tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post2271195005257919600..comments2024-03-25T18:50:15.135-04:00Comments on DCmud - The Urban Real Estate Digest of Washington DC: Wheaton Plans RearrangedKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08295461340042242438noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-51564028507068858842009-10-16T00:08:01.288-04:002009-10-16T00:08:01.288-04:00This is smart growth as it can and should be done ...This is smart growth as it can and should be done in the suburbs. If it weren't there would be TWO parking spaces for every proposed unit. Even in DC it is expected that large projects like this provide at least one parking space per unit since not everybody is going to just give up their car suddenly. It is Wheaton Metro. It is expected that most people will still own cars considering not everything is as accessible as, say, downtown Silver Spring, Bethesda, or Pentagon City. But just because they own cars doesn't mean that they will be using them to drive EVERYWHERE. Many people in the DC area that live on Metro own cars, but only use them every now and then. Also, most of the people going to that Safeway are going to be driving. They're coming from the neighborhoods around Wheaton which are accessible only by car for most (or a VERY long walk). I should know, I live quite nearby.Critically Urbanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18184976993311486195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-265517710708457402009-10-15T14:54:03.843-04:002009-10-15T14:54:03.843-04:00So, this is "smart" growth. Another 411...So, this is "smart" growth. Another 411 owner/occupant parking spaces right next to a METRO station. The reason we should put development next to METRO is so apartment owners will use the subway, not their cars. Georgia Ave, Viers Mill Rd and University Blvd are already way over capacity. Let's build a city, not gridlock.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-41725016651665205462009-10-15T14:39:34.331-04:002009-10-15T14:39:34.331-04:00Rob Klein didn't know AvalonBay is on hold. Ar...Rob Klein didn't know AvalonBay is on hold. Are you kidding me!?! His job is Director of Wheaton's Redevelopment. That's his only full time job as far as I know. I guess we're to assume that AvalonBay was giving him and Peter McGinnity a different story than they gave you. Either way, it seems like someone is not doing their job very well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-79732930242420668192009-10-15T14:19:20.084-04:002009-10-15T14:19:20.084-04:00Patriot's building in Silver Spring is an arch...Patriot's building in Silver Spring is an architectural abortion. There's no likelyhood that this will be any better. They should be stopped from building any other community atrocities.<br /><br />Safeway will sully their name partnering with these losers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22305958.post-60053973130221304042009-10-15T12:50:01.129-04:002009-10-15T12:50:01.129-04:00It will be pretty ironic if the Safeway/Patriot pl...It will be pretty ironic if the Safeway/Patriot plans kill AvalonBay. First AvalonBay can't go forward w/o a zoning change. That gets done by way of an amendment supported by the community. Then the economy tanks. Now Safeway wants to build a much larger apartment building on their own land. Amazing. <br /><br />I hope Safeway/Patriot can get this done. It would be a huge first step towards redevelopment for Wheaton. And in the long run, if it lifts Wheaton generally it could benefit the rental rates at AvalonBay's community. Certainly AvalonBay weren't banking on being the only piece of redevelopment.<br /><br />Best case scenario - AvalonBay replaces grocery on first floor w/ a Borders Books. <br />Worst case scenario (and more likely I fear) - Safeway/Patriot project delays AvalonBay a few more years and ultimately never gets built.dave in wheatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14523125979733072733noreply@blogger.com