[RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams

Tue Sep 11 12:12:52 UTC 2007

Mark

For you information, there are convenants which prevent the types of business you have listed below from occupying spaces in the Town Center.

Bruce

-----Original Message-----
>From: Marc Molino <mmolino54 at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Sep 11, 2007 7:57 AM
>To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams
>
>Well, it seems like we've got an essential split in terms of approaches 
>(although everyone wants a vital commercial center): 1) Get (almost) any 
>business in ASAP; or, 2) Wait a little while longer and try to attract more 
>desirable or more established businesses. Seems like you can almost divide 
>who follows which approach by how long they've been in town (with longtime 
>residents prefering #1 and some of the newer residents prefering #2)--again, 
>I said almost. Personally, I'm about in the middle of those two approaches. 
>I think occupied buildings beat vacant ones, but I really would NOT care for 
>a liquor store, a strip club, a check-cashing store, a porn shop, nor one of 
>those stores that sells stuff seen on TV (I don't like anyone who might know 
>me seeing me frequent these establishments, especially the latter, but hey, 
>that's just me).
>
>Bruce, my problem with saying let's protest, is that I didn't quite 
>understand what you were going to protest or what you wanted as an outcome. 
>You started to get at this below where you pointed to Jemal leasing at lower 
>rates. I think in order to be effective, you've got to be concrete about 
>what you want Jemal to do and you've got to make the case that it's 
>something he hasn't been doing (which is why I asked if we have any clue 
>whatsoever in terms of interest expressed in leasing space in the town 
>center).
>
>Let's look at College Park and EYA.
>
>College Park: Estimated population ~27,000
>Median income: $57.5K
>Median house/condo value: $265.5K
>http://www.city-data.com/city/College-Park-Maryland.html
>
>Hyattsville: Estimated population ~15,000
>Median income: $52K
>Median house/condo value: $241.1K
>http://www.city-data.com/city/Hyattsville-Maryland.html
>
>Riverdale Park
>Estimated population ~6,550
>Median income: $50.5K
>Median house/condo value: $243.9K
>http://www.city-data.com/city/Riverdale-Park-Maryland.html
>
>So the huge difference among the 3 towns is population and geography 
>(College Park & Hyattsville being larger areas and having much bigger 
>portions of Route 1 within their town limits), which play a big factor to 
>businesses.
>
>I realize your pride in Riverdale Park is behind your passionate arguments, 
>but we seem to discussing all issues at once--in some we're in disagreement 
>(I disagree that we should just protest Jemal--I think we should protest for 
>something like lower lease rates or some other concrete outcome and I think 
>we should be doing more to draw businesses to us; as you said, the town 
>center has been vacant 20+ years--what was the problem before Jemal? it 
>sounds like you're using him as a scape goat--I definitely think he's more 
>of an obstacle, but he's certainly not the origin of the problem--I've been 
>in town for 6 years and the town center currently looks better than I've 
>ever seen it, although I no longer know where to go to see dead pigeons in 
>storefront windows). Other issues we agree on: a new gas station is better 
>than a derelict gas station.
>
>I am in favor a two-pronged approach:
>1) Pressure Jemal in the most productive way we can;
>2) Market/advertise/promote Riverdale Park
>
>-Marc
>4801 Queensbury
>
>From: "Bruce Wernek" <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com>
>To: <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams
>Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:02:02 -0400
>
>Jeff, Jay, Mark,
>
>I don't agree.  We've been waiting for 20+ years.  How long is long enough.
>Take a look at College Park.  They're 1 mile away.  Talk about density.
>Consider EYA vs. Jeys Auto.  This dichotomy is a direct reflection on the
>citizens of this Town.  We'd rather have a derelict gas station than a new
>one.  I just don't get it.  It's absolutely nuts.  (If any of you don't
>agree don't send an email until you take the time and look at our Town's
>"Gateway" as Lou so succinctly put it.)
>
>I would be happy if anyone occupied the spaces in the Town Center.  Then you
>have tenants to draw the interest of the "Hi Brow" establishments.  Right
>now there is nothing and nothing it will remain.  Jemal has to take the
>first steps and lease at low prices, but why should he.  No one is giving
>him any reason to.
>
>Consider the following.  Take a new residential development project,
>typically developers will sell the first units at a lower price to get
>people in there so their condos/homes are occupied.  Then they ramp up the
>prices as the project builds out.  The same is true for the Town Center or
>any other commercial property, you get the first tenants in with low square
>footage costs then up the anti as the spaces get leased.  Jemal knows all of
>this.  He's been leasing property for years.  We keep holding out putting up
>with vacant and derelict properties thinking that a Starbucks or Trader
>Joe's is going to move in.  I'm sorry, but this is just not going to happen.
>This is not Bethesda, this is Riverdale.  The types of tenants we will get
>in the Town Center are all around us, along Kenilworth Ave, Rt 1, Decatur
>St, etc.  You have to start somewhere.  The question is, are we ever going
>to start.
>
>Bruce
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Yorkedial at aol.com [mailto:Yorkedial at aol.com]
>Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 6:10 PM
>To: JayRite at aol.com; bruce.wernek at mindspring.com;
>towntalk at riverdale-park.org
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Town Center of Dreams
>
>
>
>
>Are We Creating A Hot Zone or Just Grave Digging?
>
>Jay Wright is Mr. Right in this case. Lowering the rent will get you just
>that: "low rent businesses," and hence, all the joys that come with that.
>
>While Mr. Jemal may be guilty of disappointing some folks, he has been
>considerate enough not to fill his the space with low brow establishments --
>dollar store, check cashing, nail salons, Asian carry-out fronted by
>Plexiglas, etc. Nothing wrong with any of those business but they aren't
>what Riverdale Park has been waiting for.
>
>Perhaps Town Talkers could create a realistic wish list of businesses they
>would want in the Town Center. Consider established, local businesses within
>a 25-mile radius of RP that you like, use and would want in town. List only
>one that you really would support (please focus) if it were across the
>street from the S & J Restaurant. Once a list of solid contenders is
>drafted, perhaps then the business development committee could pursue those
>businesses with a consult with Doug Jemal. Let's go and grow from there.
>
>But remember, no business operator is going to invest in a 20-year ghost
>town if there is no sign of life. If your pledges of support are empty, so
>are your stores.
>
>Jeffrey Yorke
>Natoli Place Apartments
>
>
>In a message dated 9/10/2007 5:31:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>JayRite at aol.com writes:
>
>
>If you're going to do that, you must focus.
>We are all clearly disappointed that buildings have been vacant for 20+
>years, (not sure how accurate that is as I've only been here for 10). But be
>careful who you choose to do battle with. "Jemalville" is catchy, but
>inaccurate as a target of our 20+ year angst.
>
>Douglas Development did not acquire the properties that they own until as
>recently as 2002-2003. [only 4-5 years ago, according to the The Maryland -
>National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)]. I know we all have
>had very high hopes that they would have turned those properties into
>Shangrila, by now. But the fact of the matter is that they haven't yet, and
>until the economy itself, generally turns to the better, probably won't
>right away.
>
>Can they lower the rent? Sure! But, I ask you, what kind of business will
>that bring in? I'm sure if you put enough pressure on the developer they may
>give in. But be careful what you wish for. We may end up with a Pawn Shop, a
>check cashing place, laundry mat, etc...
>You thought that vacant buildings were a nuisance, believe me, it can be
>much worse. If vacancy means holding out for the things that we really want,
>long term. I'm willing to wait a little while longer.
>
>Apply pressure gently, and accurately.
>Not advice, just an observation.
>Jay Wright
>
>
>
>
>
>
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