January 14-17: Takoma Central, Redistricting, Long Branch Planning, and Flower Avenue Green Street Design
Three Takoma Park meetings this week are especially worthy of note, concerning 1) the redrawing of the city’s electoral wards, 2) planning for community and business development in the Long Branch area, and 3) design of the city’s planned Flower Avenue green street. Here’s background information, drawn from the city’s weekly update, followed by 4) an update: construction begins on the Takoma Central development on Carroll Street NW:
1) Public Hearing on City Redistricting Plan: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed City ward redistricting plan on Monday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Takoma Park Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue. The public is encouraged to attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be addressed to clerk@takomagov.org.
Ward 1 boundaries would not be changed by the proposed plan. The current ward map is online at http://takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/agenda/items/2013/011413-1_2003wardmap.pdf and the proposed ward map is at http://takomaparkmd.gov/clerk/agenda/items/2013/011413-1_2013proposedwardmap.pdf.
2) Long Branch Sector Plan Community Meeting: Wednesday, January 16, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Rolling Terrace Elementary School. To bring a better quality of life to residents and business owners in the Long Branch community, county planners are inking a plan that considers ways to improve connections for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, bring a mix of homes, offices, retail and entertainment uses, and upgrade public spaces like parks and street fronts. With the coming of the Purple Line light rail station, Long Branch is poised for positive change. Learn more and provide feedback on the Long Branch Sector Plan draft at http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/longbranch/.
3) Flower Avenue Green Street Design Development: Join City staff and the engineering team to review draft design recommendations for the Flower Avenue Green Street project. The meeting will take place at Wilkinson Hall, at the corner of Flower Avenue and Division Street, on Thursday, January 17 from 7:15 pm through 9:30 pm. Plans are available on the City’s website at http://www.takomaparkmd.gov/floweravenue, then click on Documents.
4) Takoma Central is the name of the planned building at 235-255 Carroll Street, NW, between Maple and Cedar Streets, in Washington DC, a.k.a. The Big Hole in the Ground. Construction is about to start. The developer has issued a newsletter outlining the construction schedule and covering matters such as traffic management. (The Carroll Street sidewalk and curb lane will be blocked off for the duration of construction, and construction entrances will be created, first on Maple Street and then on Carroll Street.) I posted a copy of the newsletter at http://takotra.org/TakomaCentral-January2013Newsletter.pdf.
As always, please get in touch with me with your questions or concerns about these or other Takoma Park city matters.