[RP TownTalk] Cafritz update

[Kate Kelly]

Greetings, neighbors. Kate and Joe Kelly here.

We'd be interested to hear what the elected officials are thinking.  
Vernon? Alice? It's pretty quiet from your corner of the classroom.

> one observation: based on the sample of people who turned out this  
> morning
> and expressed their views, one would have to conclude that  
> university park
> and college park (calvert hills) residents love their communities  
> *just* the
> way they are, whereas we riverdalians long for the kinds of changes  
> the
> Cafritz folks are talking about -- and appreciate the way they are  
> going
> about it.

The emotional perspective: We wonder why every community must be the  
same? Silver Spring should be Silver Spring, Bethesda should be  
Bethesda. Paris should be Paris. We like Riverdale Park. It's quiet  
most of the time, and it's close to lots of useful and interesting  
places. It is easy to get to and from. Just because we go to a doctor  
sometimes doesn't mean we need to live at the hospital.

Now, logic: Cafritz's development WILL destroy 38 acres of oxygen  
production capacity. It WILL add traffic. It WILL take 4 to 6 years  
to build. It WILL add students to an already overburdened school system.

Don't be fooled: The Riverdale Park Town Center should be developed  
to benefit the citizens of Riverdale Park. This development won't do  
that, and it might even destroy what's there now.

Now, be careful what you wish for: Cafritz's team speaks about the  
exciting plans for the U.S. Route 1-Md. 410 intersection. If the  
magic includes an overpass, just imagine what that will do to the  
town. If it includes access to the Cafritz site via Rhode Island  
Avenue, the town will suffer immeasurably.

Almost forgot, the last emotional point: When we look across our back  
yard, above the trees, we see the sky. The Cafritz team wants us to  
see a 6-story parking garage.

Kate and Joe Kelly
4522 Tuckerman Street