As you take this virtual tour of suburbia in bloom, here's my public service announcement for the day: Remember that some Montgomery County Councilmembers, some on the Montgomery County Planning Board, and some development firms are attempting to disingenuously redefine the character of the area around Kenwood as "urban". Really?
Keep that in mind as you take this photo tour. Does this look like an urban area to you? The fact is that Kenwood, Springfield, Green Acres, Sumner and other neighborhoods that surround the commercial-industrial area along River Road and Westbard Avenue, are squarely suburban, residential neighborhoods. Let's keep them that way.
 |
| Bonus: a Chevrolet Volt |
-01.jpeg)
-01.jpeg)
 |
| Yep, just like I promised you the other day - an actual lemonade stand |
 |
| One of the grand entrances to Kenwood, showing some of the work of the Kenwood Garden Club |
Beautiful suburban neighborhood sitting right next to an urban area with growth potential. Love it!
ReplyDelete7:54: There is no "urban" area. There is no Metro station. You got the first 3 words of your comment right, however.
DeleteBecause only your opinion counts?
Delete5:07: It's not my opinion, it's a fact. There's no Metro station at "Westbard".
DeleteDoes urban only mean metro?
DeleteLots of urban areas don't have Metro stations.
ReplyDelete8:53: This one isn't urban to begin with. You have to have a Metro station in order to build high-density, transit-oriented development.
Delete3:38: So you're acknowledging that your goal is to urbanize the suburbs. And you are calling the residents of the area "stupid". Good luck winning any public support with that approach.
ReplyDeleteYour approach doesn't seem to be winning any public support either.
ReplyDeleteMr. Dyer is right. Kenwood and the surrounding areas are very, very suburban. Any plans to change this without providing transportation are failing current residents, as well as those who would be moving there.
ReplyDelete5:10: Yeah, I guess that's why every resident who spoke at the public meeting was opposed to the Westbard Sector Plan draft. 250 present; zero residents spoke in favor. Doesn't sound like I'm in the minority.
ReplyDeleteThat public support isn't exactly for you. ;)
ReplyDeleteIs Georgetown urban? There's no Metro there.
ReplyDeleteDowntown Washington DC didn't exist until the Metro opened in 1976.
ReplyDeleteI thought the idea was to maximize density around Metro stations? Or is there a new planning strategy?
ReplyDelete6:34: Never said it was. What I did say, was that my opinion is the consensus opinion of the vast majority of residents.
ReplyDelete6:47: "Westbard" doesn't resemble Georgetown. It is a low-density commercial/industrial area. Even Georgetown is not entirely urban. You're off topic here. Westbard is in the same category as Spring Valley, Palisades, and Potomac Village. Not urban, not Georgetown.
ReplyDelete6:48: I'm assuming you're being sarcastic, but in any case, low-density Westbard is nothing like urban, downtown DC.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Planning Board does NOT allow Equity One/EYA to add so many units. Upgrade the shopping center, but we don't need another 1000 residences on Westbard. Image how Kenwood will be overrun in future cherry blossom weeks.
ReplyDeleteLove the Equity One plan!! Looks beautiful for a blighted area now dotted with run down and decrepit retail, industrial spaces, etc.
DeleteThe new plan looks great!!
DeleteI can't wait for this area to keep growing bigger!
ReplyDeleteKenwood is not a hard walk from Friendship Heights or Bethesda Metro. Then when the purple line goes in there will be another stop a 20 minute walk away.
ReplyDeleteFriendship Heights would be atleast a 45 minute walk. No exactly steps to Metro.
DeleteI know you're trying to make a point, but let's be realistic: you'd most likely hop on the Metro bus to Friendship Heights instead, right?
Google says 1.5 miles from where I dropped the marker. If I lived there and needed something from World Market or H&M I would walk. Uphill on the way there downhill on the way back.
ReplyDelete7:05 AM Nice weather, maybe. I can't imagine walking that everyday to commute. Assuming a short Red Line trip after the walk, you're talking about 2 hours commuting total every day.
ReplyDeleteI'd just hop on the Metro bus. Runs regularly during rush, the problem is during weekends and after rush hour when it becomes infrequent.
Leave it to Robert Dyer to make a story about beautiful cherry blossom trees into a political rant. No wonder nobody voted for this grump. Not very likeable.
ReplyDelete6:25: So "smart growth" and "transit-oriented development" are officially dead? You're just going to allow urban density anywhere, with no Metro station? That's called sprawl, which is the word that best describes the Westbard Sector Plan shown in November. The Purple Line? That's not only not in any plan, but it wouldn't even fit the right-of-way anymore the way it got so wide with 2 tracks and a trail.
ReplyDelete7:05: There's no study that has ever shown any significant number of people willing to walk the ridiculous length you're describing. If that was the case, they'd be doing it now. "Survey says...BRRRRNNNT!"
ReplyDeleteWait is there a study saying they won't?
Delete6:26: Yes - have you examined any transit study from the last 20 years, which were used to set the distance from a subway station people are willing to walk, for transit-oriented development planning? The truth is out there.
DeleteDo you have any sources? Don't disbelieve you by any means, just saying there are lots and providing some reference goes a long way.
Delete8:18: The Equity One plan for the Westwood Shopping Center is a good starting point for discussion, and much better than what the Sector Plan draft showed for that site. Not perfect by any means, but a step in the right direction. However, the other side of Westbard and the nursing home site need to be scaled back in Equity One's plan.
ReplyDeleteJust because the County failed to plan adequately for the future of "Westbard" for decades doesn't mean residents have to accept a lesser plan now. The Stockholm Syndrome is a terrible planning tool.
10:59: Yeah, out-of-state developers and inept Wall Street-bankrolled councilmembers are much more likable than me.
ReplyDeleteDidn't you show the "bankroll" was a few hundred dollars worth of campaign contributions? Lol.
DeleteThe voting surely confirmed that, Robert
Delete6:24: No, the $500 was just the check Mitt Romney's Bain Capital wrote to Hans Riemer. He had tens of thousands more from Wall Street, Danaher, and health insurance company lobbyists - and that's not including the $100,000+ from developers.
DeleteOh wow developers donated over 100k?
DeleteRobert is a good Lorax, and he speaks for the trees.
ReplyDeleteA thnead is NOT what everyone needs.
Y'all voted for Oncelers cos they're blue.
1. The Bethesda Purple Line station isn't planned for and won't fit?
ReplyDelete2. One and a half miles is now a ridiculous distance to walk among the people from Bethesda. I guess I understand their mindset better now.
4:18: The Bethesda Purple Line station is nowhere near Westbard.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I meant "Riemer's campaign". LOL.
ReplyDeleteAre we talking about Kenwood or Westbard?
ReplyDelete6:31: We're talking about the Westbard Sector Plan, which directly impacts Kenwood.
DeleteThanks for your blogpost regarding our neighborhood. Please note Kenwood is in Chevy Chase - 20815. Only the Radnor Road portion is actually in Bethesda.
ReplyDelete