[RP TownTalk] Zip Code Change

Sat Oct 26 15:57:32 UTC 2013

Before launching into Ron Paul/Rush Limbaugh/Fox News talking points,
Bruce, can you explain how talk by anyone about a new zip code will cost
"tax dollars"? And, why the war against change and improvement?

Weren't you the fellow (and the only one, as I remember) that was AGAINST
giving Riverdale students iPads last year when it was
proposed/discussed. Pencils
were good enough your day, you said, why not good enough today?

I am getting more afraid of fear everyday ...

Jeffrey

On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 11:18 AM, Bruce Wernek <bruce.wernek at verizon.net>wrote:

> Jonathan, et. al.****
>
> ** **
>
> I’ve lived in this Town for ~25 years and the demographics have changed
> significantly over the last decade.  Riverdale has been attracting young
> families for quite some time now.  You haven’t lived here long enough to
> see this change.  Take yourself and Ashley as examples.  Both of you bought
> here.  Why did you buy your house on Oliver St?  If you wanted higher
> property values, you could have bought in College Heights Estates or
> Calvert Hills.  I’m guessing the reason you bought here is that it was more
> affordable and you got more bang for the buck.****
>
> ** **
>
> One of the things that attracts young families to a community is
> affordable housing and that we have in Riverdale Park.  You are essentially
> advocating higher priced housing and claiming that it attracts “young,
> vibrant new families”.  I don’t agree.  Young, vibrant new families often
> can’t afford high priced housing and, as Chris Currie pointed out, they
> choose Riverdale Park.  I want these young families to move into this
> Town.  This is exactly what we need and this is exactly what has been and
> is happening.****
>
> ** **
>
> I noticed you referenced in your email that “the town has been pursuing a
> zip code change over that last 6 months”.  Are you the one that introduced
> the legislation to do this?  What is the status of this activity?  I want
> to make it clear that I don’t want my tax dollars used for this purpose.
> Rather, use those dollars to fix the brick inlays on the sidewalks all over
> Town.  The bricks have settled in many places and are a hazard to
> pedestrians particularly the handicapped.  Making meaningful improvements
> to the Town and infrastructure is a great way to increase property values
> much more so than a zip code change.****
>
> ** **
>
> If any of you on distribution feel as I do on this zip code issue, I urge
> you the contact your elected officials.  As far as I’m concerned there are
> plenty of better things to do with our tax dollars to improve our
> community.   ****
>
> ** **
>
> Bruce****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org [mailto:
> towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] *On Behalf Of *Jonathan Ebbeler
> *Sent:* Saturday, October 26, 2013 10:13 AM
> *To:* 'towntalk at riverdale-park.org'
> *Subject:* [RP TownTalk] Zip Code Change****
>
> ** **
>
> Bruce, et. al. –****
>
> ** **
>
> It is not just about selling and moving.  It is also about attracting
> young, vibrant new families to the area, it is about attracting new and
> varied businesses and economic development, it is about division of state
> tax money, it is about qualifying for home improvement loans.  I could list
> out 10-20 reasons from the top of my head that have nothing to do with the
> benefits of selling and moving that directly impact the local community.**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> And to the point about image I would disagree with those bringing up that
> it hasn’t worked.  Obviously the news story got it wrong and that is why
> this conversation is being had.  But the town has been pursuing the zip
> code change over the last 6 months – this story is hardly a catalyst.  The
> fact of the matter is that housing in Riverdale Park fetches a 100-150k+
> premium over an identical house in Riverdale.  The issue becomes that
> although higher, we still lag some of our surrounding communities in price
> per square foot.  Is this all related to the zip code?  Of course not, but
> until there is a clearly delineated division between the county ‘Riverdale’
> and the incorporated town of Riverdale Park in the minds of the less
> informed (and yes zip codes help), lingering understanding of what is the
> town vs. what is the county will remain.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Take the shooting story for example.  In this case, you have a story going
> out to the media that has an address.  In recent memory, Riverdale Park has
> received much more attention than Riverdale so when looking at a zip code
> and having to pick between two cities it is quite easy to confuse the two.
> The 4-digit extension ties an address to a specific house or property, it
> doesn’t necessarily indicate municipal boundaries.  Take for example the
> new NOAA building, it has a Riverdale Park address yet gets marketed as
> being in College Park since a portion of the building is in our neighboring
> city.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> To the point of the Zestimate – those are HIGHLY inaccurate and that point
> just buttressed the argument I had made concerning the zip code change.
> They are HIGHLY inaccurate due to the aggregation of all of 20737 as
> ‘comps’ when they are in fact not.  Our true ‘comp’ areas (if you are
> considering the core historic area) tend to be College Park, University
> Park (to a lesser degree), and Hyattsville.  This is not true in every case
> but in the majority of purchases over the last 3-5 years.  I will give you
> two instructive examples:  4601 Riverdale – Zestimate 233,336, was sold
> after a 1-day listing for 366,100 and 4601 Queensbury – Zestimate 297,444
> but appraised over the last year for over 400k using real comps.  4601
> Queensbury and 4601 Riverdale are 2 houses away from each other, and
> although both were high-end renovations, Queensbury has substantially more
> square footage, a 50% larger yard, and a two car garage.  The Zestimate has
> it 70k less than what its neighbor sold for in less than a day (indicating
> the market may have absorbed an even higher price for the property) – not a
> believable estimate juxtaposed to its real appraisal.  Again, Zestimates
> are based on the zip code 20737, not what banks and real estate agents, and
> the buying public will determine as ‘comparable.’****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Respectfully,****
>
> Jonathan****
>
> ** **
>
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-- 
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
301-502-1243
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