[RP TownTalk] Pete Buildings

Sun Feb 11 13:05:51 UTC 2007

All

I would like to make it clear to everyone that "WE DO NOT HAVE TO EAT THE 5
STORY PART" yet.  The town simply passed the proposal up to county zoning
board for approval.  The letter they signed at the last town meeting is
non-binding, which means they will do what the county mandates.  There will
be a public hearing held when Pete is ready to appear before the zoning
board.  If you feel strongly about this condo proposal, I urge you to attend
this meeting and let your feelings be known.

If I haven't said this earlier, the approval of Pete's condo proposal will
set a precedent.  It will pave the way for any future 5-story high-density
construction in the Riverdale MUTC zoning area.  The MUTC guidelines won't
be worth the paper they are printed on as far as building height is
concerned.  All the developer has to do is to hire a lawyer and say to
judge, "Pete got to do it, why can't I?  I would like to ask the MUTC
committee members, the mayor, and the Town council how they will respond to
this question on any future 5-story condo proposals.

I assure all of you that the owner of the apartment buildings across
Queensbury Rd from the old credit union is watching this process very
closely.  Once Pete gets approval, he will be in front of the council next.

The last point I would like to make is this.  The president of the RBA
passed out a report on the condo sales situation in the DC metro area at the
last meeting.  She obtained this report (MriS Trends in Housing, Year-End
2006, Delta Associates) off of the MLS listings, which means only realtors
have access.  It states and I quote, "With a current inventory of almost
24,000 units (condos in Washington Metro area), it will take about four to
six years to sell these units at current rates of sales velocity".  The
article further states, "Only 663 new units were sold in the Washington
metro area during the forth quarter (of 2006)".  Please read these last two
sentences three times to make sure they sink in.  They were written by
realtors for realtors.

If Pete can't sell his condos, what do you think he is going to do?

I feel the same way Pete does about condos in his neighborhood.  I'm sure he
wouldn't want a 5-story condo building a block and a half from his house.
Given this fact, I cannot support him in this effort.  I have supported him
for as long as he has been in this town as many of you have.  I have
frequented his store many many times and helped to pay for the life styles
that he and his children enjoy.  Given the fact that our town has supported
him for as long as he's been here, I would like to ask him to support us and
reconsider his proposal.  I think if we got together we could come up with a
plan, which is significantly cheaper, conforms to the MUTC guidelines,
carries significantly less financial risk, and still provides the financial
incentive that Pete is looking for.  Pete, I am holding out the olive
branch.  If you want my support, meet me halfway.  I've reviewed your plan
and I've got a few ideas.  Let's talk.  

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Gerald King
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 1:26 AM
To: Town Talk
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Pete Buildings

Emily writes: 
"SINCE WE HAVE TO EAT THE 5 STORY PART-
I think these building fronts should say something
unique about our Riverdale - 

Thank heavens our town still has visionaries who understand that people are
attracted to a community for other things besides schools, roads,
businesses, and a healthy tax base. Not that these things are not desired
and vital to everyone, but what about the environment? What would Riverdale
or Riverdale Park be without trees, parkland, a river, an old bridge, a
historic mansion, a variety of small and large homes with front yards,
porches, gardens, detached garages, and dog houses? What would it be without
trains and whistles, and small family businesses, a commuter stop and tiny
(Victorian replica) train station? What would it be without second and third
generation families, a variety of races, ethnicities and new emigrants? And
what makes so many citizens stay and volunteer to enhance and beautify the
community? 
What does Emily mean by "THIS IS OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT COMPLIMENTS OUR
MANSION - OUR PRIDE & J0Y? 
Will any and all additions or changes in the Riverdale we cherish
"compliment our mansion", reflect our historic traditions, or make our town
more inviting to stay and settle in? Or will pragmatists, hucksters and
opportunists belittle, devalue and crush our dreams and desires for a
homogeneous community that values life and life style more than balancing
the books and expanding the tax base? Will the mantle of "cost" be used to
thwart any attempt to require new structures to reflect the rich heritage of
Riverdale? Was "cost" what prompted Salimi Fereydoun to build a trellis in
front of The Calvert House Restaurant? Or was it his desire to create an
unique and inviting atmosphere for his customers-- A bit of the "Old World"
visionary not unlike those Steirs that built Riversdale. Compare that to the
steel shanty down the block called Franklin's. 
It is not costs that inhibit the designing of a facade that is compatible to
with an older neighborhood. The problem is more the limitations of today's
architects and the vision and tenacity of the buyer and contractor. You
don't get what you pay for, you get what you allow. If Riverdaliens allow
the cost effective incompatible minimalist structures to be built in the
community, it will slowly lose its charm and togetherness. 
Gerald King    

----- Original Message ----- 

From: OurDollMom at aol.com 
To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org 
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 8:46 AM
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Pete Buildings

Pete's buildings look very nice from the perspective
that he is using better materials.  BUT these bldgs
do not say anything about Riverdale.

THIS IS OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT THAT COMPLI
MENTS OUR MANSION - OUR PRIDE & J0Y.

SINCE WE HAVE TO EAT THE 5 STORY PART-
I think these building fronts should say something
unique about our Riverdale - 

Visitors should come & go and say Wow about
Riverdale - with FIRST GLANCE.  So I suggest:

If I understand correctly - where the boarding 
house stands - we will have 2 sides to view. On
Dumms Corner side we will have 3 sides to view -
total of 5 bldg sides.

If we could get creative with the architects - Riverdale
began in 1810 with mansion, 1870-80 whatever the
land was divided into parcels bldg. vacation houses
for the rich of D.C. - then came roaring 20s, 30s, 40s
50s 60s etc with houses to match & history of our
town to match.

If each one of these 5 sides could match a specific
historic architecture like 1 side early 1800s, then side
2 victorian era, side 3 roaring 20s-30s, side 4 in 1940s
-50s era, side 5 something like they have now.....then
placed in the tree/flower bed part we could put our 
historic markers telling something about our history
for each period......if we did not do anything to be 
noteworthy in one period - we could place pics on the
markers showing that boy/and his horse bathing in
the river & neat stuff tid bits about our town. 

THEN WHEN THE TOURISTS COME FROM D.C.
IN THE TOUR BUSES, THEY would visit the mansion
& grounds, walk on down to our historic district & see
our neat architecture bldgs & our historic markers, taking
the visitors all around our store fronts - and they would
automatically browse our shops & eating places.& sit
in Munch park & our other little sitting areas.

Our Historic District is very important to support our
mansion and our architecture/and historic markers 
should tie/pull it all together.   

I am not saying the 5 diff. sides of 5 diff architecture
should be absolutely politically correct but enough
so to learn/see the differences in the time periods
and MAKE RIVERDALE SPECIAL & UNIQUE
rememberance for tourists

What do you all think?    Emily

  _____  

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