Comments on: Starview Renderings Released http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/ Helping imagine a great college town for a great university Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:03:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/comment-page-1/#comment-131573 Robert Catlin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:02:20 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/#comment-131573 The Planning Board approved the Starview Detailed Site Plan this afternoon. The Chairman of the Planning Board, Sam Parker, complimented the architectual team for its design; something I have not seem done for any other project, city or non-city, before. The developer would like to begin removing thousands of truckloads of improper fill from the site as soon as possible (October, perhaps). The Planning Board approved the Starview Detailed Site Plan this afternoon. The Chairman of the Planning Board, Sam Parker, complimented the architectual team for its design; something I have not seem done for any other project, city or non-city, before.

The developer would like to begin removing thousands of truckloads of improper fill from the site as soon as possible (October, perhaps).

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]]> By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/comment-page-1/#comment-130279 Robert Catlin Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:25:06 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/#comment-130279 A future pedestrian bridge over the stream is desired and may happen at Starview Plaza later. We need to understand how the $4.5 million dollars emarked to restore the stream in this area will impact how/where the best stream crossing point would be. The cost of the additional bridge also needs to be paid for by more than Starview money. Perhaps a new pedestrian bridge can be attached to Mettzerot Road to the north. It was determined that addressing these issues before Starview Plaza went for detailed site plan approval could delay the student housing from being completed for an additional year. A future pedestrian bridge over the stream is desired and may happen at Starview Plaza later. We need to understand how the $4.5 million dollars emarked to restore the stream in this area will impact how/where the best stream crossing point would be. The cost of the additional bridge also needs to be paid for by more than Starview money. Perhaps a new pedestrian bridge can be attached to Mettzerot Road to the north.

It was determined that addressing these issues before Starview Plaza went for detailed site plan approval could delay the student housing from being completed for an additional year.

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]]> By: David Daddio http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/comment-page-1/#comment-130274 David Daddio Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:18:28 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/#comment-130274 The DSP described an additional potential pedestrian bridge to be built by the developer over the stream. What kevin describes would be great. Unfortunately in order to achieve it the project would have to altogether eliminate parking. I wouldn't complain. The route 1 lots on the paint branch side are small and narrow. It's really hard to comply with the sector plan and get absolutely everything. Looks like there is a viewing platform a few floors up on the back. I guess maybe you could fit something on the ground floor, but it would front the rear access road. The DSP described an additional potential pedestrian bridge to be built by the developer over the stream. What kevin describes would be great. Unfortunately in order to achieve it the project would have to altogether eliminate parking. I wouldn’t complain. The route 1 lots on the paint branch side are small and narrow. It’s really hard to comply with the sector plan and get absolutely everything. Looks like there is a viewing platform a few floors up on the back. I guess maybe you could fit something on the ground floor, but it would front the rear access road.

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]]> By: Colin Phillips http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/comment-page-1/#comment-130028 Colin Phillips Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:03:26 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/#comment-130028 I agree with Kevin that opportunities to make better use of connections to the Paint Branch are being missed. Not only would these be aesthetically attractive, they would also contribute to safety - the more eyes there are on the Paint Branch trail, the more people will feel safe using it for their "commute". Do any readers have insights on why stream connections are not being emphasized more in these developments? In the case of Starview Plaza, there is at least a guarantee of fairly good connectivity to the Paint Branch trail, since the site is close to the Metzerott Rd bridge over the stream. I agree with Kevin that opportunities to make better use of connections to the Paint Branch are being missed. Not only would these be aesthetically attractive, they would also contribute to safety – the more eyes there are on the Paint Branch trail, the more people will feel safe using it for their “commute”. Do any readers have insights on why stream connections are not being emphasized more in these developments?

In the case of Starview Plaza, there is at least a guarantee of fairly good connectivity to the Paint Branch trail, since the site is close to the Metzerott Rd bridge over the stream.

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]]> By: Kevin Fallon http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/comment-page-1/#comment-130006 Kevin Fallon Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:28:41 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/577/#comment-130006 Again, it appears that we are about to have yet another project that fails to embrace / capitalize upon its location over looking the creek and the woods. thats a shame. we talk about creating a sense of place. imagine that you live there. wouldnt it be cool to have a deck overlooking the creek/woods as a place to study when the weather is nice? or what about a starbucks or a fitness center with huge windows and a deck? also, when its time to bike or walk to campus, which would you prefer: 1. Risking your life and inhaling fumes on the pathetic 3 foot wide strip of concrete that is attached to Rte 1 that is referred to as a "sidewalk" versus 2. Going out "the back door" to a bikeway/pedway that connects you to the bike trail back there and riding along the creek through the woods? You tell me. I think we missed the boat on the way The View was built with a cold concrete block wall on the banks of the creek. A huge missed opportunity. and it looks like we are going to continue in that direction. A real disappointment. Again, it appears that we are about to have yet another project that fails to embrace / capitalize upon its location over looking the creek and the woods. thats a shame. we talk about creating a sense of place.

imagine that you live there. wouldnt it be cool to have a deck overlooking the creek/woods as a place to study when the weather is nice? or what about a starbucks or a fitness center with huge windows and a deck? also, when its time to bike or walk to campus, which would you prefer:

1. Risking your life and inhaling fumes on the pathetic 3 foot wide strip of concrete that is attached to Rte 1 that is referred to as a “sidewalk”

versus

2. Going out “the back door” to a bikeway/pedway that connects you to the bike trail back there and riding along the creek through the woods?

You tell me.

I think we missed the boat on the way The View was built with a cold concrete block wall on the banks of the creek. A huge missed opportunity. and it looks like we are going to continue in that direction. A real disappointment.

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