Will the house Market get better for southern Maryland with the new casino? (how much, neighborhood)

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

I don't doubt that there are people like molukai, never disputed that, but I think a real litmus test is finding out why people DID NOT choose to live in PG. That would give you an indication of how much schools and other factors affected demand in PG. I believe that if the majority had the mindset that molukai has towards PG, than prices and attracting businesses would reflect that.

This is by no means scientific but at the rounds of holiday parties that I attended this year at work, there were quite a few discussion about where to live in the area. Most people stated that there reason for not moving to PG was due to crime and what was perceived to be the unresponsiveness of the police. Second behind that statement was the lack of (perceived) ammenities. One guy went as far as to say that southern maryland in its entirety was not worth considering. smh

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

This is true. Maryland has its share of private schools too. What has always been amazing to me is that, given PGC's poor educational system, the school system has not pushed for more alternatives to make living in the area attractive. I know that the school board has not be receptive to it since they believe that it takes money from the traditional schools. However, the same could be said for kids going to private. Another down-side to kids leaving the system is that the achievement numbers go down since private schools aren't required to report their numbers to the state. Lower scores translates into fewer families interested in moving into the area and an imbalance in the student population in public schools. Essentially if the majority of the kids left in public schools are either dumb, unmotivated, or problem kids, there is no motivation within that sub-culture to succeed.

Charter schools do take money from the system but (and it's a real big but) MD makes staring a charter school exceedingly difficult.

Students going to private school does not take money from the system, schools are funded primarily from property taxes and those families still pay that no matter where the kids go to school. It might impact a very small number of students who live aboard a military installation and go to private school, the system gets less in Federal Impact Aid payments.

Back to the original post: I haven't heard anyone (with any credibility) even begin to claim a casino will do much for residential housing prices. If the PR is to be believed, the jobs are going to go mostly to current residents who, presumably, already have housing.

The long and short of Prince George's being a desireable location for business/government installations boils down to the following (it doesn't matter what others may say):
1. crime or the perception of crime
2. the reality of the school systems historic, decades old and continuing dysfunction. Prince George's County Public Schools didn't become overall ****ty because the population became African-American, they've always been ****ty.

A prediction: the FBI will locate somewhere in NoVA, that's where most of its employees live.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Charter schools do take money from the system but (and it's a real big but) MD makes staring a charter school exceedingly difficult.

Students going to private school does not take money from the system, schools are funded primarily from property taxes and those families still pay that no matter where the kids go to school. It might impact a very small number of students who live aboard a military installation and go to private school, the system gets less in Federal Impact Aid payments.

I know that they take or shift money from traditional schools but having that alternative ( a quality one of course) helps brings people into a community when the traditional school is crap. You are right
about MD making the process difficult. Among the states that authorize charter schools MD ranks a D and the most successful implementation of the program has been in Baltimore. And true kids going to private school don't directly impact school a school but them not being in public school does since, like you said, a school's federal share is contingent upon enrollment. I would also venture to say that schools that are under-enrolled, etc. would be a lower priority for the county and the state when it comes to improvements, etc.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Hmmm. When I purchased my house at 24 years of age I had chicks on my mind more than kids and schools. So...... just sayin'. I'm sure you and I can provide examples of people we know that choose locations based on schools and those who don't. My point was that the bulk of those moving to the area are younger and without school-age children. That is all. I'm sure some do look at schools as the #1 factor. Others prefer commute length as more important. Still others choose nightlife and sports. We've had this discussion thousands of times. I blame golenage1 for bringing it up.

PS. I didn't know that was a real estate general rule of thumb. Not that it matters. People still move into the county.

The biggest driver of a suburban market is the quality of schools, there are some exceptions of course like Alexandria but since it's well served by Metro one could argue it's more urban. It in fact has one of the highest concentration of singles outside of Manhattan in the country.

Just because a few singles choose the suburbs for other reasons does not dispute this fact. Why do people trot out anecdotes as some sort of counter to documented trends?

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by Zimar

I think you guys are discounting just how bad PG's reputation is, and how disconnected that reputation is from the actual quality of life there. I have seen many people dismiss PG as some sort of cesspool-slum when it's clear that they've never even gone anywhere in the county. It's almost similar to the reputation of the really "bad" parts of D.C. where one should never go. That perception is powerful, and it has a major effect on housing prices, where businesses want to locate, etc.

It doesn't help when the politicians in the county completely goof up, like the recent incident where they wanted to nominate a former drug-dealer as a state delegate. Ugh.

I often disagree with you but you are spot on. Perception is reality. I think folks are in big denial about how PG is perceived and to put it bluntly how the Black community is perceived.

A lot of big retailers have been burned locating in Black communities around the country due to shrinkage, the need for increased security etc. PG is a victim of that perception.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

A lot of new residents that I have spoken to are taking the same approach.

It's a sensible approach. I may take that route as well but private schools don't only cost money but time. The Catholic Schools make you "volunteer" or pay extra fees.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

This is true. Maryland has its share of private schools too. What has always been amazing to me is that, given PGC's poor educational system, the school system has not pushed for more alternatives to make living in the area attractive. I know that the school board has not be receptive to it since they believe that it takes money from the traditional schools. However, the same could be said for kids going to private. Another down-side to kids leaving the system is that the achievement numbers go down since private schools aren't required to report their numbers to the state. Lower scores translates into fewer families interested in moving into the area and an imbalance in the student population in public schools. Essentially if the majority of the kids left in public schools are either dumb, unmotivated, or problem kids, there is no motivation within that sub-culture to succeed.

The problem with PG is that it's government and Black politics in general is not geared to middle class folks but serving the disadvantaged.

The school situation could stabilize itself if they provided safe, clear options for middle class parents. Stop busing kids from Section 8 apts to schools that serve middle class areas. I don't want my kid going to school with a bunch of hoodlums with no home training.

I know folks hate class distinctions but PG is going to have to make them if they want to remain viable. THe elementary schools aren't that bad in PG because they serve smaller zones the problems start in middle school when zones expand and often encompass poorer areas.

I know PG has Elanor R oosevelt but they should have something like Thomas J in Fairfax. .

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

The problem with PG is that it's government and Black politics in general is not geared to middle class folks but serving the disadvantaged.

The school situation could stabilize itself if they provided safe, clear options for middle class parents. Stop busing kids from Section 8 apts to schools that serve middle class areas. I don't want my kid going to school with a bunch of hoodlums with no home training.

I know folks hate class distinctions but PG is going to have to make them if they want to remain viable. THe elementary schools aren't that bad in PG because they serve smaller zones the problems start in middle school when zones expand and often encompass poorer areas.

I know PG has Elanor R oosevelt but they should have something like Thomas J in Fairfax. .

You know I am in that group that hates class distinctions but given my experiences with dealing with the school system in that area we agree. But as a side note the hoodlums cross economic bounds now and there are a lot of kids from "good" homes that have no home training...............I also agree that the politics in PG do need to be revamped to serve a broader audience. No one wants to live somewhere where they are not represented or where the bar is skewed towards groups that don't equitably contribute to the greater whole.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

It's a sensible approach. I may take that route as well but private schools don't only cost money but time. The Catholic Schools make you "volunteer" or pay extra fees.

You are right about the time commitments and other secular private schools command the same. You almost need to be a stay at home parent to keep up. Oh and let's not forget donations to the school as well. The drain is ongoing but necessary.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

You are right about the time commitments and other secular private schools command the same. You almost need to be a stay at home parent to keep up. Oh and let's not forget donations to the school as well. The drain is ongoing but necessary.

This is the problem in the public school system as well. Granted there are some cases where parent involvement may be limited due to working conditions, but I would say that a majority of parents feel that their time is too valuable to participate in school activities at a minimum. Imagine how a kid would view school if they saw their parents voluntarily active. The school would be an extension of the neighborhood and dare I sway family if there were good parent/teacher relationships. How many parents give their kid's teacher a birthday or Christmas gift? Invite them to dinner? Volunteer in the class? Teachers are part of the community too. This is not a corporate setting where their may be conflicts of interest. I can almost guarantee you that kids would have more respect for their teacher knowing that there's such a close relationship between their teacher and their parent. But too often kids are shipped off to school and may never see their parents step foot inside unless there's a play or sporting event. There are people that still don't get how much responsibility is involved in raising a kid in this current society. It takes more now than it did 50 years ago.

IF we expect these schools to improve along with our kid's education, it takes sacrifice. There's no other way around it. Especially in schools that are considered failing. Again, not all parents are able to sacrifice that amount f time and energy, but at least if those that did have the free time did so, We wouldn't be having this conversation.