[crazykatz]

Washinton, D.C. is not like most places in the USA as far as housing patterns go. I think the liberals LIKE it the way it is.

For example, in Jacksonville, Fl. where my daughter used to live, there is a neighborhood on the West side of the river. It was at one time a good neighborhood but as suburbs opened up...people wanted newer homes and they moved out. Property valued fell and so forth.

A Historic neighborhood was declared by the city or county. And now after about 10 years the poorer people of all groups has been having to move as absentee landlords sell the homes to young professionals who renovate them and move in. The entire area is still in flux and is NOT completely gentrified....but it was looking pretty good the last time I saw it not too long ago.

It is apparently been fairly successful for improving the area, but the poor people of all colors must keep right on moving out...into other low rent areas...and so it goes....

[Katya]

Another term they use here in the Washington Area...particularly Maryland is Smart Growth. Which basically means no major roads to areas out of town should be built, and people should be encouraged to live close to the city. The problem is, most of the outlying suburbs sprouted because of the need for affordable single family homes and townhomes. Basically, the left wing democrats would like to see houses in the outer suburbs only be built on lots that are 2- 10 acres large on which to build McMansions. Then they'd have no traffic issues, because only the elite minority could afford to live further away. Of course open green spaces add to the issue of attempting to build even town homes close to metropolitan centers.