Pot of Harmony

Dear Readers,

There’s no council to kick around, they’re out to recess. While they are gone, let’s sneak into the council chambers, sit in their comfy chairs (I get the mayor’s, it’s the biggest), and have a Constructive Talk about The Issues.

See, a reader commented that GranolaPark was just trying to “stir the pot of disharmony,” and wasn’t constructive enough. A constructive discussion is in theory a good idea, but I’ll be surprised to find readers prefer them to steaming pots of disharmony. But, we’ll give it a shot!

The BIG issue to discuss, of course is development. Development projects are underway near the Metro, Old Towne, and possibly at the WAH site. Everyone is concerned, but with no zoning authority, is there much we can really do?

Our city government has managed to negotiate a “place at the table” in the Metro planning, and in other projects, so there is a chance we can have a measure of control. I get the impression, however, that we are limited to making a stink about something we don’t like, and lobbying for support at the county and state level. Seems like developer who didn’t give a damn about our stink would do whatever he wanted, within county and state regulations.

So, I see two areas of discussion. One is how do we get The Power to control development in our own city? Two is what development (or lack of it) do we want, exactly?

On the latter I’ll bet there are as many visions as there are residents.

To kick off part two of the Constructive Discussion, here’s what faithful reader/contributer Tom Gagliardo said in a series of comments to the last GranolaPark post (there were a number of comments there I recommend reading, also one in the next to last posting)

I mapped out an alternative plan for the Metro site development, based on comments and expressed values at the public hearing at the council meeting. Marc Elrich has it, and is supposed to be circulating it.

Let me try to explain my idea since I don't know how to post an electronic sketch of the Metro development.

1. There seems to be consensus that the first priority is to maintain and enhance transit service. Hard to disagree. Mark (?) Friedman suggested that all transit functions (Metrobus, Rideon, passenger drop-off, etc. be kept immediately adjacent to the tracks. Makes sense. I suggest that bus bays, etc., be strung out from Carroll Street to Eastern Avenue through what is now the Kiss and Ride drop off and parking lot.

2. At least one person commented that the parking lot can be scary because it is located in the "back" of the site in a rather unobservable area. True. It also is what the residents on Eastern have to look at and which dictates the need for a substantial green barrier.

(a) My suggestion is to move parking to the corner of Carroll and Cedar Streets (across from the 7-11).

(b) I suggest it be designed similarly to the Montgomery County garage on Roeder Road in Silver Spring. Main features to imitate: brick facade, street facing retail on ground level.

(c) In order to provide enough parking spaces AND green space it may be necessary to build a 2- or 3-story structure. That's something to work through if the concept is accepted.

(d) Locating the garage on the "front" side of the site allows community friendly retail (which is an endorsed goal) to be located directly on Carroll St., increases the safety of parking (located near activity, rather than isolated), removes an eyesore from view of the Eastern Avenue neighbors, and diminishes the need for a 50' green barrier between the site and the residential neighborhood. It also makes parking convenient for patrons of Carroll Avenue retail.

(e) Marc Elrich has suggested that DC funding for parking/retail may be available. If the cost is removed from EYA's side of the equation, they may be more likely to reduce the number of units they wish to build. Someone needs to educate me more on this issue.

3. The remainder of the site is then available for open space and housing units. Again, if the concept is accepted the number of housing units and amount of green space can be worked through.

Comments, criticisms and improvements welcomed.

Here are some comments and Tom’s answers:

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Anonymous said...

How does turning the parkland on the corner of Tulip and Carroll across from 7/11 into a parking garage preserve green space?

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tgagliardo said...

Ahem, there already is a significant part of the site which is devoted to parking, my suggestion is to move it to a more useful location. Depending on any number of factors the new parking arrangement could net more, less or the same amount of surface and green space.

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Gilbert said...

Have you looked at what that location would do to traffic flow, Tom? One advantage to the current parking location is that it diverts parking traffic over to Eastern Street, away from that busy intersection of Carroll and Cedar (not Tulip).

Also, a parking garage there would sort of block the view of the "green" park vista for people approaching Metro along Carroll. How visible will the greenland be if it is tucked into the corner now occupied by the parking lot?

- Gilbert

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Anonymous said...

What about a taxi stand? And somehow encouraging cabs to actually be there.

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So, there you have it, Dear Readers. Make for Constructive Discussion!

- Gilbert