Twenty Five Things I Learned About You, D.C.
It’s the end of the year: The time of year when I’m told that all journalistic outlets have some sort of year-in-review!
Problem is, I haven’t actually been here for a year, so any objective summation could fairly encompass only the last nine months. But I have learned a few things since I started this job back in April, when I knew nothing. Let’s do this, then, with a few of the most important takeaways.
- Just because you think it's unfair doesn't mean it's illegal.
- If there's an empty building, chances are good that Doug Jemal owns it.
- The Board of Zoning Adjustment is different from the Zoning Commission is different from the Zoning Administrator.
- Politicians occasionally act like children, and will take credit for anything.
- If I were a Georgetown student, I would be terrified of the neighbors.
- For some reason, lots of people don't want more people living in their neighborhoods (especially if they're poor).
- Grocery stores are a big deal. Furthermore, the hierarchy of grocery store desirability is as follows, in descending order: Wegmans, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Safeway, Giant.
- It sure is nice to have the federal government around, except when it's not.
- Saying you're a "native Washingtonian" is like a secret password.
- Protests are rarely effective, but important nonetheless.
- The most well-intentioned government programs can backfire (or just not work).
- Vacant buildings can hide multitudes.
- It's really hard to get anything to locate east of the River.
- Parking, trash, and noise: The unholy trinity of neighborhood resistance to new things. Plus the Adams Morgan bogeyman.
- Rosslyn is like the District's gangly teenage sibling: Tall, awkward, and unfriendly.
- Being a developer is really stressful.
- Not having a vote screws D.C. over more than most people realize.
- The "Washington area" means something completely different from D.C. proper.
- Gentrification, placemaking, livability, transit-oriented, walkable, urbanist, mixed-use, and “addressing the street” are all extremely useful and yet vomitously overused terms.
- "Smart growth" and "historic preservation" mean different things to different people.
- NIMBYs take many forms, but–like hipsters!–will always deny their NIMBYism.
- In development, nothing really happens until it happens (or doesn't).
- Hyperlocal government can be both a blessing and a curse.
- All rankings are bogus.
- Washington is a fascinating, dynamic, rich place to live and work. So cheers to you, D.C. Happy 2011.
6:59 pm
Lydia,
You've done an outstanding job this year. You've far surpassed Ruth in the quantity and quality of coverage. Keep up the good work.
10:28 am
Thanks Keith! I'm happy you're reading.
-- Lydia
7:05 pm
nice post. bang up year.
7:14 pm
Lydia, this is an excellent assessment but, let me clarify the term Native Washingtonian to you and other's. The term simply expresses to folk that comming to washington isn't like the pilgrams comming to America and discovering this uncivilized land inhabited by savages,some folks were born into this struggle and have been in it for ever. They have built that which you are attempting to build upon and with (meager resources), so as a consequence will not just move to the side for the sake of someone's vision of what should be,without being consulted.This transcends all lines, old,young,black and white, a native Washingtonian is just that and when it comes to being discounted we tend to be a bit resentful, I think it has something to do with the whole taxation without representation deal.
3:17 pm
Hi Lydia- I agree with Keith. For someone who has been here less than a year, you have done an outstanding job. Your work is interesting and its a smart read. Looking forward to more in 2011!
8:06 pm
Lydia's coverage is good, but her editorializing reflects an entertaining cluelessness that maybe with time and experience can be cured. Sometimes what is flagged as a resistance to change is really folk saying, "been there done that", but folk with little historic respective don't understand that. As well, sometimes perspective changes when you have to raise children vs. figuring out which bar to hop to next.
12:43 pm
I agree - way too much editorializing on here. Seems more like a blog for Empower DC or one of the other advocacy groups. Not a balanced perspective on development in the District.
1:25 pm
Weighing in late-- Lydia, I always appreciate a fresh perspective, despite (like W Jordan) having "been there done that" for a lot of development cycles in DC. I hope you'll continue to ask lots of questions in 2011-- I've enjoyed your take thus far (even though I don't always agree!).
2:23 pm
@Anothernative -
I completely agree - That's a good explanation of why you hear "native Washingtonian" more than "Native Seattleite" or whatever. Proving one's bona fides is just more important here.
@Acer -
One element that people have sometimes disliked about this blog is my "biased reporting." The thing I hope readers understand is that City Paper isn't the Washington Post - we say what we think, without trying to hide behind the veil of objectivity. Housing Complex has developed certain opinions about things should work in D.C., but I'll state them honestly, rather than trying to manipulate facts to try to make a case without "editorializing." Usually, I find that facts themselves are more valuable than what I think about them anyway.
2:51 pm
I hear from the NIMBYs and the echo chamber of ignoramuses on these issues all the time. Why should Lydia give them more of a hand for free if she doesn't want to?
3:44 pm
great post Lydia! Your column has been a great read as a new Washingtonian. I mean, native Washingtonian...
5:39 pm
"Gentrification, placemaking, livability, transit-oriented, walkable, urbanist, mixed-use, and “addressing the street” are all extremely useful and yet vomitously overused terms."
This. Don't forget "sustainable".
8:29 pm
Re. #9, while 'native Washingtonian' may be a secret password, '2nd (or 3rd, 4th, etc.) generation Washingtonian' is even more powerful.
10:02 am
Love and totally agree with the post, and just love the comments! I've lived here for over 26 years, and thought Lydia, DC newbie of 9 months that she is, nailed it! Keep up the great work kiddo!