Hi Jonathan
This is not a choice between “smart growth” and “ sprawl”. It is also not a
choice between accepting or rejecting development. This is a choice between
doing it right and business as usual. Neither DC nor MOCO require green
construction methods, only green buildings ( to a greater or lesser extent ).
Requiring green construction could cut down on a lot of GHG emissions. Many
other things could be done to mitigate impact like banning new natural gas
hookups and requiring rooftop solar on all these buildings. I have not been
advocating for or against any of these projects, per se, but if we don’t get it
right, we might as well resign ourselves to a basically unloveable future. All
I am asking for here is an EIA so that the community can embark on a rational
planning process. I, for one, want a good future for my grandkids and, indeed,
all living beings. We should settle for nothing less
Paul C
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 27, 2022, at 1:57 PM, Jonathan Cook <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Paul - we badly need more housing in this country. Is it not preferable
to infill urban areas near mass transit rather than to push development
further out and generate more sprawl and land conversion? Your GHG accounting
is not taking this alternative scenario into account, just comparing apples
to nothing as if the housing won’t get built elsewhere anyways. John raises
good questions about affordability and equity but assuming those are
adequately addressed, I think we need to accept some development nearby
rather than always find reasons to oppose it.
Jonathan (Takoma Ave)
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 12:27 PM, John Seelke <jseelke@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Mike - I understand addressing climate change and having resources closer by.
What I am ALSO saying are what the possible ramifications could be - for
example, could my wife CHOOSE to drive FURTHER (to Ft. Totten, where spots
are very hard to come by) as opposed to to Takoma - if the goal is to
eliminate emissions, then at least her action would NOT do that. Too often
decisions are made without looking at the potential downsides...until it's
too late.
In terms of housing, I also wonder about the number of houses that are
considered affordable - and the comment that it is up to 60% of the market
rate. Seth mentioned 50-80 would be in that category - I am curious how many
two or three bedrooms are in that category, of it is only one bedroom or
studios, which would not help many immigrant families searching desperately
for housing.
On Wed, Apr 27, 2022 at 12:18 PM Mike's Email <mjohnsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
What, no GHG emissions from suburban sprawl, miles of road and additional
infrastructure and auto use? HUD, DOT, EPA and DOE point to out suburban
sprawl development pattern as a primary reason Americans drive 3-4 times as
much as other developed countries. and one of the biggest challenges to
addressing climate change unique to the U.S.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 27, 2022, at 12:05 PM, Paul Chrostowski <paul.chrostowski@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Have to disagree on this. Construction greenhouse gas emissions are a
significant source here. I have run the math on several of these large
developments—amounts of GHG from the construction process and embodied in
materials are truly staggering. We don’t benefit climate by ignoring these
emissions. There is also the urban heat island that will be exacerbated by
these projects, not to mention hundreds of additional cars pouring out into
the streets. There are also questions about stormwater runoff and management
(most of which will be done by Takoma Park MD) and emission of criteria air
pollutants. Note that the Blairs in SS are a good example of the failure of
transit oriented development to mitigate car pollution. None of these
projects even have an environmental impact assessment so that people can
decide if they fit in with climate action plans. My testimony on the
previous development compelled an environmental impact assessment but I
don’t have the time or inclination to go through that again.
Paul C
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Mike's Email
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 11:55 AM
To: north-takoma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [north-takoma] Re: Fwd: Takoma Metro site development plans:
350-380 apartments + retail
I think the proposal looks much better than the last. If you are going to
say we need to address climate change and resource issues, mixed use
development next to transit it how you assess those issues.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 27, 2022, at 10:10 AM, Paul Chrostowski <paul.chrostowski@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Nope—still alive. This is 350 units, much bigger than previous. If you add
up all thedevelopment under construction, pro[posed, or planned for Takoma
DC, we are facing well over 1,000 new housing units in this tiny corner of
the world.
Paul C
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Dvidutis
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2022 9:59 AM
To: north-takoma@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; hodgesheights@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: [north-takoma] Re: Fwd: Takoma Metro site development plans:
350-380 apartments + retail
I thought we killed this.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 8:22 AM, Seth Grimes <seth.grimes@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Developer EYA's plans for the Takoma Metro site include "studio to
three-bedroom units and 10,000-20,000 square feet of retail," reports DC
Urban Turf. "Roughly 50-80 units would be affordable to households earning
up to 60% of area median income (AMI)..
"There would be 184 residential and retail parking spaces and a
pick-up/drop-off/loading turnaround area under the building off Cedar
Street. The site will also be reconfigured, which will eliminate WMATA's
existing short-term parking and convert the Kiss & Ride drop-off to a
driveway loop. Two acres of open space will be split across a passive park
along Eastern Avenue and an activated retail plaza with terraced steps at
the Metro entrance along Carroll Street."
Visit EYA's project Web site at https://takomastationdevelopment.com/ ;.
Seth
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