Big GDS news

[Anonymous]

By the way, what in the Greater Greater Washington blog post is untrue? The CPCA violated its own bylaws and successfully thwarted a legitimate election in a manner that would make any Banana Republic proud.

[Anonymous]

"It is what it is, and the neighborhood will have to live with it. But it is a total canard to characterize the CP neighborhood position as one of digging in its heels. Several times the community engaged Giant to build a better store and a balanced proposal, reaching agreement only to have Giant change its mind, walk away in bad faith and then get greedy."

You don't even know what you sound like mr.bitter neighborhood guy. In your post you talk the nieighborhood hiring an architect at its own expense.... That's exactly the kind of event that makes investors run from places like Cleveland park and people like you. The bottom line which you refuse to acknowledge is that that project took over a decade to get off the blocks. That's why Tenleytown is getting amore students, not stores. Own it. Don't deny it. Makes you look dishonest when you say it was giant's fault alone for the delay. He neighbors acted as obstructionists because they didn't want more traffic on Newark street. It was a small number of neighbors who stopped it. And it would have continued if one of the ringleaders hadn't died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"It is what it is, and the neighborhood will have to live with it. But it is a total canard to characterize the CP neighborhood position as one of digging in its heels. Several times the community engaged Giant to build a better store and a balanced proposal, reaching agreement only to have Giant change its mind, walk away in bad faith and then get greedy."

You don't even know what you sound like mr.bitter neighborhood guy. In your post you talk the nieighborhood hiring an architect at its own expense.... That's exactly the kind of event that makes investors run from places like Cleveland park and people like you. The bottom line which you refuse to acknowledge is that that project took over a decade to get off the blocks. That's why Tenleytown is getting amore students, not stores. Own it. Don't deny it. Makes you look dishonest when you say it was giant's fault alone for the delay. He neighbors acted as obstructionists because they didn't want more traffic on Newark street. It was a small number of neighbors who stopped it. And it would have continued if one of the ringleaders hadn't died.

Smearing the dead. Over a shopping mall. Wow. Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, so the CPCAesque folks of Tenleytown opposed the Safeway reno and now they've got an expanded private school instead.

And your point is? A school is a lot better than a quarry or an even bigger development (which is what they got next to MclLean Gardens).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, the neighborhood folks whining about GDS purchase and plans only have themselves to blame. They opposed Safeway's proposal - the Safeway folks probably knew how long the CPCA dug their heels in on the CP Giant and bet that taking GDS' money was the better bet. Ask the neighbors in Berkley, east of Foxhall between W and Reservoir. They could've had a mayor's mansion on a huge parcel of relatively undeveloped land, but now they have a new traffic light and 46 houses.

Your characterizing of the CP Giant history is completely wrong. In 1998-2000, Giant proposed to raze the old supermarket and build a new, large one. The local citizens association did oppose the design on the ground that it presented a black wall to Wisconsin Avenue roughly from Newark St. to Cactus Cantina. (Think of the Giant on Arlington Rd. which unfortunately presents a dead zone toward vibrant Bethesda Row, instead facingits interior parking lot.) In any event, Giant pulled its proposal because it was being acquired by Ahold and Ahold's focus soon turned to other matters, like an SEC investigation into its acquisitions. In 2002-2003, however, the ANC and various other local groups, together with the city, entered into an agreement with Giant where Giant would build a modern store, with entrances on Wisconsin Ave oriented to pedestrians and a design that the groups supported. Indeed, the ANC at its own expense hired an architect to work with Giant on a new pedestrian-focused design. Mayor Williams, in fact, issued a press release on how it was an example of a developer and the community working successfully together. However, Giant/Ahold later just walked away from the agreement.

By 2006, they were back, with a much larger, more ambitious plan that encompassed nearly two whole blocks. While there was concern about Giant's good faith in backing away from the earlier agreement, various community groups engaged with Giant and were pretty pleased with Giant's plan, which included relatively few entrances and exits for vehicles to mitigate traffic impact around 70 housing units and a building between Idaho and Newark around 3 stories in height that was set back to preserve light and views. Perhaps emboldened by the community's positive reaction to their 2006 plan, Giant then pulled this proposal also. When they came back, they had added more vehicle access points, thus creating new traffic patterns, doubled the proposed number of housing units and doubled the height and mass of the north building. While most development proposals start big and then are trimmed, Giant stated modestly and pretty thoughtfully but then got greedy. Neighborhood groups became concerned about traffic and parking impacts and the fact that Giant's project had grown so large that it even required changes to the zoning to allow it to go forward. By then Harriet Tregoning has taken over the Planning Office with her aggressive pro-development agenda, and her office's position swung from one of neutral planning analyst to cheerleader for the super-sized Cathedral Commons. There is other speculation that some pay to play was involved, but in any event the plans sailed through the zoning board with barely a window changed. Those who follow large development plans know how very unusual that is. Even the commission staff was surprised.

It is what it is, and the neighborhood will have to live with it. But it is a total canard to characterize the CP neighborhood position as one of digging in its heels. Several times the community engaged Giant to build a better store and a balanced proposal, reaching agreement only to have Giant change its mind, walk away in bad faith and then get greedy.

How does your view square with this? http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2449/cpca-board-postpones-election-amid-campaign-for-change/

First of all, consider the source: GGW is part of the so-called "smart growth" development lobby echo chamber. But what the piece describes is how the CPCA testified for changes in Giant's final proposal submitted to the zoning commission. CPCA had supported two prior designs (indeed it was a party to the 2003 agreement for Giant to build a new store and favored the 2006 design as well). A group called AWARE, in coordination with the developer group Ward 3 Vision, tried to take over CPCA because Giant was concerned that as a party to the 2003 agreement, CPCA might still have legal rights to enfore it. After a vocal campaign in which many new members joined CPCA, the Aware/pro-"smart growth" slate lost by a substantial margin, to a slate that favored more balanced, "intelligent" growth that respects Cleveland Park's historic village in the city character. Unfortunately by this time the zoning commission had already approved Cathedral Commons anyway.

You don't even bother to address the undemocratic postponement of the election, which was the final nail in the coffin of CPCA's claim to speak for CP. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

``Smearing the dead. Over a shopping mall. Wow. Get a life.''

I assume the resident who died was proud of his efforts. I don't see that as a smear and if is, I deeply apologize. Last thing I want to do. I just wish those of you who claim to speak for entire neighborhoods, but don't speak for entire neighborhoods, would own up to your actions. You block stuff. That has a huge impact on how people decide to invest in major projects. That's why you do it. I get that. But don't deny it's impact and don't assume you speak for the majority. In CP it was all about protecting traffic on Newark Street. Design objections were used to slow down the project and it succeeded for ten years.

[Anonymous]

The Giant project was blocked because wealthy people on Newark Street didn't want more traffic. BOTTOM LINE. A very small handful of rich, connected folks blocked the project. They wrap themselves in the mantle of greenish, liberal, progressive mantle, but they are just rich people trying to keep the status quo. Blocking relatively affordable housing, expanded retail and opportunity. I live in the neighborhood. I am a greenish liberal too. But all this talk about concerns about design is bull. They used design to block progress.

[Anonymous]

It wasn't even progress they were blocking. They were blocking the ability for a few thousand people to be able to walk to a real grocery store and other amenities rather than the craphole that had been there since the Great Depression.

The traffic engineers were right though, now that the Tenley Safeway is closing, all of the AU Park folks will be driving to Cleveland Park for their routine shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Giant project was blocked because wealthy people on Newark Street didn't want more traffic. BOTTOM LINE. A very small handful of rich, connected folks blocked the project. They wrap themselves in the mantle of greenish, liberal, progressive mantle, but they are just rich people trying to keep the status quo. Blocking relatively affordable housing, expanded retail and opportunity. I live in the neighborhood. I am a greenish liberal too. But all this talk about concerns about design is bull. They used design to block progress.

Traffic concerns are pretty widespread through the area. I live on 38th St, where we now have a 3 story wall and soon a parking garage to be adorned with a giant neon "Super G" dominating the street. We expect to get hammered by traffic once it opens. We've gone to DDOT and they just throw up their hands. As for "affordable" housing, they're building only the bare minimum that the law requires and not providing the promised lower rents for the old businesses. From our perspective, the 'hood got sold a bill of goods and we'll soon get walloped. I have friends in McLean Gardens who generally supported the development, but now see its size and now are wondering how to protect their area from the expected traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Giant project was blocked because wealthy people on Newark Street didn't want more traffic. BOTTOM LINE. A very small handful of rich, connected folks blocked the project. They wrap themselves in the mantle of greenish, liberal, progressive mantle, but they are just rich people trying to keep the status quo. Blocking relatively affordable housing, expanded retail and opportunity. I live in the neighborhood. I am a greenish liberal too. But all this talk about concerns about design is bull. They used design to block progress.

This sounds just like how the proponents of building Klingle Parkway tried to demonize the local residents who wanted parkland -- a "small, handful of rich connected folks." I smell a stinking red herring intended to distract from the real issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn't even progress they were blocking. They were blocking the ability for a few thousand people to be able to walk to a real grocery store and other amenities rather than the craphole that had been there since the Great Depression.

The traffic engineers were right though, now that the Tenley Safeway is closing, all of the AU Park folks will be driving to Cleveland Park for their routine shopping.

Perhaps. Which is why in 5 years McLean Gardens and Cleveland Park streets will either be overwhelmed, or will resemble Edgemoor near Bethesda Row as people demand traffic calming.

[Anonymous]

The neighborhood is going to have a lot easier time negotiating with a school than it will with Safeway. It was a good move for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The neighborhood is going to have a lot easier time negotiating with a school than it will with Safeway. It was a good move for everyone.

+1 !!!

I am neither a GDS alum nor parent, but I agree. It's good news for the school and Tenleytown/AU and any impacts can be worked out if all sides approach it with common sense, good faith and effort. This is a long-term plus for the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The neighborhood is going to have a lot easier time negotiating with a school than it will with Safeway. It was a good move for everyone.

I am sure that there are people who were fine with Safeway's plans, but there are a great number who were not. From Tenleytown to Palisades many are fine with a balance of neighborhood serving stores and restaurants. They won't have "erectile dysfunction" anxiety if a grocery development conglomerate isn't able to erect a generic town center a la Clarendon or Rockville in their neighborhoods. In fact, they like their 'hoods semi-suburban character and want to preserve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The neighborhood is going to have a lot easier time negotiating with a school than it will with Safeway. It was a good move for everyone.

So GDS will give us back a full-size grocery store on that site?