<div dir="ltr">I think there is a mistaken assumption that the Town is "making it hard to build." The Town - under multiple administrations - has not been a source of delay in this project and by having a zoning plan that delineates what the community considers desirable, we are offering a fast track option for developers who choose to meet the zoning standards. <div>
<br></div><div>This particular project has had many twists and turns, but it has not been in any way due to the Town placing undue burden, or delay, or otherwise on this development. We waived the zoning standards, we extended deadlines on contracts, we provided land rights - it is pretty hard for me to see how the Town could have provided more. Over the last 8 years, the Town has repeatedly "given to get" in this situation. </div>
<div><br></div><div>The builder has encountered challenges to the project at different times - Eckerd Corp went out of business, he had to find a new tenant, there are some sewer and water challenges on the site, negotiating with a church congregation is hard, and lots of others things --- none of which have anything to do with the Town slowing down or speeding up the development process. <div>
<br></div><div>- Alice</div><div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 8:15 AM, Heather Blanchard <<a href="mailto:heather.blanchard@mac.com">heather.blanchard@mac.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word">Appreciate all the kind words. I agree with both of you as well, why would businesses want to develop in Riverdale Park when we make it extremely difficult to build? But I would put forth that we make it difficult because we don't know what we want, or, maybe, the better thought here is that we aren't attracting the right development to our town. <div>
<br></div><div>I can't help but think that the end goal would be to restore the Rte. 1 corridor into a walkable community, similar to the approach Hyattsville's downtown. There would be mixed use, incorporation of community needs and consistent a<span style="font-size:13px;line-height:19px">esthetics</span>. I don't think a drive through bank really is a place where I want to walk a dog, ect. </div>
<div><br></div><div>I agree we have to give to get. I guess my point is that in the "getting" we should be a little bit more specific. I bet if the development was a small Trader Joes, set back from the street with a commitment to work within the historical a<span style="font-size:13px;line-height:19px">esthetics</span><span style="font-family:-webkit-sans-serif;font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;line-height:19px">, </span>I don't think the town would that developer such a hard time. </div>
<div><br></div><div>If you like Riverdale Park to be drive thru banks, McDonalds and other "pad site" development in the middle of a historic district, then the current direction is appropriate. </div><div><br></div>
<div>But if you want something like what is happening down the street in Hyattsville - like a new bike store, a planned Bus Boys and Poets, and a Franklins type of restaurant, then maybe you might reconsider how we are accepting whatever comes along. </div>
<div><br></div><div>We need businesses. We just need to think about how allowing this type of development will change the character of the community. </div><div><br></div><font color="#888888"><div>Heather</div></font><div>
<div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><div>On Jul 16, 2008, at 6:39 AM, <a href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com" target="_blank">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a> wrote:</div><br><blockquote type="cite">
<div>I would also like to add that the litany of requirements imposed upon Caputo by the Town/tenant has to be translated into building permits, right of ways (sewer), road improvements at the Rt 1 intersection, architectural drawings, tenant leases, tenant rights of refusals, build to suit tenant, build to suit Town, construction contracts, endless legal fees, new churches being built (to replace the one thats adjacent to the property, building maintenance on the existing church (to be demolished), appeasement of town residents, etc, etc, etc. <br>
<br>Imagine owning a property which you want to develop but you can't because of the previous reasons. At the same time it's eating a hole in your pocket not to mention all of the complaints from Town residents. If you want something to happen stop complaining and give the guy a hand or we will have another "Jey's Auto" on our hands for the reasons that Dwight articulated.<br>
<br>Bruce<br><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br><blockquote type="cite">From: Cranky old Coot <<a href="mailto:lking@knob.com" target="_blank">lking@knob.com</a>><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Sent: Jul 16, 2008 6:36 AM<br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">To: TownTalk <<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Wachovia and the Field of Rubble<br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">As Alan said the history of the agreement for what would be done with <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">this peace of _private_ property at Rt 1/410 is long and filled with <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">emotion. Players have come and gone some have changed from one official <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">position to an other.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">
... why can't we -- as a community -- tell him what we want to see <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">there? <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">And we wonder why development has been so slow to come to Riverdale <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Park? If this were your house (not your neighbor's house) would you <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">feel the same? First, 'we as a community', want to discuss whether your <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">house will be historically correct; anything from provincial to Federal <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">to Victorian (before the mansion to after) - what you can afford is not <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">part of this discussion. Even after you decide on a design that is <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">historically correct let's discuss it.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Now that "we" have approved what "your" house will be, let us discuss <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">historically correct lead-base paint. Now the color. Now when that is <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">decided, lets go back and require "your" house be multi-family - "we" <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">don't care how reclusive you are. Oh and by the way "we" think your <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">front door should be on the other side.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">"We" also have views on your landscaping, where your driveway should be, <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">the number of parking spaces.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Do you still want to build "your" house in Riverdale? Or will you find <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">it easer to build somewhere else? I'm really sorry if you already own <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">the property in town. Now that Riverdale has tipped its hand it will be <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">hard to find someone else to sell the property to or build on it.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">==<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I'm sure I have overlooked something (Ok the lead paint may be a <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">stretch) but all these topics were part of the council's discussion. In <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">many cases a topic was addressed by both M-C-TC and then again by the <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">council. Time at council meetings was spent discussing where the <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">planters should be and what should be in them; Council members spent <br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">time counting parking spaces and the pros and cons of where the front <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">door should be.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
The council (I think, maybe it was M-U-TC) required the bank building be <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">a multi use building. How many thriller books/movies do you know of <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
where the basic story line involved tunneling from an office/building <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">into the neighboring bank? Just lately I have seen a NCIS and Sherlock <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
Holmes episodes with this plot element. Logic not withstanding Riverdale <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">may have the only suburban bank with a building tent.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">
Why are we letting developers just offer up development that isn't <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">right for the area? ESPECIALLY, since that piece of property is one of <br>
</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">the most valuable and visible that this town has.<br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I question the view that the development 'isn't right for the area.' <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Established businesses don't survive, spending money expanding into an <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">area that 'isn't right'. Their criteria may be different than your, but <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I will bet before they spend millions of dollars they have spend lots of <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">time, and money, making sure the location is right.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">If there is any redress on this development, it would be great to <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">know. Maybe we need to rethink how a development like this can get <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">through the council with a, "well...okay..."<br>
</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">A review of the council meetings would indicate that is not what <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">happened. But then if more people attended council working and <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">legislative sessions maybe ...<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">Just think about Hyattsville - they stuck to their guns and are <br>
</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">experiencing PLANNED, gradual, steady and hopefully sustainable <br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">development. There might be lesson's learned from our sister <br>
</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><blockquote type="cite">communities as we go down the road of development.<br></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">There may also be a lesson in that the development STOPS at the <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Riverdale Park line. You can tell where Riverdale starts. Just look for <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">the defunk gas station.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite">The good news is there is an established process, developed with lots of <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">public input, for controlling the growth of Riverdale Park.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">
<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">The bad news is there is an established process... I am a newcomer to <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Riverdale (~1995) and have seen more businesses leave/close than open. <br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite">There is Rt 1/410 - Right we now have McDs. How about town center? Ask <br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">the Dunn's. On the up side there is the Farmer's Market however.<br>
</blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">COC<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">_______________________________________________<br></blockquote>
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<br>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us" target="_blank">http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us</a><br></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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<br>
For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a href="http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us" target="_blank">http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Alice Ewen Walker<br>
Councilwoman, Ward 1<br>Town of Riverdale Park
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