re: Bait n Switch - new neighborhood S. Harrell's Ferry/O'Neal

I agree with the concern, but its a slippery slope. Zoning only defines how you "use" your land, not how you "own" you land. A single-family residential rental with a 12 month lease is a single-family residential use (as opposed to short-term rentals, but that's another debate all together). If the government said you can't rent your property (within reason) that would clearly be an infringement of property rights.

That said, I hope there are solutions to fix this because I do think these developments make it harder (less supply) for middle class families to become homeowners.

I mean, I hate this, but I got dragged for having an opinion on rental homes.

A corporation does this on a massive scale, and only then are people upset? The neighborhood across should've bought the land. What can they be upset about? Someone bought the land behind them and used it to make money. Woe is me.

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Who's more likely to clog storm drains up with junk, a responsible homeowner or a neighborhood full of renters

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The entrance to my neighborhood has a house that has complained about drainage issues, because THEIR tree is constantly shedding and clogging the street drain. While I do imagine that renters are more than likely to be less responsible about the outside of their home than someone who owns their home, all this situation really comes down to is people are pissed that someone took advantage of a situation and didn't benefit from it.

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I agree with the concern, but its a slippery slope. Zoning only defines how you "use" your land, not how you "own" you land. A single-family residential rental with a 12 month lease is a single-family residential use (as opposed to short-term rentals, but that's another debate all together). If the government said you can't rent your property (within reason) that would clearly be an infringement of property rights.

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For those of us with our heads on a swivel, we saw this really start to manifest itself with Obama's administration circa 2012. And DR Horton knows this as well. They will get a slap on the wrist for the leasing office deceitful violation because they know HUD/ACLU et al has their back with a motion to change venue to the federal courts.

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Simple fix the Council can do; change the zoning ordinance to require a minimum lot size of one acre for single family housing

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That would also make housing even more expensive for homebuyers.

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Which also protects home value.

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Yeah but you need affordable housing to be economically competitive.

There's got to be a way to discourage this kind of neighborhood apartment complex thing without restricting development that produces homes that people can actually afford. Not everyone can afford a home on 1-2 acre estate sized lots. The folks just starting out need something that works too.

What we really need to do is start enforcing the law in the older parts of town and make them viable for investors and first time homebuyers. People are avoiding areas with solid housing stock and infrastructure because the crime is too high.

I wonder why the people in the house in the middle of the development didn't just move when they sold the rest of the land?

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I wonder why the people in the house in the middle of the development didn't just move when they sold the rest of the land?

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I heard it was a divorce situation and community property spat that was responsible for that

Living in the Favela any worse than living in New Orleans?

Also, as long as they don't take Section 8 or housing then at those prices, you are not going to get the undesirables. Just people with bad finances/credit. Our neighborhood is probably in the $250-$350 range and the renters here take care of the homes. Better than some homeowners.

Developers are one thin sludge layer above injury attorneys.