RIP Johnson's -- Now let's move on

[Anonymous]

I know that there are some who lament the closing of Johnson's Garden Center at Wisconsin and Van Ness, but it's time to focus on the exciting future for Tenleytown that this change makes possible. First of all, their business was likely eroding to "flowers.com" and from the fact that many SFH households use gardening services for their planting needs. Now that Johnson's has closed, the full potential of the site is apparent: between 1 to 2 acres for redevelopment into vibrant, taller and denser mixed use, moving from semi-suburban to creatively urban in character. In fact, when you consider what the Johnson's piece makes possible, it's really exciting and truly transformative: a much denser, more urban core district for Ward 3 stretching for more than a mile nearly from Massachusetts up Wisconsin to Tenley Circle. Cathedral Commons, the Wegmans Town Center at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin re-do are the essential steps, but other sites including Johnson's and the McDonalds across the street cry out for density. This urban district will have thousands of new residences, with upscale retail and restaurants ranging from fast casual to definite foodie destinations. It can truly transform the central part of Ward 3. The properties north of the Johnson's site also are ripe for redevelopment, and the potential of McLean Gardens could be unlocked with taller, denser infill buildings. Add to that the new development north of Tenley Circle to Friendship and the potential emergence of Van Ness as a true east-west corridor connecting Connecticut Ave redevelopment, the Wisconsin urbanist district and dense development at the old Superfresh site in AU Park. This would be true "Ward 3 Vision."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are some who lament the closing of Johnson's Garden Center at Wisconsin and Van Ness, but it's time to focus on the exciting future for Tenleytown that this change makes possible. First of all, their business was likely eroding to "flowers.com" and from the fact that many SFH households use gardening services for their planting needs. Now that Johnson's has closed, the full potential of the site is apparent: between 1 to 2 acres for redevelopment into vibrant, taller and denser mixed use, moving from semi-suburban to creatively urban in character. In fact, when you consider what the Johnson's piece makes possible, it's really exciting and truly transformative: a much denser, more urban core district for Ward 3 stretching for more than a mile nearly from Massachusetts up Wisconsin to Tenley Circle. Cathedral Commons, the Wegmans Town Center at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin re-do are the essential steps, but other sites including Johnson's and the McDonalds across the street cry out for density. This urban district will have thousands of new residences, with upscale retail and restaurants ranging from fast casual to definite foodie destinations. It can truly transform the central part of Ward 3. The properties north of the Johnson's site also are ripe for redevelopment, and the potential of McLean Gardens could be unlocked with taller, denser infill buildings. Add to that the new development north of Tenley Circle to Friendship and the potential emergence of Van Ness as a true east-west corridor connecting Connecticut Ave redevelopment, the Wisconsin urbanist district and dense development at the old Superfresh site in AU Park. This would be true "Ward 3 Vision."

What a strange, random post. And the bolded part is ridiculous and false. No one wants more density, btw especially not people who actually use the public schools. You sound like you are from a different planet.

[Anonymous]

More density creates a bigger tax base that sustains the public schools. Are public school advocates just NIMBYs in disguise?

[Anonymous]

Also, more multifamily density in Upper Northwest lowers home prices, creates affordable units as part of the development process and furthers more equitable access to Ward 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, more multifamily density in Upper Northwest lowers home prices, creates affordable units as part of the development process and furthers more equitable access to Ward 3 schools.

Actually it raises the prices of existing homes, and also brings in more lower-priced housing options. It's win-win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are some who lament the closing of Johnson's Garden Center at Wisconsin and Van Ness, but it's time to focus on the exciting future for Tenleytown that this change makes possible. First of all, their business was likely eroding to "flowers.com" and from the fact that many SFH households use gardening services for their planting needs. Now that Johnson's has closed, the full potential of the site is apparent: between 1 to 2 acres for redevelopment into vibrant, taller and denser mixed use, moving from semi-suburban to creatively urban in character. In fact, when you consider what the Johnson's piece makes possible, it's really exciting and truly transformative: a much denser, more urban core district for Ward 3 stretching for more than a mile nearly from Massachusetts up Wisconsin to Tenley Circle. Cathedral Commons, the Wegmans Town Center at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin re-do are the essential steps, but other sites including Johnson's and the McDonalds across the street cry out for density. This urban district will have thousands of new residences, with upscale retail and restaurants ranging from fast casual to definite foodie destinations. It can truly transform the central part of Ward 3. The properties north of the Johnson's site also are ripe for redevelopment, and the potential of McLean Gardens could be unlocked with taller, denser infill buildings. Add to that the new development north of Tenley Circle to Friendship and the potential emergence of Van Ness as a true east-west corridor connecting Connecticut Ave redevelopment, the Wisconsin urbanist district and dense development at the old Superfresh site in AU Park. This would be true "Ward 3 Vision."

What a strange, random post. And the bolded part is ridiculous and false. No one wants more density, btw especially not people who actually use the public schools. You sound like you are from a different planet.

It's not true that no one wants more density. I want more density. A lot of my younger neighbors want more density. They're tired of having to drive everywhere for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are some who lament the closing of Johnson's Garden Center at Wisconsin and Van Ness, but it's time to focus on the exciting future for Tenleytown that this change makes possible. First of all, their business was likely eroding to "flowers.com" and from the fact that many SFH households use gardening services for their planting needs. Now that Johnson's has closed, the full potential of the site is apparent: between 1 to 2 acres for redevelopment into vibrant, taller and denser mixed use, moving from semi-suburban to creatively urban in character. In fact, when you consider what the Johnson's piece makes possible, it's really exciting and truly transformative: a much denser, more urban core district for Ward 3 stretching for more than a mile nearly from Massachusetts up Wisconsin to Tenley Circle. Cathedral Commons, the Wegmans Town Center at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin re-do are the essential steps, but other sites including Johnson's and the McDonalds across the street cry out for density. This urban district will have thousands of new residences, with upscale retail and restaurants ranging from fast casual to definite foodie destinations. It can truly transform the central part of Ward 3. The properties north of the Johnson's site also are ripe for redevelopment, and the potential of McLean Gardens could be unlocked with taller, denser infill buildings. Add to that the new development north of Tenley Circle to Friendship and the potential emergence of Van Ness as a true east-west corridor connecting Connecticut Ave redevelopment, the Wisconsin urbanist district and dense development at the old Superfresh site in AU Park. This would be true "Ward 3 Vision."

What a strange, random post. And the bolded part is ridiculous and false. No one wants more density, btw especially not people who actually use the public schools. You sound like you are from a different planet.

It's not true that no one wants more density. I want more density. A lot of my younger neighbors want more density. They're tired of having to drive everywhere for everything.

We won't need to go to Bethesda anymore. Bethesda will come to Ward3!

[Anonymous]

I wonder how the residents of McLean Gardens will feel that someone wants to replace their low rise neighborhood with taller, denser buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that there are some who lament the closing of Johnson's Garden Center at Wisconsin and Van Ness, but it's time to focus on the exciting future for Tenleytown that this change makes possible. First of all, their business was likely eroding to "flowers.com" and from the fact that many SFH households use gardening services for their planting needs. Now that Johnson's has closed, the full potential of the site is apparent: between 1 to 2 acres for redevelopment into vibrant, taller and denser mixed use, moving from semi-suburban to creatively urban in character. In fact, when you consider what the Johnson's piece makes possible, it's really exciting and truly transformative: a much denser, more urban core district for Ward 3 stretching for more than a mile nearly from Massachusetts up Wisconsin to Tenley Circle. Cathedral Commons, the Wegmans Town Center at Fannie Mae and 4000 Wisconsin re-do are the essential steps, but other sites including Johnson's and the McDonalds across the street cry out for density. This urban district will have thousands of new residences, with upscale retail and restaurants ranging from fast casual to definite foodie destinations. It can truly transform the central part of Ward 3. The properties north of the Johnson's site also are ripe for redevelopment, and the potential of McLean Gardens could be unlocked with taller, denser infill buildings. Add to that the new development north of Tenley Circle to Friendship and the potential emergence of Van Ness as a true east-west corridor connecting Connecticut Ave redevelopment, the Wisconsin urbanist district and dense development at the old Superfresh site in AU Park. This would be true "Ward 3 Vision."

What a strange, random post. And the bolded part is ridiculous and false. No one wants more density, btw especially not people who actually use the public schools. You sound like you are from a different planet.

It's not true that no one wants more density. I want more density. A lot of my younger neighbors want more density. They're tired of having to drive everywhere for everything.

I've lived in ward 3 for 20 years with kids and no car. Why are you living there if you feel like you have to drive everywhere? Nothing against cars but you can easily get everything at your finger tips without when. Are you addicted to target or something? People who want this density and shopping should move to Columbia heights and many other new density areas. The appeal of ward 3 is its openness. I'm very upset with AU right now, and with Mary Cheh who is not in any way protecting the character of the neighborhood by advocating for a slower, less dense pace.

[Anonymous]

Barf, op. You sound like a greedy developer.

Higher density? Eateries? Not what's needed.

[Anonymous]

New Target in Cleveland Park and the one at DCUSA is pretty close. No reason to drive.

[Anonymous]

Can't you see this is a troll post? It's designed to trigger ward 3 anti-development folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Can't you see this is a troll post? It's designed to trigger ward 3 anti-development folks.

Yeah a troll post but a poorly written one - sounds like it was written by the main person who has organized the outraged opposition to Johnson's closing which is mostly made up of about 10 confused elderly people who for reasons they can't articulate are buying a lot more garden supplies than sane people do.

AU has no plans to re-develop that lot - if they were they would have happily kept Johnson's on month to month up until they applied for their raze permit.

In any case Tenleytown deserves better than the strip mall suburban form that dominates the area around Johnson's.

[Anonymous]

AU is shooting themselves in the foot. Their students and their students families love how tranquil the neighborhood is when they visit, yet has easy access to downtown. When it looks high density and junky I'm. Sure they will swoon less. I hope those 10 confused elderly show up at every new, future AU development proposal with their Johnsons closing sale purchased pitchforks and give them heck. And to Mary Cheh as well for allowing/encouraging this area to be swamped with rapid development-Fannie Mae, Johnsons, pool, sidwell expansion, shelter. The pace is too fast and she has done nothing to up services to correspond to more density. Despite showing up at every block party and parade to "mingle", she is no advocate for ward 3. Just vote her out. This will not be forgotten.

[Anonymous]

In the old days, Johnsons had a massive shop and plot of land where the random postmodern office building at 4000 (?) Wisconsin ave is now (where the movie theater used to be in the basement) -- just south of McDonald's and wusa

Not sure the current store even rates as something to worry about one way or the other

But god the density trolls are annoying