Brookland resident Daniel Wolkoff: "Support parks and increase property values"

From: Daniel Wolkoff <amglassart@yahoo.com>

Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 1:26 AM

Subject: Support Parks and increase property values

Urban Turf reports today that Mt. Pleasant is stable and historically protected and has skyrocketing housing values because it is adjacent to Rock Crek Park. If McMillan is developed the neighborhood will be subject to specualtion by real estate interests who force values down , in order to buy up sections and the development onslaught rolls ahead. Your blocks may  be next. Protect McMillan Park, your homes will increase in value, as any desirable parkside location does, like M. Pleasant, Cleveland Park, etc.

Urban Turf June 27, 2013

                                                  A home in Mount Pleasant

In the current housing market, almost every neighborhood in DC has homes that garner multiple offers and sell for above their asking price. But Mount Pleasant is in a class of its own.

UrbanTurf is not prone to hyperbole, but the neighborhood adjacent to Rock Creek Park bordering Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights is the most competitive neighborhood housing market in the city right now.

First, the data. In 2013, homes on the market in Mount Pleasant have averaged just six days on the market, the lowest level for any neighborhood in DC. The average sale to list price ratio stands at 107% for the year, and last month, it was 110%. This means that more often than not, homes fetch 10% above their list price. While the average list price in June was approximately $899,000, the average sale price was $80,000 higher ($980,163).

The entire area from McMillan to Catholic University, , Harewood Rd, The AFRH, St. Pauls, 901 Monroe, Brookland Metro, North of metro, will add over 3000 new housing units on top of devastating flooding in  Bloomingdale. Who has the analysis of excatly how this much paving, thousands of appliances, kitchen sinks, toilets and washing machines, added to the existing storm water and sewer system will be secure from the flooding in the Bloomingdale area. If it is true that the parking lots at WHC alone produce more runoff than the massive retention system can hold, then how does this work? We have had areas of Brookland paved and added to the storm water runoff problem, as well as over 100 mature trees removed. I would like to see the objective analysis of how this problem is not made much worse. That is why with such massive over urbanization, leaving Mcmillan as an oasis of green, and storm water retention is essential to the qulaity of life for our families and especially the children. I don't think we can even expect a city govt., who's stewardship both of Mcmillan and the sewer and water system, has been so miserable for so many decades, to have an appropriate perception, as seen in the 27 year failure. The investment made in the VMP plan, since it was never open to any other option, given whole hog to th community as a fait-accompli, should be wasted, and people who were arrogant and presumptive, should fail, and pay the costs. But the real solution to the flooding is the re-engineering of the  WHC parking lots runoff. So why doesn't VMP put it's numerous design firms on the job, with their medical office buildings  and work on the WHC to solve the storm water runoff catastrophe..

  

Historic District is a very smart thing for a neighborhood as can be seen in Mt. Pleasant. Brookland had the initial stage of an application for Historic District 11 years ago. Opposition was strong, and many still cannot comprehend why. But as time advances and our neighborhood is over run with development, wiping out the character, historic interset and greenspace, with virtually no protections, one must ask what has this rejection of Historic District accomplished?

Daniel Goldon Wolkoff

12th and  Randolph Street, NE

Washington, DC 20017

Tel: 202-232-8391