[RP TownTalk] code and vendors discussion

[Roland Walker]

Marc,

To shed light on some of your specific points:

As I remember, part of the deal with Caputo's development at the
corner of Rt 1 and 410 was to upgrade Beale Cir park.  I think that
deal dates back to the Herman administration -- I'm sure someone can
correct me if not.  Of course, since the developer sought variances,
we could have demanded the park upgrade happen immediately.

As for the current at the development site, one of Mayor Archer's
first acts was to get Caputo to remove the mountain of rubble there
and seed it.  It does look pretty darn shabby now, but it is not as
bad and certainly not as dangerous.

The Field of Dreams was maintained for years by volunteer citizens,
who have since moved on to a different soccer club.  Vern got some
specific upgrades done, but nobody has come up with a plan to bring
the field back to the same level.  It is something that may have been
discussed with KSI when they proposed to put in condos.  But that
condo deal fell apart.

As for the town signs, part of Councilwoman Walker's platform in the
last election was to have the town do a corporate identity overhaul.
This would include the signs.  However, a project of that ambition has
to wait for the next budget cycle, and gain support from the rest of
the council.

R

On 11/5/07, marc stauffer <marc.stauffer at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Re: [RP TownTalk] code and vendors discussion
> Roland and all,
>
> I agree with you that our town looks shabby.  At each main entryway to town
> we have abandoned properties (the Rt. 1 + 410 intersection, the south east
> corner of Madison + Rt. 1 , the both of the westward  corners of Kenilworth
> and 410, the  Kenilworth area south of the the bowling alley, the emptiness
> of riverdale plaza).  Even if the town doesn't have much power to get
> privately held land to be inhabitated and spruced up, I don't think we are
> doing a bang up job with the ground the town control. For one, Beale circle
> looks really decrepit  (dead trees, unkempt grounds, a jersey barrier or two
> sitting around) and that is a little area that could actually say to us
> (residents) and others that Riverdale Park takes care of its green space.
> It could be a nice little park.  The development ideas for the corner of rt.
> 1 and 410 incorporate a small pocket park into the design guidelines.  Why
> wait for years for the development to happen to make Beale Circle a spot to
> notice and not to avoid looking at?  Two; the "Field of Dreams"  isn't kept
> up beyond cutting the grass (the infield is mostly weeds, the signage needs
> painting,etc.).  And the Riverdale Park signposts I see along River Rd. look
> pretty sad:  the planters are dented and have no plants in them, the signs
> are faded.
>
> I also agree with you:
>  "I absolutely do believe that sprucing things up could have many secondary
> benefits, say in the ability to attract good businesses."
> I do think that is a basic first step to seeing things progress.  And beyond
> the efforts of the town and volunteers to help change things (like the tree
> planting day last month), can't the town demand more from the landowners who
> have sought (and in some cases were granted) accommodation from the town.
> For instance, couldn't a condition of the Rt.1 + 410 development agreement
> be that until the time that construction starts the ground is at least green
> and not rubble?  I'm not saying that corner would become an astroturf park
> like what they did in Silver Spring on the fallow lot next to the movie
> theatre, but at least it could look better than the wasteland it is now.  It
> can't be good for people's sense of the town, or perhaps more importantly
> can't be good for the businesses adjacent to it.  For how many years does
> the Animal Hospital and the Calvert House have to have a rubble field as a
> neighbor? Similarly, can the state of the derelict gas station at Madison be
> very helpful  to the town's image or the businesses adjacent to it,
> especially now that EYA and DeMatha are doing work to their sides of the
> street? Maybe the town doesn't have any legal power beyond making sure basic
> code regulations are met, but it must have more persuasive power at its
> disposal given that the landowners seem to want accommodations from the
> town.
> Best,
>
> Marc
> 4913 ravenswood rd.
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