The New Slum. Broadlands?

The Next Slum. Broadlands?

Okay, maybe not our precious Broadlands, but this article in the Atlantic got me wondering.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/subprime

It's hard to imagine, but not THAT hard.

 

I'm not sure where the author of the article got his information, but Dallas and Fort Worth most assuredly have NOT merged. And they will be the first to tell you that as they both are proud of their respective individuality.

I think they're making Reston Town Center into more idyllic than it is - those parking lots stay pretty full, so I wouldn't say a whole lot of people "stroll from the movie theater to restaurants and then back home." But maybe that's just my experience there.

The author seems a bit doom and gloom about the whole issue but I just don't see Broadlands turning into a slum. Maybe being an HOA community helps keep things looking nicer, too.

 

I agree. It is too doom and gloom. He must live in a little apartment in the city and has suburbia-envy.

 

did Lee write the article?!?! lol

(kidding Lee- you know I luv ya!)

 

read the Article- Sterling would be in more trouble than US- we seemed to be growing and expanding while they seem to have peaked... don't you think? their movie theater lost most of us to Fox Cinema- Regal even BOUGHT Fox! since we have a Target and more restaurants and salons, many of us aren't going out there for as much...
what do you think?

 

Once the new PetCo opens, Sterling is doomed!

 

for those of us who shop at Doggone Natural, Petco won't even be a blip on the radar. I can count on one hand how many times iv;e hit a petco/petsmart since I discovered DGN!

but you are right- sterling and leesburg pet stores will suffer losses- they better come door to door like HArris Teeter to woo us out of our neighbor hood to shop! lol

then again- if it takes less time to drive to sterling than it does to get in and out of the 28 plaza- let's not forget parking- then i may not be all that bad for sterling.. lol

 

haha

 

nope someone beat me to it or I would have ha ha ha

 

Maybe it's just because I try to justify living here, but I do find Broadlands as fairly walkable. There are at least 10 restaurants with table service that are less than 1 mile from my house. I don't like safeway all that much, but find myself often walking or biking there when we need just a few things.

If there is some suburban deterioration over the next 20 years it will likely be because of high oil prices. An area like this might be affected less than both farther exurbs and also lower income suburbs like Manassas. The more money you have the less high gas prices affect you.

 

But with everything going up, food, gas, utilities, taxes...believe me - we are affected. And we don't have a lot of money to burn. I'd like to retire and live somewhat comfortably, therefore, we watch our spending.

 

Well cities might be great for some, but walking in the air pollution cannot be any healthier. Reston Town Center is a good start. We know some people who live there. Sterling and Leesburg are being hit hard by the sub-prime market. Driving through it, well dozing it wouldn't be a bad idea. Our area always seems to be better off, and if we got Metro here then we'd not decline. As long as our homeowners continue to be well educated we'll keep on demanding things to be better.

My sister used to live in Falls Church before they moved out of state. they loved it there. good schools, walkable areas, good holiday parades and closeness to the city and all it's resources and the older house styles make for more originality, too. Many people stayed in place and renovated, which is always a good sign. Some of the homes along Sterling Blvd, were renovated, but not enough to begin it's renaissance.