Dear Penguin: What’s the deal with Thursday’s meeting on the Falkland Chase apartments? Is it an informational session or do they want resident feedback? — Megan
Megan:
Expect Thursday night’s meeting to swing both ways — part infomercial, part public forum.
A little background:
Home Properties owns Falkland Chase, the 450-unit apartment complex along East-West Highway and 16th Street. In December, company reps met with Silver Spring’s commercial and economic development committee to unveil their redevelopment plans.
According to the committee, Home Properties proposed the following:
- 1,020 apartments, 128 of which will be moderately priced. Low-income housing covenants would be extended for 54 apartments south of East-West Highway
- 50,000 square feet of supermarket (possibly a Harris Teeter), plus 11,000 square feet of street-level retail
- Almost 1,400 underground parking spots, and space for a proposed Purple Line route
- A 1.5-acre public park
At the time, the committee had some reservations about the plan. Its size, scope and architecture took hits, as well as the project’s use of public space and impact on automobile traffic.
So everyone decided on another meeting.
This time, the idea is to get “the Silver Spring community’s early involvement and participation as this development proposal moves forward,” according to an announcement posted on the Woodside Park Civic Association’s online bulletin board.
Thursday night’s meeting goes down at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave).
Can’t make it to the meeting? Check out The Silver Spring Penguin’s complete coverage on Friday morning.
That’s the scoop, Megan. Thanks for your question!
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Thanks! I’m not necessarily against the plan (I think we need some higher density close to the metro), but it bothers me that FC residents like me who live in the area set to be demolished were not informed of the meeting…
Is it possible that the meeting to discuss Falkland Chase’s proposed plans is tonight (2/21) and not tomorrow? See the Silver Spring Regional Center calendar.
As a Falkland Chase resident who has felt quite neglected by Home Properties regarding their development plans, I would hate for people to miss a meeting.
I double-checked yesterday with Phil Olivetti, a member of the Silver Spring citizens advisory board. He confirmed that the Falkland Chase meeting will go down on Thursday, Feb 22, at 7:30 p.m.
The meeting scheduled for tonight (Feb 21) is for the commercial and economic development committee. This meeting is open to the public, though I don’t know what’s on the agenda.
Thanks for your question!
Traffic will be a complete nightmare on 16th Street and East-West Hwy, if this project is approved as is. I currently live in Summit Hills but I always wished I had lived in Falkland Chase. I love those old garden apartment buildings and ample green space in the development. Plenty of room for people to walk their dogs. I don’t think 1.5 acres of public space in nearly enough.
I support the development of more rental units in downtown Silver Spring though. More apartment developments will mean rents will stabilize in DTSS.
The biggest issues that I see here:
– Impact on 16th Street and East-West Hwy traffic.
– Is there enough parking space for residents and shoppers?
– Is there enough public space for residents and members of the community?
Editor’s note: This comment has been edited for content. (Feb 22, 2007)
It’s called URBAN development … and its design and placement are meant to encourage walking, not driving and parking.
Editor’s note: This comment has been edited for content. (Feb 22, 2007)