Tuesday, February 06, 2007

ANC 3E talks Buick lot again

A recent post on the Tenleytown Listserv mentions the agenda for the updcoming ANC 3E meeting. One of the Agenda items is the fabled Buick lot (5220 Wisconsin Avenue) redevelopment proposal by the Akridge Company.

The ANC simply announces that there will be "a discussion and vote" on this project. However, there is plenty of chatter about where the ANC is going to come down on this project.

From a widely distributed email from the Friendship Neighborhood Association (FNA):

Dear Neighbor:
The Zoning Commission -- which has the final say on whether proposed development projects are built in the District -- will hold a public hearing March 8, 2007 on the massive condominium building that major commercial developer Akridge intends to put up at 5220 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. The Friendship Neighborhood Association requires your immediate support to ensure that the so-called Buick Site is developed in a manner compatible with the residential character of the adjacent neighborhoods.


With chatter based on this tone, why bother to have a discussion? Just phone in the vote and be done with it.

On the other hand, why not really engage in what is good or bad about this proposal. Design? Buffer to residential? The email simply talks about the size/height of the building as it pertains to the lot and "current zoning" (Is the zoning changing based on the adoption of the new Comp Plan?)

For a parcel of land that is virtually on top of the Friendship Heights Metro station, what does this group propose as a viable alternative? Or, should it be a used car lot in perpetuity?

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