Hi neighbors -
To bring a different perspective to this conversation, I support the
development at the metro and I think the new design and plan is really
strong.
I had a chance to see a presentation on it and I think it is really
thoughtful. I believe that we need more housing options for more people
near metro stations, and I believe that one of the only ways we start to
right the wrongs of the racism baked into how our neighborhoods were
developed (I know, before us, but still a problem) is by inviting more
people to be a part of the who are at different price points than our
houses are at this point. I also think more people in the neighborhood is
great for our local businesses. Our TP main street businesses are thriving
significantly because of the new apartments that went up around our
downtown.
A few pieces about the plan that I like specifically:
The development will have double the amount of affordable apartments
required by DC and some of the 3 bedroom apartments will be set aside for
low-income households.
There will be short-term parking onsite for people to use - it will be
available for people going to the stores, but can also be used by people
going downtown for part of the day, similar to what we have now. They are
also keeping all of the bus bays and existing bus service.
I love that the design has stores facing Carroll - it will really knit
together our main street from Takoma DC to Takoma Park and help unite our
neighborhoods - which I think is really important.
The developer is also proposing a 2 acre park along the side facing Eastern
and coming around to Carroll that they will build and maintain and offer
for community events.
There's a lot more, but I encourage folks to learn more about the new
design instead of basing the discussion off of guesses or the old plans.
I am glad we can have an open and respectful conversation about the
proposed development at the metro station on our listserv, share our
difference of opinions about it, and each learn more about it too.
ILANA
On Thu, Apr 28, 2022 at 10:00 PM Stephanie Smilay <ssmilay@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
If there is no parking at the Metro, then it is absolutely required to
have bus service as long as the Metro is running. I’m too old to walk
even 3/4 of a mile at midnight.
It may be the intent of the developers to get us all into our cars and
drive downtown, which is probably what I will end up doing. Maybe they
have an interest in the parking garages downtown? It’s certainly
something to look into.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 27, 2022, at 10:37 PM, Richard P. Cember <
dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Here's my two cents' worth on this. (OK, more like twenty cents' worth.)
1. Construction waste accounts for something like 20% of municipal solid
waste nationwide. It is not a trivial environmental impact. Neither is the
manufacture and transportation of the construction materials.
2. Even parking lots are a kind of open space. I know it is heresy to say
that. That is not to say that all parking lots serve that function, nor
that they should proliferate. And usually a park would be better. But small
surface lots in particular do loosen up the urban fabric just a little here
and there in a way that provides a kind of relief. The current T.P. metro
is kind of a cross between a park and a parking lot. It's not unpleasant.
3. In regard to density, Metro is already not able to handle the ridership
that it has. It's also a rotten experience. It's also on limited service
half the time. I avoid it when I can. I know that's heresy, too. But let's
be honest about it.
4. Unless you are a civil servant or you own your own stable business, you
can't rely on living near your work for more than a few years, until your
next job change. I have twice worked in Silver Spring as a contractor for
NOAA, and walked to work there in both cases, in all seasons. That accounts
for a total of about five of the twenty-one years that I have lived here.
If you have kids in day care, in most cases you need your car. That last
one is a very strong reality.
5. No parking at the Takoma Metro means no use of the Takoma Metro station
by people who live more than a short walk away. I guess people could park
in the Bonifant-Dixon garage in Silver Spring and get on the train there.
In fact, that is what I do whenever I do need to use the Metro. So I
suppose losing that station parking is no big deal.
6. Living where I do, for most of the twenty-one years that I have been in
T.P., I used Silver Spring for most commercial needs. Now it is much less
so for me. It is no longer possible to move around there by car. It's
overbuilt and too congested. Every trip is interrupted by construction, or
just plain traffic. You could say I should go on foot, but I am not going
to do that for, say, grocery shopping, because I don't want to be doing
that every two days, or carrying milk for a half hour in 90-degree weather.
Or when I am busy and I need something from the hardware store. For an
hour's walk on a nice day, sure. For practical purposes, no.
Does this add up to a policy argument against the development? No, because
I have not carefully studied the issues. Plus, even with careful study of
the issues, how you come out depends on what you think is important among
valid competing concerns.
Does it mean that, honestly, that I would greatly prefer it if the project
just goes away? Honestly, yes.
Richard Cember
Boston Ave.
