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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 2, 2007 12:12:23 GMT -4
I was cruising about the board today after a bit of disturbing information on the development going up next to the Shore Stop. If I read correctly, the development is going to be "Government Assisted Housing"?!
Forgive my ignorance, but would someone please explain to me the difference between Section 8 housing and "Government Assisted" housing?
Are they putting projects up on Kent Island??
If they did, WHAT idiot on the P&Z Com. thought THAT was a good idea?
Did our low crime rate piss Annapolis off?? Are the Democrats in charge trying to improve the city's crime rates by shipping people over HERE??
I am most confused and concerned!! My husband has been here for more than 35 years....and I have been here 7. This seemed to be an ideal place to have our family and life...someone please let me know what is going on..either in PM or here..I don't care which.
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Post by alanr on Aug 2, 2007 13:06:33 GMT -4
Doesn't everybody deserve a water view. I guess since no Fours Seasons we need this. At least McDonalds will have more help now. Time to move
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Post by Rich Fisher on Aug 2, 2007 14:54:22 GMT -4
I heard that it was to be "Affordable Housing", not another designer ghetto like they built next to St. Johns in Annapolis. Where did you hear that it was basically section-8?
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Post by kl on Aug 2, 2007 14:59:03 GMT -4
Speeder jumps the gun at times Rich. And it appears that she has a hard time distinguishing affordable housing, with section 8 housing. Speeder, every city, town, county, state, needs affordable housing, which is based on income. They set a low limit, and a high limit. These affordable housing projects, are for school teachers, cops, firemen, middle class folks, who can't afford those $500,000 homes, on one salary, much less two. Would you rather have your emergency responder folks such as firemen, living 50+ miles away? Think they'll get to your burning house in time to save it?
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 2, 2007 15:08:10 GMT -4
kl, you don't know me well enough to say I jump any gun at any time. I was reading the thread posted by Frank on June 20, 2007 and I couldn't tell WHAT kind of housing was going up. That, along with information given to my husband added to my confusion. I believe my questions were valid as I had no hard information. Also, please do not assume I live in a 500k+ home here. Simply stated, I live in a home on KI and was concerned with some information we recieved. I don't believe, at any time, I said people shouldn't be allowed affordable housing.
I asked the difference between Government Assisted and Section 8 housing. I notice you didn't take time to actually answer my questions, but you did take time to jump to some remarkably assinine determinations.
Also, please, don't be condescending. Scare tactics have never worked on me. I am a full grown adult of higher than average intelligence and found your tone a bit rediculous. Do you think the emergency responder folks live 50+ miles away from me now? Since a couple of them live in my neighborhood I seriously doubt it. They managed to respond to two seperate emergencies in my home within 3 minutes.
I am not against honest, hard working people living anywhere near me...as a matter of fact..that is all that seem to live near me. My grandmother and grandfather that began the community I live in were honest, hard working people and not mega rich yuppies looking for a status symbol home.
I asked honest questions looking for answers. If I want to be insulted, I have in-laws.
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Post by Ann on Aug 2, 2007 16:57:16 GMT -4
" I am a full grown adult of higher than average intelligence " rediculous. ....... or maybe ridiculous----- just saying
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Post by bchevy on Aug 2, 2007 17:03:51 GMT -4
I asked honest questions looking for answers. If I want to be insulted, I have in-laws. ;D
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 2, 2007 17:11:24 GMT -4
" I am a full grown adult of higher than average intelligence " rediculous. ....... or maybe ridiculous----- just saying nice... I was too upset to care. And, still, no answers.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 2, 2007 17:30:15 GMT -4
I was thinking that "Section 8 housing and "Government Assisted" housing" are one and the same.
"Affordable housing" for what I know is what KI says above. You have to meet an income requirement, and must live there for a set amount of time, you can't rent it out (keeps the spec. buyers out)
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Post by moosie on Aug 2, 2007 20:17:32 GMT -4
aw, ann--you beat me to it!!
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 2, 2007 20:50:29 GMT -4
Thanks Bchevy
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Post by Guest on Aug 2, 2007 21:58:00 GMT -4
What about the Riverside II community planned off Cox Neck road? It is my understanding ath it is "public housing" - again "What exactly does this mean?". I can tell you that the current Riverside community (only about 20 units) DOES have drug activity and is what I would consider "a project" - not exactly what I want right down the street from my home while I'm raising my kids. I'm curious to see what is going to happen when the 120 units in the "phase II" part of the project is built next year.
Everybody has to have a place to live, but I have to say - I'm with Speeder, I'm not real excited about the increased crime that comes along with "projects".
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Post by bchevy on Aug 2, 2007 22:29:21 GMT -4
Geesh, start yer own thread, now someone will confuse this with the rte 8 construction.....
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Post by rio on Aug 2, 2007 23:09:33 GMT -4
From what I understand, Section 8 is for renters and the gov will pay the landlord a portion of the total rent. Affordable housing, is for (potential) homeowners to recieve help in obtaining and financing a home ... not sure if the County and/or the builder recieves funds as well. (Yikes I think and hope that I don't get flamed!)
Also, I am not sure if Ellendale (isn't that the name of the community?) will be all that "affordable." Yes, both townhomes and single family homes will be there, I think ... but I can't imagine a Robinwood.
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 3, 2007 5:27:06 GMT -4
Thanks rio! And, hey...if they try to flame you...bring marshmallows!!!
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Post by kl on Aug 3, 2007 9:35:17 GMT -4
Thanks Ann, for pointing out to someone, such as Speeder, is who in her words, highly intelligent. Apparently, not intelligent enough to spellcheck, as she makes "assumptions" of myself. My point speeder, was the explaining the difference between government assisted housing, and affordable housing. Not being aware of the local laws in Kent Island, the county usually sets aside, say, for every house, townhouse, and apartment complex, a certain % is set aside and classified as affordable housing.
Yeah, section 8 housing may have gotten a bad name, but my mother, who lives in Stevensville, a retired Federal Govt. employee, and who also bought and sold real estate, (and who currently rents out property in Stevensville), had several section 8 tenants living in her properties over the decades.
Not to hijack this thread, but there's alot of NIMBY attitude in this area. Guess quite a few of us have forgotten how it was when we were younger, newly married, new parents, trying to find an affordable place to live, in a nice neighborhood.
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Post by bchevy on Aug 3, 2007 9:59:22 GMT -4
Not to hijack this thread, but there's alot of NIMBY attitude in this area. Guess quite a few of us have forgotten how it was when we were younger, newly married, new parents, trying to find an affordable place to live, in a nice neighborhood. Well, I'm not sure that requiring "affordable housing" is the answer either. It's not the government's job to do that. I grew up in the suburbs of Annapolis, my family bought where they could afford to buy. When it was my turn to move out and BUY something, Kent Island was a viable alternative to the western shore prices and value. I bought where I could afford. People need to stop looking at the gov't as a crutch, that mentality is the reason we have so much gov't, too much bureaucracy, and so much waste. Buy where you can and stop whining.
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Post by shorti on Aug 3, 2007 12:12:20 GMT -4
see Bchevy that's where I would disagree but agree at the same time with you... yeah i know.. I agree that people should not use the gov't as a crutch - unfortunately it is SO misused and those who would truly benefit from it & are not out to abuse it typically get turned away...
I disagree that the gov't should not mandate "affordable housing" when a builder builds a large community. If they didn't builders would jack the prices up and then it would be a trend & it would get completely out of hand.... trust me I worked for a national builder and did the budgets on the houses - I KNOW what they are making on each house... and it's not pennies...
In regards to your buy where you can... that doesn't necessary apply to all - for example - i can't afford the 350-400K homes here on KI on my salary alone & even w/ two we would be "house poor" so by your thinking I should buy somewhere where I can afford - OK let's say trappe - or greensboro - or whereever - ok I can afford to buy out there but at what cost? Now I am 50 miles from work - then I'll be 75-90 one way - cost of gas, maintenance, wear and tear, buying a new car every 2 years or so - that's just one point my kids - the schools here are fantastic - what if i move say across the bridge to be closer to work & where i can afford - schools there are not nearly as good unless I put my kids in private school - so now, i save on gas but pay a ridiculous amount of money to educate my kids. Plus if i moved across the bridge into somewhere where I can and closer to work - what kind of neighborhood am I going to be in? chances are - not a really good one... So mandating "affordable housing" would be beneficial to those who find themselves in the catch 22 I'm in...
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thomas
Full Member
Welcome to the Land of Pleasant Living!
Posts: 169
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Post by thomas on Aug 3, 2007 12:34:43 GMT -4
Gotta agree with Bchevy on this.
I grew up in an affluent area that my parents could afford. Once I was ready to buy a house, I had to go to a different county to be able to afford anything. That's just the way it is. Some areas are more expensive to live in than others. The American way is to work hard and provide for yourself. If you want to live in an affluent area, work hard and do what you have to do, to achieve that. Don't cry and stomp your feet until you get a handout so that your kids can go to school with the rich kids. If you want your kids to go to that school, work hard so you can buy a house in that district.
I have been glad that housing is more expensive here. It keeps the crime low... works for me!
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Post by shorti on Aug 3, 2007 12:49:51 GMT -4
The cost of housing does not keep crime low - it's just not as publicized and main stream. Granted yeah - not as bad as the projects or the like - i agree there - but in the whole scheme of things - projects are a small part...
I'm not stomping my feet until i get a handout - I work hard, bust my butt & so does my fiance - but it's either get the 400K house & be "house poor" where you can't do anything else or hope that something more affordable comes our way...
I'm not here because I want my kid to go to school w/ the "rich kids" - I'm here because the school district is one of the best and my kids are worth it...
BTW Thomas - I wouldn't necessarily call this an "affluent" area - most people here are middle to upper middle class...
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thomas
Full Member
Welcome to the Land of Pleasant Living!
Posts: 169
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Post by thomas on Aug 3, 2007 14:59:23 GMT -4
This may not be considered an affluent area - but it ain't cheap to live here, there is no dispute on that.
And if you compare our "police beat" in the local paper to that of a town that is cheaper to live in - you will see a major difference. There is a reason that we don't have a lot of violent crime in this area. In my opinion, that reason is that we don't have apartment complexes full of Section 8 people. There are some apartments and townhomes, but mostly we have single-family homes above 300K. May not be politically correct to say it - but this is why we enjoy a low crime rate.
Why should anyone be entitled to live in a more expensive area than they can afford? I don't live in Ellicott City because I can't afford to. I don't have a huge waterfront home because I can't afford it. That's just the way it is...
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Post by Ann on Aug 3, 2007 15:13:24 GMT -4
Well said- It's sad to drive through neighborhoods that use to be so nice and see them so trashed. I grew up in Garrett Park and luckily it's still nice-but Thomas said it-it's because the houses are $$$$$$.I wish i could live there but there's no way.I was visiting my parents the other day and drove through Wheaton.It use to be a clean-working class neighborhood that housed alot of the service men from WW2.Hard working-family oriented people.I barely recognize it today.I'm not sure how it happened.I don't really understand how it does.I can understand why many find the statement very unPC, but when it's right in front of your face, it's hard to deny.If everyone would just respect and appreciate what they had-be it big or small,there would be nothing to assume at all.
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 3, 2007 16:12:36 GMT -4
kl...get a life and get off of mine. I made no assumptions about you until you decided you were an authority on me. The fact that I didn't spell one word correctly makes no impact on my intelligence level. You, however, have jumped to several conclusions on several threads and it's boring.
Back to my original topic as I am dismissing any further RIDICULOUS conversation.
I was not implying by my original post that I had any prejudices toward any socio-economic group. That I am concerned about my neighborhood is perfectly understandable. Where anyone's mother, father, sister, brother, cousin lives (lived) is of no concern to me. What is a concern, as pointed out in the previous responses, is the impact that low-income or section 8 housing might or might not have on our current low crime rate and community.
I have the utmost compassion for those hard working honest people out there trying to find a better way of life and think that, as such, they should do the very best they can. I also must state that I think that the government has become like a crack dealer keeping people hooked and offering them more assistance to prevent them from being contributing members of society. I also believe there are those individuals that are honestly in need of help that totally deserve it. However, I am not the government and unfortunately it is not up to me to decide who gets what and when.
If anyone cares, and it would not surprise me that they don't, I came from a single parent family that knew very hard times, yet never had to take public assistance. We made do. We worked very hard. We kept on trying. We didn't expect anything from anyone. Other folks had to do what they had to do. No judgements from me. I was, and am, too busy taking care of matters in my own life.
The question I asked about definition of Government Assisted and Section 8 was purely for clarification as I was not familiar with the subtle distinction between the two.
Frankly, if you can't deal with it...don't. But please don't put your two cents in if you only have a penny.
CHEEZO WHIZ!
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Post by Ann on Aug 3, 2007 17:04:42 GMT -4
Where anyone's mother, father, sister, brother, cousin lives (lived) is of no concern to me. If anyone cares, and it would not surprise me that they don't,
How can you expect anyone to care about what you think when you put things in like that? This is forum,we can say what we feel within limits, but there is a degree of sarcasm and fun as well on here. This forum is great because it is smart and fun...sure there are touchy subjects, but most of the time they are handled with care. It's when the topic becomes a personal place for attacks that the original thread starts going all over the place.So some respect and a thicker skin is what i'm thinking.....
one more thing-as far as not being affluent,the Wash. Post called Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties the "toney" counties of the Eastern Shore-and I know when I tell people where i'm from it's always like...oooo wow that place is so nice and sooo expensive.We've been here almost 20 years and all i can say is i'm glad we moved then, because there would be NO WAY now.
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Post by speedergurl68 on Aug 3, 2007 17:18:50 GMT -4
I began this thread with a general question. I didn't begin anything personal but I certainly hope that I have put an end to what I felt was being made personal. I only responded to a disrespectful post, which in truth, was my mistake. I should never have even given it a second thought. I apologize. I was raised with the idea that everyone has opinions and rights to them. I don't ever EXPECT people to care about my opinions, and in my experience, most have not, but if they don't it's my thicker skin that doesn't let it make a difference. I do appreciate these forums for allowing all of us to speak freely about the things we like, love, hate....it's really nice. If you care about my opinions, I honestly am honored (no sarcasm at all) because I genuinely enjoy reading everyone's posts and gaining a different view of the world through them. I love sarcasm and an intelligent debate is always fun. This forum rocks and I really have no interest in senseless bickering as it is a waste of time and good energy. So, I must agree Ann, respect and thicker skins are most appealing. And...I do want to thank the folks that helped me understand the differences I was asking about and the great input of concerns and comments on our community. It is really cool to see that people like The Island and are interested in its future. My husband and his family have been here for 35 years. We consider ourselves to be blessed to be counted in among the Kent Islanders!
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