Comments

• On the article Crime Report: Armed Robbery Near Kemp Mill

  

  Commentous

  10:57 am on Friday, May 24, 2013

  I'd rather not give a specific address on this site but I'm just a little west of Georgia Avenue between the library and the Popeyes.

• On the article Crime Report: Armed Robbery Near Kemp Mill

  Commentous

  8:40 am on Friday, May 24, 2013

  Please keep your doors locked at all times. A robbery occurred in a neighbor's house a few days ago around midnight when she went outside for a minute. The robbers took her TV (and maybe more), then climbed our adjoining fence and left through our backyard. They left their gloves in our yard and a bottle in the neighbor's yard. The police and detectives were very professional, respectful and thorough. I can't say that it makes us very comfortable when our neighbor gets robbed when she's home and even sees the thieves.

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• On the article Protecting Pedestrians: Traffic Cameras, Fatal Accidents—Is There a Correlation?

  Commentous

  9:18 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

  This infographic serves little purpose. Anyone with a view one way or another could use it to support his or her position.

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• On the article Council Chooses Developer Approach for Wheaton

  

  Commentous

  11:41 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  I just thought I'd add my concurrence with Anton's general sentiment. Though low-income individuals are not a small or special interest group in Wheaton, I agree with Anton's view that Wheaton should be required to do what the County requires for all new construction. We already have considerable subsidized low-income housing, and there are no plans to remove this housing now or in the future.

  That being said, there's no reason to make our percentages of low and moderate income housing in new developments different than those required in the wealthier areas in the County. If County officials decide County-wide to reserve 40% of all new construction for low and moderate income individuals, I can live with that, but the County should not treat Wheaton any differently than other areas.

  I look forward to the long-awaited redeveloipment of Wheaton, my home since 2001. I also laud Council President Navarro (which I haven't always done, as regular readers may know) for her demonstration of support for the entire Wheaton community. This was not her ideal plan, which makes her support for it even more appreciated. Thank you.

• On the article Councilmembers Divided on Wheaton Redevelopment Approach

  

  Commentous

  1:12 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

  ED--As a resident, I would prefer seeing businesses that serve people who live in the area as much as seeing businesses catering primarily to people who come here solely M-F and leave by 5 pm on those days. I realize that certain businesses rely more on a lunch crowd than other businesses and would therefore have a different opnion.

  Aside from inexpensive eateries located very close to the Triangle, are you aware of a lot of places that would prefer a "lunchtime crowd" to a large number of residents with disposable income? Also, we've already lost a lot of non-lunch-crowd businesses (jewelers, florists, the bike shop, for example) over the last decade already; if they had been asked, they might have expressed a desire for more residents interested in their products.

  I'm not saying I know for sure, but if I had a lunch-focused restaurant, I'd want more office workers. If I had a lunch-and-dinner restaurant, I'd prefer residents if I based my expectations on weekend sales; if not, who knows? If I were a formal or more expensive restaurant, I'd prefer residents. (If I were a fish store, I'd prefer more residents!) Also, if my location was a little off the Triangle, I'd probably prefer more residents.

  All that being said, I think having both an office south of Reedie and a mixed use building with considerable residences on Lot 13 would benefit Wheaton's businesses and residents. Just my opinion.

• On the article Councilmembers Divided on Wheaton Redevelopment Approach

  

  Commentous

  5:51 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

  ED--I probably should have said that I support the MNCPPC building if it's south of Reedie. A discussion I had with an urban planner led me to believe, however, that residential is the best way to jumpstart an area because residents will venture further than office employees and therefore support a greater area. I also believe that, overall, they will spend more money in the area than will office employees. I work in DC but certainly spend more money in Wheaton than in DC.

  In reality, the parties don't seem to disagree that much on the substance now. Instead the difficulty is how to achieve the proposed changes. As Roseanne Roseannadanna said, "If it's not one thing, it's another."

• On the article Councilmembers Divided on Wheaton Redevelopment Approach

  

  Commentous

  12:44 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

  ED--First, I disagree with your premise that "Wheaton needs a jumpstart with Class A offices," as I don't think offices will provide foot traffic beyond weekday business hours. I think offices would help the nearby businesses but would have little effect beyond a very, very small area and would thus not provide much of a jumpstart.

  Nevertheless, I would have no problem with the MNCPPC building being placed south of Reedie, as this would keep Lot 13--possibly the best parcel in town--open to private development and mixed use buildings that would potentially provide the all-hours foot traffic and area exploration that won't come from an office building.

  All that being said, I agree that the decision making (non-decision?) process has gone beyond frustrating and may be verging on depressingly comical.

• On the article Plainclothes Police to Conduct 'Pedestrian Sting' Series

  

  Commentous

  10:49 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  Ian--I agree with you and disagree with you on some points, but I think the most important point you make is this: A car can easily kill someone so motorists need to be alert and follow the rules of the road. Due to the chance for serious injury or a fatality when a car hits a non-motorist, it's somewhat irrelevant to put the focus on whether more non-motorists break the law in crossing the street unlawfully or more motorists break the law by not waiting for non-motorists.

• On the article Council Committees to Discuss Wheaton Redevelopment Wednesday

  Commentous

  9:45 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  If it were possible, I would support combining the County Executive's plans for private redevelopment on Lot 13 with Council President Navarro's espoused idea of placing the M-NCPPC building where the Mid-County building currently sits. The combined idea would offer foot traffic at all times, which would support local businesses and help redevelopment throughout Wheaton.

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• On the article Council Committees to Discuss Wheaton Redevelopment Wednesday

  Commentous

  9:42 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

  I moved to Wheaton because it was not extraordinarily expensive, had diversity, and promised the chance for redevelopment.

  In the ensuing twelve years, Wheaton has lagged the rest of the County in the uptick in housing prices, outpaced the County in foreclosures, lost many diverse businesses that have been replaced by types of businesses we already have, has tons of unleased space outside of the mall, has "gained" two large laundromats and numerous check-cashing/money-sending establishments, and is generally a less diverse area.

  I do not believe that any section of the County should ignore or discount the difficulties of the working poor or the immigrant community, but the County should not make a concerted effort to place all the infrastructure for the working poor or the immigrant community in just one or two selected non-wealthy areas.

  Consequently, I support private redevelopment in Wheaton, and I do not support any requirement that Wheaton have greater numbers of low and moderate income housing in new developments than required for new developments anywhere else in the County.

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