[RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...

Wed Aug 10 17:57:45 UTC 2011

I have friends who are extremal active in the preservation movement in Silver Spring.
They told me that one of the stipulations Whole Foods had for opening up in Silver Spring was that the Montgomery County Farmer run farm market, be moved before they would set up business. The  market was consequently moved to the old Blair High School and the market date changed. I think they may have completly moved from the area by now.

The current Farm Market in Silver Spring is Not an independent market. it is owned by a nonprofit company with many markets in the area and is ofilliated with Whole Foods

 http://www.freshfarmmarkets.org/about_us.html

http://freshfarmmarkets.org/markets/silver_spring.html

Note: partner organizations for  the market are Downtown Silver Spring , Sheppard's Table and Whole Foods

The Whole Foods partnership with the market is not just isolated to the Silver Spring Market. 
http://www.freshfarmmarket.org/support_us/farmland_feast.html

As a whole , our community would serve it self well by talking to the people in Silver Spring to get some kind of idea what kind of neighbor Whole Foods realy is.

From: Dwight Holmes <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>
To: Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com>
Cc: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 11:51 AM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...

Audrey, I have no knowledge about the background of that claim - but
it's certainly true now that Silver Spring has a very successful
farmers market right there on Ellsworth, practically in the shadow of
Whole Foods.

On Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 11:46 AM, Audrey Bragg <abragg7393 at aol.com> wrote:
> Before I support anything, I like to get all the information about the
> project as I can. I think it's called due diligence. I like the Whole Foods
> store and I do shop at the one in Silver Spring, especially in the winter.
> But it is only a Store, just like any of the other "designer" stores -
> Wegman's, Harris Tweeter, etc.
> I read a remark on the Patch and I don't know if it is factual and would
> like to hear some input on this. Someone said that when Whole Foods opened
> in Silver Spring, they required that the Farmer's Market close down. I would
> much rather have the RP Farmer's Market over any store. You can buy products
> at Whole Foods, but they cannot offer the products, camaraderie,
> socialization, fun and community spirit of the Farmer's Market. I, for one,
> would like a guaranty that our Farmer's Market will not be closed or dragged
> off to some dark corner in town. As I said, I just read the remark and I
> have no idea of the truth to it or not, but I sure would like to know before
> making any support/non support decisions.
> Audrey Bragg
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com>
> To: TownTalk <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>
> Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 11:22 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
> _______________________________________________
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>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk
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> http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info
>
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