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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It all sounds good, but here's the "money shot" quote:

While acknowledging that Johnson’s has been a 
valued tenant and the neighboring community benefits from Johnson’s 
services, our fiduciary responsibility to be good stewards of limited 
University resources dictated that [b]we could not agree to an arrangement 
with terms substantially below market value for the location. [/b]

A plant nursery just isn't going to be able to pay as much in rent as another yet national bank branch or a chain restaurant, and certainly won't offer to same real estate 'market value' potetnial as dense redevelopment into more "Generica" mixed-use.  But in the process, we lose essential neighborhood-serving businesses on which the community has depended for a long time.  As a tax-exempt organization that benefits from paying virtually no local taxes, AU should also consider its stewardship responsibilities in the community, rather than imagining itself as a wannabe hedge fund portfolio manager.[/quote]

I disagree. Having Johnson's was not the best use of the space and it certainly shouldn't be up to AU to subsidize Johnson's business model. I would be disappointed if they get a bank branch or some other crappy tenant, but it certainly doesn't sound like that is the intention.

If Johnson's were so vital to the neighborhood and so supported, there wouldn't be so many DC tags in the American Plant(s) on River Road. Clearly people who voting with their pocketbook. While I loved having Johnsons's there, it wasn't the same store over the past 10 years in quality of customer service.

[/quote]

More vibrant upscale Millenial mini-units on top of another Five Guys and a CVS.  Just what the neighborhood needs, especially after Cathedral Commons, Wegmans Town Center, GDS Harvard Square, etc.  But you'll have to drive miles to the Maryland suburbs to buy a flat of plants or to get your shoes re-heeled.  [/quote]

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