[RP TownTalk] TownTalk Digest, Vol 11, Issue 12

Mon Jun 19 02:21:40 UTC 2006

David Hiles should be able to provide the background about this RR Crossing
upgrade initiative, since he started it during his tenure on the Town
Council.

Ken Laureys

-----Original Message-----
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Subject: TownTalk Digest, Vol 11, Issue 12

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: progress on 4-way gate at rail crossing (Roland Walker)
   2. Re: pre-purchases of local condominiums (The Curries)
   3. CAR STOLEN (Iris McLaurin)
   4. CAR STOLEN... PART 2 (Iris McLaurin)
   5. Re: pre-purchases of local condominiums (Roland Walker)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 12:53:50 -0400
From: "Roland Walker" <walker at pobox.com>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] progress on 4-way gate at rail crossing
To: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
Message-ID:
	<b0ee22d0606160953n1af5293ci2334f190f257ba95 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Lou is right, the upgrade is supposed to be something to reduce
whistles.  I could have made that more clear.

In my message I put "upgrade" in quotes because that was the only word
I could get from the surveyor, who claimed no knowledge of the type of
upgrade, or the schedule.

I would like to see the town get some confirmation from CSX about the
upgrade in writing.  So far as I know there has been none -- the
conversation with the surveyor is the strongest confirmation that I
have to date.

R

On 6/16/06, Lou King <lking at knob.com> wrote:
> I believe the "upgrade" for the CSX crossing that has been discussed by
> the mayor and others is to change the crossing to a system with 4 arms
> to completely block Queensbury Road when a train is coming.  People have
> been pushing for this because it would eliminate the need for the train
> whistles all together as they approach the Queensbury road crossing.
> That of course would relieve your concerns.
>
> Lou
>
> mariannethrift at comcast.net wrote:
>
> > I've lived in this town for 22 years and my house is RIGHT at the
> > southbound signal for the trains to "whistle" before the crossing. Now,
> > there HAS to be an decibel level ordinance. Anyone have any information
> > on the limits and if they test?
> >
> > I SURELY do not want more tracks, consequently, more trains without some
> > kind of limits.
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Subject:
> > [RP TownTalk] progress on 4-way gate at rail crossing
> > From:
> > "Roland Walker" <walker at pobox.com>
> > Date:
> > Fri, 16 Jun 2006 11:16:32 -0400
> > To:
> > TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
> >
> > To:
> > TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
> >
> >
> > I thought many neighbors might like to know that CSX had surveyors out
> > at the Queensbury rail crossing this week.
> >
> > The surveyor confirmed to me that the study was for an "upgrade".
> >
> > I wish we had a contact at CSX that could give us confirmation and
> > schedules on this project.  This could be a good time to upgrade the
> > corner of Lafayette and Queensbury, which is covered in gravel and
> > often used by CSX as a parking lot.
> >
> > R
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 23:28:41 -0400
From: "The Curries" <the.curries at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] pre-purchases of local condominiums
To: <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
Message-ID: <0J0Z000FGJ0184U3 at vms046.mailsrvcs.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Thanks for your kind comments, Roland.  I don't take positions on Riverdale
Park issues but once in awhile make a comment when I think a piece of
factual information might be helpful in furthering the discussion.  (By the
way, I'm nearly always impressed by the quality of argumentation on both
sides of any issue on this listserv.)  In this case, I had a feeling that
you were treating townhouses and condos as similar products, but wanted to
make sure that others on the list understood that EYA is not selling
multifamily units in its first phase, such as Patriot is proposing to do.

I think there are some legal distinctions between townhouse developments
with homeowner associations and condominiums that are designed to look like
attached single-family homes (as some are these days) -- for instance, the
fact that homeowner associations generally are responsible for upkeep of
common areas but not the structures themselves.  They are certainly treated
differently in zoning.

However, my point is that in terms of the housing market, attached
single-family homes and fee-simple multifamily units are distinct segments.
Certainly some homebuyers will see both townhouses and condos as options,
but I know plenty of people also who, for example, live in a multifamily
condo now and are looking to move into a townhouse (or a single-family
detached house) as the next step in their housing track.  Conversely, there
are cases of empty nesters looking to move to a multifamily condo because of
decreased need for space and a desire for a lower-maintenance lifestyle.

I think some housing analysts are saying that the condo market is becoming
oversaturated but that the market for new single-family homes (including
townhouses) is tighter.

One problem that we experience in Hyattsville is that there are many
"entry-level" housing choices (many apartments, some condos with many more
coming, some townhouses with many more coming, many small single-family
homes) but few options for "move-up" buyers.  This imbalance will get worse
in the next several years.  The danger is that we become a semi-transient
community where most folks stay for a few years and then leave when finances
allow and/or space requirements dictate.  It's great that we have been
successful in convincing planners and developers to switch from rental to
ownership options, but that in itself doesn't guarantee a stable, organic
community.

In light of that last paragraph, I guess I've got some sympathy for your
position that condos and townhouses aren't that different, after all.

Chris Currie
Hyattsville

-----Original Message-----
From: roland.walker at gmail.com [mailto:roland.walker at gmail.com] On Behalf Of
Roland Walker
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 4:00 PM
To: the.curries at verizon.net
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] pre-purchases of local condominiums

I don't get this distinguishing of townhomes vs condos.

I have a good friend in Virginia who lives in a dwelling that is
configured like a townhouse, yet he sits on something called the condo
association.  To me, townhouse is a shape.

Will there be parks and facilities in the EYA development which are
owned in common by the purchasers of the units?  Will there be an
annual maintenance fee?  If the answers are yes, then they are condos.

I do realize that they are larger and nicer units than the Patriot
Group is offering, but I still think it is relevant that there is
demand for new housing in the area.

May I say that I really appreciate your postings to the Riverdale Park
list?  You are always informative.  There are some other
out-of-towners that are not nearly so restrained, nor so scrupulous
about identifying themselves as nonresidents.

R

On 6/16/06, The Curries <the.curries at verizon.net> wrote:
> The EYA project is doing quite well, but it should be mentioned that these
> are attached single-family homes (townhouses), not multifamily
condominiums.
> I don't think it would be valid to compare the two.  EYA *is* planning to
> build condos in the second phase of their project, and they will join One
> Independence Plaza (University Town Center) and hundreds of units at West
> Hyattsville Commons in competing with Patriot (if built) for the
prospective
> condo market in this area.  -- Chris Currie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
> [mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Roland Walker
> Sent: Friday, June 16, 2006 11:12 AM
> To: TownTalk
> Subject: [RP TownTalk] pre-purchases of local condominiums
>
> Since the demand for condos in this area has been so very much
> discussed on this list, I went down to the EYA office on Route 1 to
> get some hard data.
>
> EYA has pre-sold 49 of 137 units in phase one of their Hyattsville
> development.
>
> How many weeks ago did they break ground?  All they have so far is
> bulldozers moving dirt around, and they have sold 35% of their units.
>
> Why?  Because though Northern Virginia is overbuilt with condos, we are
not.
>
> (Whether or not we want a 5-story building in our historic core is a
> separate question, of course.)
>
> R
>
> _______________________________________________
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> only
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>
>
>

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 01:48:45 -0400
From: "Iris McLaurin" <elsiegoh at starpower.net>
Subject: [RP TownTalk] CAR STOLEN
To: <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
Message-ID:
	<mailman.4.1150560015.6335.towntalk_riverdale-park.org at riverdale-park.org>

Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Neighbors,

Please be careful.  My car a 1997 Dodge Van was stolen from
4704 Oliver Street.

Sometimes Friday evening between 6:00pm and 9pm/10pm.
While I was home.  No keys in it, but, I had left one window down, while I
ran
Into the house.  I got delayed...three hours later my car was gone.

My husband and I operate a Youth Development Center for at-risk/at-genius
youth in
Takoma Park... this happened to have been the day that I put  ALL of
my children's records in the trunk of my car, and ALL of my summer camp
materials.

Sometimes the thieves just joy ride and throw the owners things away.
...which they probably will because there were in two very nice leather
brief bags.  If you happen to see any records, File folders, etc s in your
trash... please let me know

We operate our program and volunteer our services to these youth and their
families 24/7.  We just helped a little 12 year old who wanted to run away
yesterday... another get tuition for school.... I don't know understand it.
But, we do continue to do this.  Not because we can afford to---financially
we certainly can not;  but we can not afford not too.  It's a gift God gave
us to be able to reach outreach and love unconditionally.

Please be careful neighbors.

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 01:53:15 -0400
From: "Iris McLaurin" <elsiegoh at starpower.net>
Subject: [RP TownTalk] CAR STOLEN... PART 2
To: <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
Message-ID:
	<mailman.5.1150560015.6335.towntalk_riverdale-park.org at riverdale-park.org>

Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Description of Stolen Car
Charcoal Gray Dodge Caravan
Mini-Van 1997   2-door
Green & White OMalley/Brown for Governor sticker in back window
Scratch/slight dent on passenger side & driver's side door

Has about 3ft packing string/rope hanging for back bumper
MD license
482M295

Thank you.

Iris
240 383 7348

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2006 08:58:39 -0400
From: "Roland Walker" <walker at pobox.com>
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] pre-purchases of local condominiums
To: TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
Message-ID:
	<b0ee22d0606170558s32acda31xecad76c0dc0ed7b4 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

> I think there are some legal distinctions between townhouse developments
> with homeowner associations and condominiums that are designed to look
like
> attached single-family homes (as some are these days) -- for instance, the
> fact that homeowner associations generally are responsible for upkeep of
> common areas but not the structures themselves.  They are certainly
treated
> differently in zoning.

I guess you are saying that Phase 1 of EYA's development in
Hyattsville is a townhouse development with a homeowner's association,
and therefore not a condominium development in the legal sense.

I appreciate the correction.

R

------------------------------

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End of TownTalk Digest, Vol 11, Issue 12
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