Comments on: Developer, neighbors wonder what it takes to make a Village

By: Bubba

Bubba — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:03:36 +0000

>>”I would like to see ONE police complaint filed on this – I walked by the old location at least twice daily and now pass the new location even more frequently — and I have never witnessed anything close to what Hillerson alleges. (As a matter of fact, I’m consistently hit up for change at the Safeway entrances across the way.) The SS Mart is not a business I ever personally patronize, but I would not describe it as being a public nuisance or adding to public drunkeness and destructive behavior”<<

I can tell you that is a pretty fair assessment of the SS Mart that was at the old location. The owners are good people, but they did little to distract people hanging around the store. I stopped going there because I always felt like I had to run in and out before getting hit up for change (they wacthed me from the window so they knew I had cash.)

The place is better now that is further away from the Progress Place.

By: Kathy J

Kathy J — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:23:57 +0000

>>“I didn’t renew their lease because the pan handlers used to stand out front, ask for money, go inside to buy beer, urinate and vomit in public, then do it all over again,” Hillerson claimed.<<

I would like to see ONE police complaint filed on this – I walked by the old location at least twice daily and now pass the new location even more frequently — and I have never witnessed anything close to what Hillerson alleges. (As a matter of fact, I’m consistently hit up for change at the Safeway entrances across the way.) The SS Mart is not a business I ever personally patronize, but I would not describe it as being a public nuisance or adding to public drunkeness and destructive behavior.

Since I was not able to attend the presentation, I can’t comment on the project particulars – though the phrase “interior park and along a pedestrian alley” does not sound like a postive contribution to the health of Fenton Village as a whole. My big question would be WHAT retailers with any business sense would sign a lease for an interior-facing alley space??

By: Jennifer Deseo

Jennifer Deseo — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:04:53 +0000

Rich

As editor of The Penguin, I do not delete comments without marking them as such (”This post has been deleted”, etc). Your previous comment may have been caught in our spaminator.

If you have something constructive to say, feel free to post again.

Jennifer Deseo
Editor

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:02:18 +0000

I see you people are exposing Pure Communisium by deleting what I posted yesterday in reguards to Individuals that express HATRED towards Improving Ecomic and Business Growth in Silver Spring by Sabatoging All Forms of Modernize Office/Upscale Retail Growth in Silver Spring.

By: Thayer-D

Thayer-D — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:32:03 +0000

One of the reasons we get crappy Dryvit covered projects is that we spend so much time complaining about the evils of corporations and not enough time holding developers feet to the fire on guaranteeing the best for our community. As for historic buildings to be saved, I’m all for it. One of Silver Spring’s best historical assets is the Georgia Avenue main street strip between Sligo and Wayne. Now that we’re in a down turn it would be great to give it a historical status so when the developers come a knocking, there would be something in place to help save it.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:22:10 +0000

Yes indeed, bricks and mortar do last longer. Why then do we continue to get crappy Dryvit-covered projects designed/built to last a generation when an actual brick/limestone and mortar structure as the historically designated 1927 Silver Spring Armory was allowed to be demolished?

By: Thayer-D

Thayer-D — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:21:08 +0000

The fear of “corporate” influence is short sighted. Corporations come and go as we see in our current down turn, but good brick and mortar buildings last a lot longer. Look at all the royal palaces and churches everyone loves in Europe, who even knows what autocrats built them today. It’s the same with these projects, let them build the best thing for Fenton Village architecturally and urbanistically and guaranteed time will change whatever tenants might be in there for the first phase of their life. The old “corporate” JC Penny is now going to be a Music Hall. Let’s just not scare everything that could be good if not perfect.

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:44:31 +0000

I agree w/Thayer-D & GB. While the artist’s illustrations may have looked like an inward turning development, it isn’t. There are no gates to the pedestrian areas and nothing restricting any memeber of the public from walking through it or patronizing the retail.

This development will further animate Fenton Village by placing 1,000 residents and their guests right in the middle of it. The new residents will move there not to get away from the surrounding retail, but because it is so close. They WANT to be in a walking neighborhood and will spend money at surrounding retail & services that offer a good value, quality product and service. Frankly, there are plenty of existing Fenton Village business that don’t do that so it’s nice to see the bar will be raised.

By: GB

GB — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:51:47 +0000

This is sensible and good for Fenton Village. But it involves cleaning up the neighborhood and bringing in some “corporate” presence — and therefore it is dead on arrival. Even if a majority of people in greater SS favor it, the disapproval of some is enough to kill it because, in Montgomery County, the interests of the many must always take a back seat to the dreams others have of a non-corporate, think-small utopia.

BTW — one of the opponents spoke of crime being “pushed” int areas outside the Ellsworth strip. I’ve been assured by civic leaders that crime is SS is only a “perception.”

By: Thayer-D

Thayer-D — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:03:34 +0000

I think it’s a great project and the new street will add needed texture to the street life of Fenton Village. The way they incorporate Mayor’s lane with the public space is wonderful and gives the pedestrian more options to roam around. I agree with the previous post that we don’t need a private village with in Fenton Village, but if it’s like Ellsworth Promenade, I don’t think that will be the case. Ellsworth is open to the public at all hours of the day, and I appreciate the extra security guards. This project is exactly what Fenton Village needs, which is some life. The other day I walked in to the famous cobbler and asked him if he could fix my shoes to which he curtly replied “NO!” So I don’t know what “village” we are talking about, but I’m not feeling it.