously noted that DC had started growing again. That it (and Alexandria) is now growing faster than the suburbs is what I find interesting (assuming the data holds up).

Note, in many suburbs (like Fairfax) some of the fastest growing areas are dense "urbanist" places. This does not treat those places seperately, so probably understates the degree of change involved.

[JEB77]

Another interesting article on the same data, with a demographer expressing the view that the trend could reverse itself if the economy improves:

Cities Outpace Suburbs in Growth - WSJ.com

However, if crime rates don't spike and transportation costs remain high, I don't know that this would be the case. I hope the renewal of DC continues. DC lost over 225,000 residents between 1950 and 2000, and there's plenty of capacity for those who want density.

[brooklynborndad]

" Skittish about buying in the suburbs or unable to get a loan for a home there, city-dwelling renters may be staying put instead of moving. Mr. Johnson said some of those city dwellers are likely to head to thesuburbs as the economy and housing market continue to mend."

Certainly here in greater DC, where prices of purchased units in DC and Alexandria have been generally strong, that could hardly be whats going on. I think in NYC and SF central city condo and TH prices are also doing very very well. I am not sure about Chicago (which Mr Johnson mentions) or Philadelphia though.

[artsandcraftsman]

I was considering the Maryland 'burbs near the MARC lines and the rents were on par with DC's, and in some cases higher. I would do the suburban thing again if there was an incentive to do so, such as a substantial cost savings, but that wasn't the case this time around.

In general, I hate long commutes and want to live closer to work, which is in DC, so that's why I'm here. If my job were in, say, Fort Meade or Columbia, etc., then I would be living out there and not in the city. The burbs are A-OK with me, especially since I prefer to drive instead of using public transportation. In fact, I find myself heading out of the city via car whenever I have to run errands. I used to be a city snob but my perspective has changed as I matured.

[pgtvatitans]

Originally Posted by vicnice

In my mind it honestly doesn't make sense to live in the far out burbs. It's too expensive and prohibitive against living a proper and healthy life both physically and socially. I am never moving to the suburbs, anything outside the beltway is too far.

The burbs are too expensive because of
1. Gas - Commute
2. Time value - Long commute times
3. lost social encounters - Not going to that Tuesday night smithsonean free luncheon from Woodbridge at 6pm are ya?
4. Relationship issues - Clmmute = stress
5. Lost social interactions - you just meet more people in the city than the burbs

I moved out of the burbs and my rent went up 35%, but I am saving about FIFTY percent total spend. My rent could have doubled and my total spend would have gone down. Spend less on gas, and on food (walk to corner store) on parking etc.etc.etc.

Burbs don't make sense for alot of different reasons.

I definitely can understand your perspective, seems like it makes a lot of sense to move close to the city due to your situation, but one of the reasons why people move out to suburbs is because places close to the city are too expensive. Nobody really wants the insane commutes but you have to give and take something for the sake of being able to afford where you live, giving your family adequate space (if you have children) and living in a place more conducive to families. I love Alexandria and DC but these aren't places for traditional families at least most parts of these cities. Some people can do it, but everybody doesn't want to raise their family in rowhouses or condos or live in a city that has more dog parks than kids parks. Having space for your kids to run out and play can be great for the quality of life for one's family. I personally don't mind having a little bit longer commute if that means I can give my kids elements of their childhood that they will truly cherish.

[Bluefly]

^
I see a whole lot of children from middle class families who could quite obviously live in more sprawl-oriented landscapes choosing to live in the city, walkable suburbs, or small town centers now. Rather than backyards, they fill the parks, public pools, and playgrounds with their birthday parties and such. It's not for everybody, but I don't think the old SUV-chauffeur model is proving to be as critical to raising children as people once thought. Many I know like being able to walk to buy ice cream, to school, church, or the weekly dance studio. Good schools remain critical, though, and that's where the District itself is still failing (but getting better).

[Benhwell]

Exactly. The notion that suburbs can provide elements of childhood that "they will truly cherish" that cities cannot is absurd. Yes, a child raised in the suburbs may have a backyard, but they will also likely miss out on a diversity of experiences and opportunities that only the city can offer. Of course, I am not talking about schools, just the idea that the suburban lawn is somehow critical to a child's upbringing.