Holiday Cheer in AU Park

The Washington Post covers a covers a fantastic example of holiday cheer first reported on the Tenleytown Yahoo Group.

Happy Holidays!

Klingle Road Update

Greater Greater Washington provides an update on the long and winding saga called Klingle Road.

A brief Safeway update

DCMUD has a brief update (which was corrected) on the Tenleytown Safeway. The comments are fairly interesting.

Tenleytown Safeway: The Debate Begins

A post on the Tenleytown Listserv shouts "Safeway forced to add residential?":

I've heard an ugly rumor that our "Stealth Safeway" (there is the Social Safeway and the Geriatric Giant at Western, after all) is being steered toward building residential above their footprint. Also, this rumor included some business oriented effort to put more rowhouses in the existing parking lot and create an easement with GDS. I hope this isn't true, ironically the rowhouses are the most affected and have the strangest zoning allowed in DC anyhow, we sure don't need that and 3-4 stories above Safeway. All this would surely open the door to Martin's and we've been down that road."

In order to appreciate this post, one has to understand that the "Alliance for Rational Development" showered its support for this project in September. Why? Because, with the exception of the immediate neighbors, the Safeway proposal offers minimal change to a suburban style grocery store in the heart of Tenleytown. The lot has two zoning elements, the map indicates that the Wisc/42nd Street frontage is C-2A, while the parking lot is R-3:

C-2A: Permits matter-of-right low density development, including office, retail, and all kinds of residential uses to a maximum lot occupancy of 60% for residential use, a maximum FAR of 2.5 for residential use and 1.5 FAR for other permitted uses, and a maximum height of fifty (50) feet;

R-3 is Permits matter-of-right development of single-family residential uses (including detached, semi-detached, and row dwellings), churches and public schools with a minimum lot width of 20 feet, a minimum lot area of 2,000 square feet, a maximum lot occupancy of 60% for row dwellings, a minimum lot width of 30 feet and a minimum lot area of 3000 square feet and 40% lot occupancy for semi-detached structures, and a minimum lot width of 40 feet and a minimum lot area of 4000 square feet and 40% lot occupancy for detached structure; and a maximum height of three (3) stories/forty (40) feet.

So the claim in the initial post on the Listserv, that "we sure don't need that and 3-4 stories above Safeway" is interesting. 3-4 stories of residential above the Safeway would be less than what "Matter of Right" would be for this parcel. For years, the forces of "no change" in the community have lauded "Matter of Right" development for the community. Such advocacy has landed the new bank at Ellicot and Wisconsin and the Abdo development at Harrison and Wisconsin. Neither of these are particularly compelling additions to the community in terms of placemaking or amenity.

ANC 3E Chair Jonathan Bender noted,

As a matter of right, Safeway could put at least 3 to 4 stories of housing over the building at the front of the lot and townhouses at the back of the lot. For so many years we have heard the alphabet soup of "alliances" and "associations" in the neighborhood say that what the neighborhood needs is matter of right development, and that they don't fight matter of right development because it is "rational."

Even the Zoning Commission asked the question of Safeway regarding the lack of density or a housing component. It will be interesting to see if Safeway is willing to make alterations to its proposal or simply take the easy path of a 1950's style development in this era of sustainable urban communities. It will also be interesting to see if the ARD would oppose a "Matter of Right" development proposal?

Wilson Swing Space Solidified

As the long awaited plans for Wilson High School are reaching the final stages, the plight of the students appears to be resolved. DC Wire reports that Building 52 of the UDC Campus will serve as the physical plant for the high school during the 2009-2010 construction period.

DC MUD releases Janney Plans

While it would have been nice for the community to see these first, the DC MUD blog has posted the renderings for the Janney Elementary renovation.

Will this be the facility the community envisions? Will there be enough space for the anticipated growth in the community? Where are the complaints about the "Janney Oak"?

Tenleytown: Review of the Safeway

Neil Flanagan provides a helpful review of the Safeway proposal and community concerns for the "secret Safeway". Opponents want better design and more density!

DDOT: Glover park Study released

An announcement on the Glover Park Listserv disclosed that the DDOT plan for Glover Park is now available. The study commenced about two years ago and focuses on pedestrian and bicycle access to the neighborhood, mass transit throughputs and other ideas sympathetic to DDOTs current approach to mobility.

A Vision for the Friendship Brach Post Office

Ben Thielen shares a visionary idea to add vibrancy to Wisconsin Avenue south of Tenleytown.

Friendship Heights Update

The Tsarchitect updates the development plans at Western Avenue and Jenifer Streets, NW.

Tenleytown Safeway: Giant Part 2?

Safeway has been working on redevelopment plans of its Tenleytown store for the better part of a year. The most recent version has won praise from the Alliance for Rational Development noting:

ARD welcomes Safeway's modernization of its facility in our community, one which promises to provide new and improved services while at the same time respecting the tenets of rational development by respecting and protecting the essential character of our neighborhood.

GreaterGreaterWashington noted the irony of such support.

Safeway has engaged in partnerships to engage in better development proposals in other parts of the country, and in fact, this region. Why not here?

To update the story, Safeway has filed its proposal with the Zoning Commission, and the plans are being moved through the process for a hearing to seek approval. Now comes word that Safeway, or its representatives, are attempting to garner widespread support, even before releasing plans to the ANC and engaging in full community debate.

It seems that in this case, the property owner is seeking the path of least resistance en route to the granting of a PUD and building permits. In light of recent reports of housing shortages for middle income wage earners, and the strong need for workforce housing, wouldn't this be an ideal location to leverage the allowable height on the property? Rebuilding a one-story suburban grocery store within easy walking distance of two metro stations seems antithetical to the prevailing trends in urbanism. It seems that focusing some density in the allowable area and pulling the development away from the residential behind it (even stepping down using new residential) could be a preferable solution - to everyone but the ARD.

What would you suggest for this site?

Murch Captures Award

Murch Elementary has been given the Oberstar Award for excellence in implementation for its "Safe Routes to Schools" plan. Read more from the DDOT website.

Wash Post Magazine on Mary Cheh

The Washington Post Magazine has run a nice profile interview with Councilmember Mary Cheh.

According to DC Metrocentric, construction has commenced on a new development in Woodley Park. Similar to a structure across Connecticut Avenue, this new high-rise is nestled behind Wardman townhouses in a large lot just a block from the Metro Station.

DDOT Outreach Tour Hits Ward 3

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is embarking on a public outreach tour to all eight wards of the District to engage residents and businesses in the implementation of improvements proposed for the transit system for the city, including streetcars.

DDOT will be holding a series of open houses beginning later this month to present the findings of the DC's Transit Future study. DC's Transit Future studied short-term and long-term surface transit improvements for the District, potentially including additional limited-stop bus services, bus rapid transit (BRT), and streetcar services. The meetings will focus on DDOT's proposed streetcar network.

Ward 3: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 6:30pm – 8:30 pm
Stoddert Elementary, 4001 Calvert Street, NW

Tenleytown Safeway Redevelopment Website

Safeway has announced the creation of a new website with the plans and other communications associated with the redevelopment of the Tenleytown store.

Cheh Introduces Calming Legislation

Presumably in response to the acrimony over the installation of speed humps in Chevy Chase and Cleveland Park, Councilmember Cheh has introduced legislation requiring studies and community input prior to the installation of traffic calming measures.

WTOP coverage provides a little more insight.

New Information Pending on Spring Valley Munitions

WTOP is reporting that the Army Corp of Engineers will release a list of munitions discovered in Spring Valley in November.

Klingle Road Meeting

In the aftermath of what appears to be the final decision regarding Klingle Road, there is a meeting on Wednesday, October 7th to plan for the future of the passageway:

Supporters of turning the former Klingle Road into a major trail through Klingle Valley have an important step in the process coming up next week, a public meeting for the Klingle Valley Trail environmental assessment, the next step in trail building. Wednesday, October 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the National Zoo Visitor Center Auditorium at 3100 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

This public meeting is mandated by the NEPA process, and sponsored jointly by Federal and District authorities, to interact with the public about the range of alternatives for the proposed multi-use trail and drainage system improvement in Klingle Valley. Supporters, please drop by, express your support, and ensure that the Klingle Valley Trail stays on schedule. See the project web site.

Vandals Strike in Cleveland Park, Woodley park

The Washington Post updates reports on the Cleveland Park Listserv about a series of incidents along Connecticut Avenue early this morning.