Rethink College Park

Saturday afternoon saw fruitful initial community input for planning of the potentially large development project at the Cafritz Property (interactive map). A healthy attendance was present along with a violinist and a caricature artist for entertainment. The workshop itself had the vibrant community feel that Cafritz Family hopes to create in its development.

**PLEASE NOTE, a second identical workshop is to be this Thursday, tell your neighbors!**

No plans for the site have been submitted yet and therefore the public is open to make any suggestions it pleases without disrupting predetermined designs/plans. This is a critical chance for the public to voice comments, questions, and concerns in person to a very receptive developer. We reiterate a statement by County Councilman Eric Olson: “Rarely do I find a developer who is so willing to engage the public before a complete plan is in hand… [I] want to acknowledge what I see as a true commitment to the community from [the Cafritz Family].”

The workshop was organized into nine workstations where respective members of the development resource team were available to interact with attendees. Each workstation represented a different development issue. The issues were placemaking, livability, environmental sustainability, open space & connections, transportation, business & retail, history, culture & community, and the WMATA site.

Eight project values were described outright: 1) linking the development with surrounding communities to create a greater community, 2) high-quality mixed use development, 3) pedestrian safety, 4) integrating the arts into daily community life, 5) enhancing surrounding communities by making great places, 6) programming open spaces, 7) a choice of housing types, 8) sustainability.

Although no plans have been submitted for any type of approval, we do know some facts and ideas that are being worked with…

The project will be internally focused. This means that there will be limited frontage on Rt. 1 and surrounding neighborhoods. A patron would have to enter the property itself to really see what the development is all about. The community would have a central orientation rather than the peripheral facades that characterize most strip malls. This means that there could very well be a light natural (forested) buffer along Rt.1. That would somewhat maintain the present visual respite along Rt.1 that the forest on the Cafritz Property provides now.

The WMATA site exists between Albion Road and the northern portion of the Cafritz Property (see the long boot-shaped portion on top of the Cafritz Property on the more detailed vicinity map). It was acquired by WMATA from the Cafritz property holding through eminent domain for Rt. 1 access to construct the Metro tunnel and building. The construction has obviously been complete for years and is no longer needed so WMATA could possibly transfer ownership of the property. The actual future of this WMATA property is unknown, but it is quite possible that it will remain as a natural buffer to Albion Road.

Through the middle of the property runs a trail connecting the end of the Rhode Island Avenue paved bike trail (a.k.a. the Trolley Trail) to the Riverdale Square Station. The dirt trail actually lies along a utility easement that PEPCO has maintained. Because of the easement, the trail will remain intact through the development (although it will likely be paved) and is a great opportunity for community connections (to the EYA Arts District in particular) and public outdoor living space.

Similar to much of Rt.1, pedestrian frontage along the Cafritz Property is non-existent or downright dangerous. The Cafritz Property’s portion of Rt.1 will be improved by the development. If a traffic access intersection is made on Rt. 1, a major pedestrian crossing will be integrated. This is much needed for pedestrians crossing to and from University Park as the only existing crossings are at East West Highway and Queens Chapel Road. Those crossings are fairly dangerous themselves and would not be particularly convenient to the new develpment . Pedestrian bridges across the CSX railroad tracks on the east side of the property would create much needed access to public recreation (Lake Artemesia, Wells Ice Rink & Pool). These are being assessed by the resource team to increase interconnectivity of the existing recreational trail system. Pedestrians would otherwise only have the pedestrian tunnel at the CP Metro Station.

The Business and Retail arm of the resource team stated that Whole Foods Mid-Atlantic President Ken Meyer has seen the Cafritz Property and said he would like to put a store there. The company is waiting on plans for the development in order to move forward. Fall is a reasonable time to expect a more definitive position from Whole Foods as to whether or not it will place a grocery store on the Cafritz Property.

Read the new Route 1 Growth Blog for a list of community suggestions for the Cafritz project. The RP Coffee House blog has a linked listing of the development resource team, as well as a discussion with graphics about footprint impact of a Whole Foods.

It was noted that the developer’s site will eventually have a forum to make comments.  They can presently be sent to info@cafritzpop.com.