This week, I reached out to both Ward 5 candidates to get their views and to educate me on more the latest proposal from NDC (pdf). Summary:
- Amee Bearne provided thoughtful analysis and took a clear position;
- Jarret Smith (notwithstanding three attempts on my part), provided no detail and took no position.
Here are excerpts from Bearne’s response:
I have been working on this project since the very beginning [when she was among city staff to review the initial proposals]. As an urban planner, I’ve seen so many good micro-developments from around the world that I have a pretty firm faith that this is going to work out. I know NDC well enough to know that they are smart, community-minded developers who want to make that space useful for the community and they are utilizing best practices from around the world to ensure its success.
I know that Takoma Junction needs increased foot traffic and vitality if the businesses located there are going to thrive and continue on for years to come; which is essential for the economic and community stability in any area. Third, I know that the Coop was given an incredible amount of opportunities to collaborate. . . . No other business in the Junction was given even a fraction of the opportunities to collaborate or have a say in the project that the Coop was given. It was also given the opportunity to expand substantially from day one. . . . Also, the Coop (and other businesses in the area) have received free rent/usage on that lot for decades. . . .
The Coop will survive if the following things happen: 1) the Coop adapts to its new neighbors in the development by organizing [its] deliveries and its loading and unloading hours structure; 2) if people continue to shop there, which is how we as a community can ensure its success; 3) return to the negotiation table with NDC and ask them for space for expansion (if expansion is still something that they believe to be vital to their success.)
I am a member of the Coop. I enjoy shopping there, buying interesting and hard to find items, bumping into friends and neighbors, and supporting local business. But I’m also not opposed to creating a more vital area out of an underutilized parking lot that takes away from potential taxes for the City.
Here is the email string between me and Smith (edited slightly to remove typos and irrelevant references to individuals):
On Oct 4, 2017, at 6:50 PM, Keith Berner wrote:
Jarrett–
Last I recall, you were in support of the development plans @ the Junction. Has your position changed at all with the new proposal? If so, can you explain what is wrong with the new proposal? I’m not trying to put you on the spot: I’m just trying to educate myself without having to locate and read the details in the proposal.
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On Oct 4, 2017, at 19:10, Jarrett Smith wrote:
I just received the Co-Op email from earlier today. Council hasn’t responded to NDC site plan proposal nor have we accepted it. Suzie Ludlow discuses the process in her latest blog. See here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/city-blog/october-update-from-the-city-manager/. I also posted to Facebook and Twitter.
The group behind the letter will speak tonight during public comment.
Thanks,
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On Oct 4, 2017, at 7:26 PM, Keith Berner wrote:
But where do YOU stand?
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On Oct 4, 2017, at 19:31, Jarrett Smith wrote:
I want the CoOp to remain in its location and be successful and I want the City owned parking lot to be redeveloped.
Jarrett K. Smith
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On October 4, 2017 at 21:32, Keith Berner wrote:
I guess we all want that. Do you think the current proposal achieves that? Also, do you accept the Coops definition of “successful”? How do you intend to vote on this proposal?
Thanks.
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Smith declined to respond further. As I will discuss in a future post, getting no reply from Smith has been a frequent occurrence for me and others.
For more information on the Takoma Junction redevelopment project see the City of Takoma Park’s website.
©2017 Keith Berner
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