[RP TownTalk] [] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property/UTC sale today

Wed Aug 10 14:10:43 UTC 2011

University Town Center was suppose to get an upscale Safeway. That obviously fell through....

I attended meetings with the developer of UTC. They swore that the development was going to be a mirror copy of Reston Town Center. Ice skating ring, Georgetown looking fronts on all the ground level stores etc...
Later, after they got zoning approvals, they said they had to modify the plan  because the demographics would not support that kind of development.

The got a movie theater after Prince Georges Plaza rejected the offer.

From: "bruce.wernek at mindspring.com" <bruce.wernek at mindspring.com>
To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] [] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property/UTC sale today

Take note folks if you think the Cafritz development will do any better.  The economy hasn't changed. 

I'm surprised that Cafritz got financing given this latest turn of events.  It must have something to do with the Whole Foods lease.

-----Original Message----- 
>From: Melissa Avery 
>Sent: Aug 10, 2011 9:18 AM 
>To: Sarah Wayland , TownTalk 
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] [] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property/UTC sale today 
>
>
> 
>From the Hope List  - latest news about UTC
> 
> 
>wonder if we'll see who buys what part of UTC get auctioned today, tonight or later this week.
>
>
>http://www.gazette.net/article/20110808/NEWS/708119993/hyattsville-mixed-use-development-on-the-auction-block&template=gazette
>
>
>From: Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com>
>To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 11:07 AM
>Subject: [RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...
>
>I know that there are lots of varied opinions about whether the
>proposed Cafritz development in Riverdale Park is appropriate;
>this message is for those  who support the proposal for changing
>the zoning from single family residential to mixed-use.
>
>A resident of our neighboring community of College Park is organizing
>people who are in support of the proposed Whole Foods Market
>development on the Cafritz property in Riverdale Park. If you support
>this development, she is collecting signatures for a letter (text
>included below) to be sent to the elected officials for the
>communities bordering the proposed development.
>
>If you would like to sign her letter, please send your name and street
>address to her at <cynthia.a.finley at gmail.com>.
>
>----
>The text below will be sent in a letter to the Riverdale Park Mayor
>and Town Council, the College Park Mayor and City Council, the
>University Park Mayor and Town Council, and the Prince George?s County
>Council and County Executive. If you would like to have your name
>added to the letter, or if you have any questions about the letter,
>please send an email to Cynthia at cynthia.a.finley at gmail.com.
>
>----
>
>As residents of Riverdale Park, University Park, the Calvert Hills
>neighborhood of College Park, and surrounding areas, we understand
>that the owners of the Cafritz property, located on the east side of
>Route 1 in Riverdale Park, are requesting a zoning change from single
>family homes to mixed use development. This zoning change would
>accommodate development of a retail center, which would include a
>Whole Foods market, and new residential units. We recommend that the
>Town of Riverdale Park, the Town of University Park, and the City of
>College Park support this rezoning request and that the Prince
>George?s County Council approve the zoning request.
>
>We believe that a Whole Foods market and the associated development of
>the Cafritz property would be a valuable asset to our community. A
>Whole Foods market would provide a shopping opportunity that is unique
>for our community, which currently lacks a full-service specialty
>grocery store. This development would provide important tax revenue
>and jobs while also making our area more attractive to families. Whole
>Foods has been a catalyst for community redevelopment in many areas,
>including at its P Street NW location in Washington, D.C. and in
>Silver Spring. A Whole Foods at the Cafritz property would complement
>the existing and proposed redevelopment projects in our area, such as
>the Hyattsville EYA Arts District and the East Campus project.
>
>We urge our local elected officials and citizens to work with the
>Cafritz development team to find creative solutions to the potential
>issues involved with development of the property. These issues ? which
>may include increases in traffic congestion and stormwater runoff ?
>are not unique to the Cafritz property. They will be issues for any
>development along Route 1 and they have been dealt with successfully
>in many other locations throughout the country. Traffic signal and
>lane modifications can be used to mitigate traffic congestion. Green
>infrastructure solutions, such as vegetated swales and green roofs,
>can be used to retain stormwater on site. In addition, the amount and
>location of parking spaces and green spaces in the development can be
>negotiated with the development team.
>
>Since the Cafritz development team has not presented a detailed plan
>for the residential portion of the site, we ask that the County only
>allow this portion of development to proceed after all of the impacts
>are fully considered. Dense residential development in the vicinity of
>transit hubs, such as the College Park Metro station, is more
>environmentally sustainable than the current zoning for single family
>homes. However, the density may also necessitate an alternate
>vehicular access point to the Cafritz property. The increase in public
>school enrollment will depend on the type and number of housing units,
>and this impact will also need to be evaluated. These are issues that
>can be addressed with proper cooperation between the community and the
>developers.
>
>We appreciate your consideration of these comments. Again, we urge
>support and approval of the rezoning of the Cafritz property to a
>mixed use designation, along with continued involvement to ensure that
>the development proceeds responsibly and realizes its potential as an
>asset to our community.
>
>
>
>
>
>-- 
>Sarah Wayland
>sarah.wayland at gmail.com
>_______________________________________________
>TownTalk mailing list
>To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
>TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing only
>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
>
>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
>
>
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