<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">I'm not sure where things stand, but the town hired an economic development consultant to assist us with Town Center. She was suppose to be pulling together data so that we can attract specific businesses. Perhaps, we will hear an update from the town soon?<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I have no doubt a coffee shop would do well, especially if open in the morning. For some reason, I seem to run into a lot of DeMatha parents who know our town because they drive-thru town center on the way to school in the morning. Seems like a good crowd to capture in addition to the rest of us who would like coffee anytime during the day.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Riverdale Park has a lot of business potential. The success of the farmers' market is testament to the possibility. There is interest in new development, which is a great sign, but the town could be doing more to support new businesses and market the town. I know town staffing is part of the problem, but if a dedicated group of volunteers banded together, I'm sure things could happen. Perhaps, regular meetings of the town's economic development committee would be helpful? </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>--One of the items the town could consider is giving a tax reduction for a certain number of years to the first 2-3 retail businesses to open in town center if they stay for x years. The town may need to add some more qualifiers to this suggestion, but it has been used successfully elsewhere. For new businesses, starting up this can really make the difference.</DIV><DIV>--Another is a residential facade program. Sprucing up the look of the town residences is key to attracting new development and some people just don't have the resources, but would love to fix up their residences.</DIV><DIV>--Making a list of specific businesses and recruiting them. Great businesses often times don't think of expanding until someone comes and recruits them. I really believe our area is hot--whole foods is interested in us, east campus will bring a lot of new high-end retail, and EYA is moving along. We just need the supporting evidence to make the pitch.</DIV><DIV>--Improving the look of our key corridors. Hate to admit it, but a lot of people judge "a book by the cover." Kenilworth Ave, 410, Rt 1 are not pretty to look at--working/creating incentives for rehab of commercial properties, sidewalk improvements, even just cutting the grass, banners on light posts, and beautiful gardens in median strips can make a difference. Some places offer matching grants for businesses to improve their signage or do facade improvements.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Personally, I would be willing to spend my tax dollars on some of these items even defer some commercial tax income to jump start redevelopment and create the right atmosphere for development to occur. I think this would be a worthwhile investment. On a side note, I also think enhanced code enforcement, a police department, and a quality public works department are worth investing in. Without these three, I know our town would look a lot worse and crime would be a lot worse than it is.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Dannielle</DIV><DIV>4800 Sheridan St</DIV><DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Dannielle Glaros</DIV><DIV><A href="mailto:dmglaros@gmail.com">dmglaros@gmail.com</A></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On May 17, 2007, at 1:46 PM, Brian Boettger wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Isn't Brookland in DC?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I'd agree, the area does have similar amenities to RP but politically I believe it is much different.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I maybe wrong, but I don't think DC has separate tax structures for it's individual neighborhoods. It may for it's Wards, which in that case it is in Ward 5 of the District which certainly does have many large scale retail and business. Also, Catholic U is actually IN it's taxable area. I don't see any part of the University of Maryland in the Riverdale Park town limits, but please correct me if I'm worng. So I don't think it is a fair comparison.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Takoma Park may be a better comparison to make though I can't be sure without some research. RP is kind of an anomoly as it is so small and really doesn't incorporate a large business base to help with the taxes as you have suggested. RP reminds me of the kind of town you might find in California around Los Angeles with very wealthy people that create bedroom communities. They are fine with paying whatever for their taxes as it gives them control to keep an undesired element out...Starbuck's in, Joe's Autobody out...</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I agree though, let's look at how to fill the holes. I've thought the Town Center would be great for a cafe or coffee house especially with the Dumm's development and the trails to connect to College Park. It'll certainly be easier to get to than College Perk.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Brian</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Have you ever been to Brookland?<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I think I am comparing apples to apples.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">There are no Starbucks, Borders, Subway, etc.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>There are small individual</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">businesses.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Col. Brooks Tavern, locally owned. The Coffee Shop, The Ice Cream</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Parlor, The Antique Shop, The Hardware Store - all locally owned.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>No big chains</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">there.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Oh, one I forgot about - there is a CVS.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>So I think the area called</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Brookland is very similar to Riverdale Park.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>They have Catholic U.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>we have</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Maryland U.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>They have Brookland Metro - we have Hyattsville and College Park.</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">They have Brooks Mansion - we Have Calvert/Riversdale.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>How much closer can I</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">get to a comparison?</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Audrey</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_________________________________________________________________</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">PC Magazine’s 2007 editors’ choice for best Web mail—award-winning Windows Live Hotmail. <A href="http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_pcmag_0507">http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_pcmag_0507</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________________</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">TownTalk mailing list</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">To post to the list, send mail to <A href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</A> is for automated subscription processing only</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk">http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <A href="http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us">http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us</A></DIV> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>