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Neat to see CP's marketing campaign. Those of us who are happy living in the area, sending our children to public schools, and contributing to our communities will welcome these newcomers.
Should be good for the real estate market, at least !
And what reality would that be? Maryland being one of the better states to live?? Other than Maryland being overly (almost sickeningly) liberal, proponents for constant taxation, and a haven for illegals... since so many people don't take issues with at least two of the three aforementioned, I don't see what the problem will be.
I don't know what 'Maryland' could do about that. What's happening in Maryland is definitely 100% across the board happening everywhere in the U.S. I mean, the social problems. The 'liberal' or 'conservative' is completely irrelevant, the social ills in this country are the exact same regardless if it's Louisiana or Massachussetts.
Tying this back to College Park. They should promote themselves.
I don't know what 'Maryland' could do about that. What's happening in Maryland is definitely 100% across the board happening everywhere in the U.S. I mean, the social problems. The 'liberal' or 'conservative' is completely irrelevant, the social ills in this country are the exact same regardless if it's Louisiana or Massachussetts.
Tying this back to College Park. They should promote themselves.
Many of the ills are the same, of course, but the EXTENT varies greatly from area to area in the US. I know this from having lived in seven different US cities. If anyone doubts it, it's easy to verify by looking at crime statistics, for example, or commuting times, or housing prices. Attributes that are not quantifiable, such as friendliness, or pride in an area, or respectfulness also vary greatly from region to region, although what a person prefers here seems to somewhat related to what one grew up with.
Many of the ills are the same, of course, but the EXTENT varies greatly from area to area in the US. I know this from having lived in seven different US cities. If anyone doubts it, it's easy to verify by looking at crime statistics, for example, or commuting times, or housing prices. Attributes that are not quantifiable, such as friendliness, or pride in an area, or respectfulness also vary greatly from region to region, although what a person prefers here seems to somewhat related to what one grew up with.
I definitely agree with that. But, I think there is very little that MARYLAND as a state can really do about it. You can definitely move and be around different 'statistics' or whatever else. Based on income levels, education levels, ethnicity preference percentages, or whatever else. So, yeah, anyone can move around based on that, and find their respective niches.
But, still, Maryland is what it is. Prince George and College Park are what they are. If whatever perfect state suddenly owned them...i.e. Texas or California (based on a person's preferences)...it just wouldn't change what Prince Geoge County and College Park are.
I guess that's my basic point. Maryland could have the coolest most perfect 'laws' in place that a person dreams up of, but it's still going to be more or less what it is regardless of it. For example if a person is a conservative and thinks everyone in Prince George should have the right to carry guns everywhere, and gays should lose their rights, and teenage girls are no longer allowed to have abortions or whatever else a conservative believes. It won't suddenly make Prince George County desireable by conservative standards. It would still be what it is regardless (and I'm argue quite a bit worse if those laws were enacted).
I think there is very little that MARYLAND as a state can really do about it.
More interesting to me is whether high-functioning smaller cities in other states will become just like their larger counterparts as they grow, or whether, for example "smart growth" policies, head start programs, and so on will have a positive effect. Once a big area has become fairly dysfunctional I have to say I don't see how it can turn around, either, although maybe it just takes a long time for a big ship to turn. Over generations maybe we'll see change.
Still, I favor these policies because it so clear to me that many urban areas in the US have become so unpleasant that people prefer to live elsewhere. Population migration shows that it isn't just me who thinks this. I wonder if what you might call "pro-QOL" policies might be so effective at drawing in workers to these high QOL areas that they will get to have their cake and eat it, too - population, growth and QOL. I guess that's just a version of the Richard Florida "creative class" idea.
It would also be interesting to speculate on the role of a QOL-independent growth generator like the US gov't on urban function. People and companies can vote with their feet, but the US government and it's service providers/parasites just keep pulling people into the DC metro. This train may not operate well but it keeps running because there are no brakes - and it's heading downhill.
It all comes down to preference. No matter what the rest of Maryland is about or what PG is about, if people find that College Park may be a place where they want to live, they'll move there. Like I said, if people who wouldn't normally live on 14th N.W. or Georgia Avenue (historical drug and prostitute corridors) are suddenly moving in, why can't the same happen for any other city that is growing? College Park does have its strong points. And people will weigh those against its weaknesses and make a decision to live there or not. At least College Park has made the determination that being a well-kept-secret won't do it any good. As I said in a previous thread, PG needs to market itself and change everyone's perception. College Park is on that path. Hyattsville, Bowie, Laurel, etc. should all do the same.
More interesting to me is whether high-functioning smaller cities in other states will become just like their larger counterparts as they grow, or whether, for example "smart growth" policies, head start programs, and so on will have a positive effect. Once a big area has become fairly dysfunctional I have to say I don't see how it can turn around, either, although maybe it just takes a long time for a big ship to turn. Over generations maybe we'll see change.
Still, I favor these policies because it so clear to me that many urban areas in the US have become so unpleasant that people prefer to live elsewhere. Population migration shows that it isn't just me who thinks this. I wonder if what you might call "pro-QOL" policies might be so effective at drawing in workers to these high QOL areas that they will get to have their cake and eat it, too - population, growth and QOL. I guess that's just a version of the Richard Florida "creative class" idea.
It would also be interesting to speculate on the role of a QOL-independent growth generator like the US gov't on urban function. People and companies can vote with their feet, but the US government and it's service providers/parasites just keep pulling people into the DC metro. This train may not operate well but it keeps running because there are no brakes - and it's heading downhill.
Unfortunately, the government has room to make mistakes, etc. But govenemrnt employment isn't the only thing attracting people to the DC metro area. This generation embraces tighter comunity and urban living. There is a draw to urban centers where people can have chance encounters on sidewalks and collaborate without having to hop into a car and drive 30 minutes through traffic, pay $10 for parking, and then walk to have that experience. THis generation drives less than the previous generations which requires them to live in walkable places. This is a trend that will eventually shrink the far out suburbs (without mass transit hubs). This is why DC is one of the fastest growing cities. Not because the government is on a hiring spree. Urbanism is in. And while College Park is a suburb, it is still close enough to the DC line to tap into that growth and become an urban transit hub of its own with the Green and Purple lines.
This generation embraces tighter comunity and urban living. There is a draw to urban centers where people can have chance encounters on sidewalks and collaborate without having to hop into a car and drive 30 minutes through traffic, pay $10 for parking, and then walk to have that experience. THis generation drives less than the previous generations which requires them to live in walkable places. This is a trend that will eventually shrink the far out suburbs (without mass transit hubs). This is why DC is one of the fastest growing cities. Not because the government is on a hiring spree. Urbanism is in. And while College Park is a suburb, it is still close enough to the DC line to tap into that growth and become an urban transit hub of its own with the Green and Purple lines.
I definitely agree with this. Plus, as gas continues to climb $4/gallon and climbing, it just makes long commutes even less desireable than it is already is. The biggest complaints I hear BY FAR in the entire DC region isn't crime (although probably is a fear of it on some level), it is 100% always about the long commutes, and than to a lesser extent, poor schools.
What I'm basically seeing in DC is that anything and everything MoCo and NoVA directions just climbing and climbing in housing costs. People keep going further and further out...even 2 hours out to West Virginia just to some affordability.
There seems to be a resistant towards PG county altogether. But some of those PG counties look pretty cool to me, Hyattsville, College Park, etc. It seems to me that DC is just being gentrified and will continue to gentrify. If that theme continues, that could funnel right into northern PG. It seems to have many of the desireable characteristics that people like about DC itself.
There seems to be a resistant towards PG county altogether.
One of the revelations to me about the DC area is the extent to which it is self segregating, using property values and private school tuition to segregate legally. White flight appears to be alive and well in the DC suburbs; certainly CP can seem pretty pale next to the surrounding areas. Of course, this probably goes for the majority of cities is the US. I wonder if the amazing diversity in DC itself will decline as gentrification continues.
Perhaps CP should consider this slogan:
College Park - The Breast Meat of the PG County Turkey
One of the revelations to me about the DC area is the extent to which it is self segregating, using property values and private school tuition to segregate legally. White flight appears to be alive and well in the DC suburbs; certainly CP can seem pretty pale next to the surrounding areas. Of course, this probably goes for the majority of cities is the US. I wonder if the amazing diversity in DC itself will decline as gentrification continues.
Unfortunately diversity will decline. I always say that DC is turning into a San Francisco of the East Coast. The suburbs will enjoy increased diversity though. At least those that are more affordable. Lower-income individuals will get pushed further out to the outer suburbs like Waldorf, Germantown, Bowie, etc. Even those places by Naylor Road that are next to SE DC will get their turn at gentrification. As the SW waterfront starts its redevelopment along with the area around Nationals Stadium. This will push those people to PG county and then outside of the beltway as that area flushes them out.
You may think to yourself how can this be when those outer suburbs are where middle to upper income people live. Well, think about it. As gas prices rise and the suburbia generation dies off and are replaced with the new urban generation that may have 1 or no cars that depend on walking, biking, and mass transit. Which neighborhoods/cities will be more valuable as that demand increases pushing up the cost to live in those places once occupied by low-income individuals? The neighborhoods inside the Beltway. Watch and see how demographics change in the next 25 years. There is White flight back to the city and inside the Beltway. Unless they can get away with living next to a Metro line. Unfortunately, PG east of the Beltway and even Howard and Anne Arundel counties have no such option to help feed off of this new trend.
I'm reading a book now on walk ability and Real Estate agents are now finding it necessary to display a property's walk score in the house. The demand for walkable neighborhoods is that strong now.
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