pineda Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 G U L F C O A S T G R O W T H N E W SA publication of the Gulf Coast InstituteUrbanism for dollarsD.C.-area suburbanites see Smart Growth as smart businessResidents of Poplar Terrace, a suburb of Vienna in Northern Virginia, have decided to embrace the future rather than fight it, and to make some money in the process, according to the Washington Post. Nearly all of the 70 families living in the heavily wooded subdivision have banded together to raze the existing community, and rebuild the area according to Smart Growth principles. The subdivision is a half-mile from the Vienna Metro rail stop, so the area is poised for urbanist redevelopment in any event.But these homeowners took matters into their own hands, agreeing to sell their homes collectively, and finding a developer for the project.In order to acquire this unique assemblage, Centex Homes will buy the properties at prices well above market value, knock them down, and in their place build over 1,000 condominiums and townhouses. For houses currently valued at $400,000, Centex will pay $760,000 or more.A few neighborhood holdouts simply don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I think they tried this is Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtmbin Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I think they tried this is Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>They tried capitalism under the Khmer Rouge? Wow! Who knew? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted October 15, 2004 Author Share Posted October 15, 2004 I wonder if this has been tried anywhere else besides Poplar Terrace (and of course the Khmer Rouge...) successfully. If not, this was indeed a very bold move on their part. Kudos to Centex for offering double the worth of their homes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 wow, this is exciting. by allowing the homeowners to share in the potential profits, the whole neighborhood is redeveloped. if successful, this will be a model for future "smart growth" developments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 Building 1,000 condominiums and townhouses is smart?I'll take a REAL home anyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 hmmmm, you'd take a real home anyday..........but you hate sprawl. seems like a contradiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 15, 2004 Share Posted October 15, 2004 I said congrats on the sprawl ;-0)I too, am now happily part of sprawl, albeit 15 miles from downtown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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