View more videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com
Here's NBC4's brief piece on the real estate market in Trinidad. This originally aired last night. Just for the hell of it you might also want to check out this 2006 feature from the Washington Post: Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.
Here's NBC4's brief piece on the real estate market in Trinidad. This originally aired last night. Just for the hell of it you might also want to check out this 2006 feature from the Washington Post: Gardened and Glowing in Trinidad.
23 comments:
That is some sweet sound engineering!
there goes that affordable factor..right out the window
Not much hot about it other than the lovely young woman at the end. Put her face in all the promo materials!
Racist Michelle Kirkland writes, "As usual taxes, lack of city willingness to refurbish and age pushes out the original, then it becomes the place to be because young white buyers move in. The city decides to refurbish and provide incentives. Georgetown , Capitol Hill and U St. Are perfect examples."
anon 1:12 - seriously! Rawwrrr gurl, where you be livin? Hollaaaa
Ok, yeah that girl at the end is hot, but dear god, has she walked a block in any direction away from the Target in Columbia Heights? Endless section 8 buildings and Peruvian take out joints doesnt exactly scream "reeeally niiice" to me. Not to mention that homicides and crime in general is much higher there.
I'm curious: is there any evidence whatsoever that elderly homeowners are being forced out because of property taxes? Because it's my understanding that that's incorrect.
Also, if Lonnie (or whatever his name is) doesn't know his neighbors, maybe he should go over with a bottle of wine and welcome them to the neighborhood. That's what decent human beings do when people move in next door to you.
I've been living in the neighborhood for a few years now and my taxes have not gone up appreciably (knock on wood). In fact, my property taxes actually went down last year.
I have yet to see any evidence that someone was "forced" to move out due to higher property taxes in Cap Hill or Trinidad. To me, this is another one of those thinly veiled race-baiting arguments that Marion Barry constantly makes but doesn't provide any support for.
Unfortunately, there is a socio-economic subset in the city that is always going to look for these type of arguments or theories that support their "I'm a victim" view of the world.
In point of fact, nobody is "forcing" you out and your property taxes are minimal considering what other people pay in other states (like NJ for example).
Stop acting like you're a victim for voluntarily selling your house for $400,000 more than you paid for it. Sheesh.
Is Trinidad really that hot right now? I know it's an NBC video, but it sounds like a real estate commercial.
according to real estate agents, 'it's the hottest neighborhood ever!!!11one'. That is, if you believe real estate agents. Which you shouldn't. Ever.
I was looking for a house in the 'burbs - wasn't looking in Trinidad. My agent said a lot of his clients are currently looking to buy in Trinidad. I currently rent in Trinidad and can confirm that Trinidad is on the rise.
I've lived here for about 3 years. The first year a few new people moved in. the second year I would notice a new face about every month. These days it seems like every week or so I see someone new moving in.
I just purchased a home in Trinidad last year and recently got a notice about my mortgage payment $35 a month increasing due to property taxes. Doesn't seem like that much, but could be to some.
PS... After living in the heart of Cap Hill for 4 years, I love this neighborhood (with a few exceptions) and have great neighbors... Everyone has been really warm and welcoming.
I'm actually looking to purchase in the neighborhood, because of it's location & affordability. Right now, I haven't found anything that doesn't require a major overhaul, or is in my pricerange. but I'm going to stay diligent!!! - LMR
The video was generally good, I've lived in Trinidad since 2004 buying then and having bought here again with my husband in 2008.
I am concerned about the images put forth in the video. The "young" people and "young professionals" in the piece are all white. Since my husband and I are young professionals, that are not white and we know of other young professionals who have moved to Trinidad who are not white, it just feels kinda like the news media was biased here.
It is also concerning that the black images were older. Was the aspiration that, black is the past and white is the future? What that intentional?
In my heart of hearts I hope that's not what they meant. Watching this after getting home from a long day at work, it's odd that the changing faces of trinidad are educated, professional, and young white people. Images are powerful, they help set perception.
It sort of make me wonder why I've committed so much time to civic involvement, beautification, and other efforts to improve the neighborhood.
On a personal level, the piece hurts.
-Robby
They should have interviewed you, Robby. Seriously! I live in NE Cap Hill and honestly, the new comers are actually white --- at least the ones I've seen in the past 10 years. It's a shame we don't hear enough about the progressive african-american newcomers.
There are a couple mixed-race couples on my block. Now I love that type of diversity. Also, I love the gay single republican (yes that's right) across the street, the straight GW grad students next door, and the older black couple a few doors down. I'm sure Trinidad is just as colorful.
You make some good points Robby. But I wouldn't take it too personally. It's just a local news piece and they tend to create these things quickly on the fly.
And for the record the girl in the video is NOT hot. She is cute at best.
Couple of thoughts:
-What's the definition of "original homeowners"?
-The misrepresentation of Trinidad as "crime ridden" (mentioned in this video) was promoted, in part, by the station producing this piece
-It's a pretty poor represenation of the neighborhood, with really no depth. It appears to be shoddily thrown together at the last minute to be used as something to fill empty air time.
-Matt
One of the evil newcomers in Trinidad, since early 2007
I've got to agree with donald trump on this one. It's probably the only thing I'd agree with him on.
Trinidad like neighborhoods are in transition and that's actually a constant state. There was a time Anacostia was a to do white suburb, which is why F. Douglas insisted on living there.
To act like Trinidad was always black and working class (what ever either of those terms mean), is flatly false. The majority of people who've lived in this slanted neighborhood over the years have varied interms of race and class however I will hazard to guess it was mostly white working class from 1888 to the late 50s early 60s, with some black families as years went on (As was a most of DC).
By the 80s Trinidad was a mostly black hood, this continued through the 90s most of the first half of this decade. Now more white (again an undefined term) people are moving in, as well as LGBTI people, Deaf People, Professional people of what ever hue and back ground. Trinidad, will probally end up like Sesame Street (or Avenue Q) a little bit of everyone.
However, frankly, this piece dons't show that, its sloppy and ignores or glosses over a lot of stuff.
We should expect better from our news media.
BTW, not sure what a newcomer is, I was born in Ward 5, reared in Ward 4, grammer school in upper Ward 4. So, aside from some family ties I was new to Trinidad in 2004. Being new isn't the problem, putting forth biased images is a problem. It helps fuel tensions that lead to so called "newcomers" sensing that they are evil, and for "old timers" feeling forced out. Both are reactions to the same confusion, it would be helpful if the news media didn't add fuel to the fire.
Now back to making my Tempeh and Green-bean Stir fry. I plan to be around when trinidad becomes majority Martian. Maybe then human beings will have solidarity, probally not.
Trinidad is an incredibly diverse community. That's true in terms of race, class, background, and socio-economic status. While living here I've met neighbors who are doctors, lawyers, architects, physicists, massage therapists, social workers, independent business people, djs, bartenders, translators, engineers, hairdressers, firefighters, cops, teachers, government employees of every ilk, artists, real estate agents, and much more. That's impossible to capture in a two minute piece. Not all newcomers are white, but the whites, Asians, and Latinos are more easily spotted on the street then the black newcomers. Overall, I'd say we mostly get along great. What's key is that we also look out for each other. Those of you who follow me on Twitter will have seen a tweet meant for Facebook this weekend regarding Ikea furniture. I spent part of my Saturday helping neighbors put together a set of kitchen cabinets. I've relied on those same neighbors for emergency plumbing repairs or last minute painting. Yesterday I gave them jars of homemade salsa. We frequently share food/plants, and meals. It's not quite a barn raising, but it might be the modern day equivalent. I love that, much like where I grew up, I actually know my neighbors. But in this case we actually help each other out on a daily basis. That's not something you can buy, but it has great value to me.
Inked:
"...more easily spotted..." Sounds like excuses from NBC 4. Albeit a handy excuse.
Since blacks are roughly 12% of the polulation, by that standard in other areas their news peices should have mostly black people in them. When I travel I don't see that.
Perhaps if I moved to Fox Hall and there was a fluff peice about Fox Hall that I'd be interviewed. Something says no.
Post a Comment