Do we know what massive apartment projects are planned near DC metro stops
at Cleveland Park, Tenleytown and Friendship Heights? What affordable housing
programs are in effect west of Rock Creek Park?
As for past “baked-in” racism, I would note that when we arrived in North
Takoma 44 years ago there were more blacks living in single family houses than
there are now.
Henry Allen
New York Ave.
On Apr 29, 2022, at 10:25 AM, Ilana Preuss <ilanap1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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
<mailto: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
<mailto: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.
