NOOBEv14

NOOBEv14 t1_j5oocdv wrote

You’re making the wrong comparison here, this is just a difference in facade with a three-story bump-out, it’s still a contemporary home. But perhaps you’re getting ahead of yourself with modern/contemporary - we’re talking about aesthetics, not architectural overhauls. Where do you see an ultramodern townhome community being built in DC? Look at the pictures in that link you sent. That’s obviously not the comparison point. Go look at what EYA is building at Michigan Park, look at NV Homes in Aspen Square - that’s what’s being built.

You just linked condos - Ritz Carlton condos, no less - what point are you trying to make there? That’s a completely different product and market.

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NOOBEv14 t1_j5o4gpf wrote

Most of the cost to build is in land, development, and structure, but as always, the money is in the margins.

Homebuilding is very competitive these days, especially in areas where land supply is as limited as DC.

The extra $15k you’re dropping on relatively useless space and a “traditional aesthetic” is just wasted money. You’re not seeing the $20k increase in price that needs to offset it.

And for all that residents seem to prefer the classical look, someone dropping a million bucks on a new townhouse wants the thing to look modern. Builders are always looking to appeal to the meat of the market.

Regardless, anyone with beef about home aesthetic in their jurisdiction should, as you say, always look to the local planning department. These guys have absolute power with regard to architectural approval. They can request whatever they want, take as long to make their decisions as they want, and can’t really be held accountable in any way. New homes will look the way they want them to look.

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NOOBEv14 t1_j29qw6g wrote

  1. It’s barely a neighborhood. It’s like a block of apartment buildings and a Safeway.
  2. absolutely no parking.
  3. A 20 minute walk from the mall is a hike imo. Like, I want to live in a neighborhood because of the neighborhood’s amenities, not because there are cool things a mile away.
  4. related to the above, there’s no convenient food.
  5. There are no convenient bars/no night life of any sort.
  6. Basically you’re living there so you can walk to Chinatown. I’d rather just live in Chinatown if that’s going to be where I spend most of my time….but I’d rather visit Chinatown, personally, and so would rather live in a neighborhood that actually has things.
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NOOBEv14 t1_itzog80 wrote

That’s fine. They’ve chosen their identity, “sports bar”.

Just saying that “eSports Bar” is a whole new vibe, and I don’t think you can just dip your toe in that pond. No offense to you esports lovers, but if a bar has league of legends playing, they’re communicating very clearly that they’re not the bar for me. Which is fine, but as a result I think management probably has some hesitancy.

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NOOBEv14 t1_ity5vou wrote

Maybe I’m wrong, but playing esports as a main event would very quickly become that bar’s identity. It would completely change the crowd they draw.

There’s probably money to be made there, but it’d be “that bar I don’t go to”.

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