Comments on: Harris Teeter hearts Silver Spring, developer says

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:09:16 +0000

A Harris Teeter would be perfect in the Ripley district. I don’t think the historical society would have any objections…there’s nothing to preserve there. Plus, there’s no residents there (at least not yet until Midtown Silver Spring apartments gets going) so no one can complain about traffic or trucks bringing daily shipments of food. Plus, It’s centrally located and would bring revitalization to the area.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:21:43 +0000

I didn’t know the Harris Teeter was originally going into the Veridian. DC has lots of neighborhoods that are begging for grocery stores, why doesn’t HT check out some of those? Come to think of it, maybe the Coop should expand into DC. It’s stores are small, with healthy food, much of it locally produced. Smaller stores, preserving the housing and trees we have now, better than the big-box whomp!

By: Woodsider

Woodsider — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:28:03 +0000

I’d love to see the Harris Teeter go in the middle of Fenton Village or the Ripley District, too. I can see, though, how those locations wouldn’t make sense for them now–there is not a concentration of people living in either area. In any urban development, parking will be restricted so the only way to capture additional revenue will be through pedestrians. The Falkland Chase site is (one of several) that are in the center of pedestrian intense areas.

Also, for those who don’t remember (or know), the Harris Teeter was originally going to be in the new Veridian Apartments building near East-West Highway and Georgia, but the deal fell through.

By: Corona

Corona — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:31:07 +0000

I dunno, I’d like to see more stores of things we don’t have now. Like when Living Ruff opened, it filled a need that was previously unmet. Had another coffee shop gone there, it would have simply given another choice in an already large coffee market. I like coffee, but between Starbucks, Maygora, Highland, Caribou, Kefa, and even the Seattle’s Best in Boarders, I think the market is doing pretty well.

I agree that we should take advantage of some of the existing space however, before creating new space. There are alot of vacant store fronts in DTSS and on Georgia in the Ripley District.

I’m as pro-development as one can get but ironically, I do not support the Harris Teeter store. I am of the same mentality as Paul – that Harris Teeter is one of those stores that turns an $80 trip into a $100 one. I do not see any reason why I would go there over Whole Foods, especially when Whole Foods would be much easier to get to, even with the parking lot of damnation.

Harris Teeters location is going to be in an area that is already absurdly congested – why we are redeveloping this area when so much unused retail remains on Georgia is baffling to me. If this is built in this location you will see a gridlock of traffic from Chevy Chase and Bethesa on East West Highway all day Sat and Sunday.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:22:58 +0000

The Purple Line is a rezoning gimmick, not a path to better transportation. As long as incomes are flat or falling, and jobs feel shaky, “more and better retail options” seem unlikely. People can only buy so much stuff. I, personally, do not see a need for more stores. More coffee shops, maybe, but not more stores.
I predict more open retail spaces will open up in existing buildings as businesses lose the struggle to survive.
Classes, day care for both children and adults, fitness, affordable meetings space for nonprofits, rehearsal space for performing artists are all possibilities.

By: Clancy

Clancy — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:25:14 +0000

There really are two issues being discussed (and conflated) here: (1) Whether SS needs–or could benefit from–another grocery store; and, (2) whether Falkland North is a historic site worthy of retention and protection. I believe that many in support of the former are willing to give up the latter if only to bring better shopping options to the city. This seems rather shortsighted to me, as there seems like there are countless places one could put a Harris Teeter in Silver Spring without taking out Falkland Chase.

I live up E-W from the proposed site and must admit that I have numerous qualms with the proposal to build high density dwellings and an anchor grocery there. Primarily, these relate to the completely inadequate infrastructure surrounding the facility that would dramatically impact my quality of life. Unless addressed better than it has been to date, traffic on 16th and E-W, already problematic, would become a nightmare.

I also admit that I was concerned about the precedent that moving forward on this project would set for Falkland West, as this section of the apartments abuts our property. High rise apartments directly adjacent to our garden-style condos would certainly have a negative impact on our quality of life and property value.

At this time, I’ll admit that I rather selfishly support the effort to grant protection to Falkland North only because it seems to be the only viable option left to me for protecting what I see as my own self interest. However, if protection is granted to Falkland West, and the traffic concerns are better addressed, there’s a lot to like about the Falkland North development: it brings a grocery store, the Purple Line, and a healthy number of people (consumers) that could provide a stronger base for more–and better–retail options in SS.

By: LuvMyHood

LuvMyHood — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:46:24 +0000

Hey, Jim, that part of Silver Spring is stuffed with big buildings. Falkland Chase provides a precious patch of green. I’ve seen hi-rises work well near parkland, such as Sligo Creek Park and Rock Creek Park. They can be placed in the hollows and blend in with the landscape, and the residents can look out into trees. But Silver Spring has enough hi-rises. And we do not need a Harris Teeter. The Giant is better, so is Safeway. Also, both deliver groceries, a convenience that is very rare in the USA.
For those who can drive or carpool, the Giant on Arliss is great. I can find items there, for a reasonable price, that Safeway lacks. Also in the Falkland area is that outpost of the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Coop.

By: paul_silver_spring

paul_silver_spring — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:41:59 +0000

I’m so torn… my list of complaints about Giant is loooong. The company that runs the whole comples doesn’t police their residents’ use of parking that is CLEARLY posted for retail use only – and that has gotten worse and worse lately, they really need to get that under control or they’re seriously going to lose customers because they can’t find parking. The selection is really nothing special at all. The fresh stuff is a bit better than safeway, but still nothing outstanding. I love the idea of the new self scan, but they NEED to have checkouts dedicated to them. If I’m going to take longer doing my shopping because I have to weight and scan everything as I go I sure as heck better not have to THEN stand in line behind the dude who can’t figure out how to use the produce lookup at the register.

All that being said.. we like trying out different grocery stores, so if we’re going to be somewhere anyway we’ll bring the bags with us and go someplace new. I’ve been to a few different harris teeters and the result is ALWAYS the same… the trip that would have been $80 at giant is reliably over $100… I guess that’s just the cost of quality.

Point being.. I’d definitely shop there occassionally, to avoid the parking lot cluster at giant or to get specific items, but I don’t think I’d switch over completely.

By: The Dad Report

The Dad Report — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:09:56 +0000

I have the perfect spot for Teets. It’s called City Place.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:05:25 +0000

Here is an update on Falkland North: In December the Planning Board adopted a resolution to recommend that the South and West Parcels of the property be designated historic but not the North Parcel (where Harris Teeter would locate). In January, Ike Leggett endorsed the recommendation in a memo to the County Council and the Council is holding a public hearing on March 10 at 7:30pm.

Also, there is a connection between the Purple Line and the redevelopment. If redevelopment is approved, the owner will contribute land behind Falkland North for Purple Line right-of-way. Without approval, the land will have to be purchased from the owner which will cause delay. They also recently launched a website http://www.falklandnorth.com with more information.

Editor’s note: Thanks for the info, Kris! — JD (Feb 24, 2009)