tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post3449138699553266358..comments2024-03-29T02:53:45.372-07:00Comments on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Westwood Shopping Center celebrating Nationals opening week today 4-6 PM in BethesdaRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-7819779094269335542016-04-10T05:09:08.534-07:002016-04-10T05:09:08.534-07:00To all of you saying that only old rich white peop...To all of you saying that only old rich white people protest mega growth you are either ignorant or being just plain dishonest.<br /><br />The Lyttonsville sector plan just two steps behind Westbard also promises to deliver a mega growth policy of urbanizing a small quiet community. This sector plan demographic is a majority minority area, with low to middle income folks. They are also fighting this developer county sanctioned bonanza to destroy their community and local small business...lots of faces of color here, and lots of young people because it is affordable.<br /><br />People of all ethnicities, races, ages and socio economic status want to preserve the communities that we bought into and are raising our families in.<br /><br />To say these concerns are racially motivated shows that you have lost the argument.<br /><br />These "nimby spouting trolls" have nothing to offer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-65586933036941512692016-04-08T20:41:09.248-07:002016-04-08T20:41:09.248-07:00As a mother of three children did you ever conside...As a mother of three children did you ever consider you cost the county more than you bring in?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-79351484075781270662016-04-08T20:10:18.383-07:002016-04-08T20:10:18.383-07:007:26: Marriott is already here, spam links to comp...7:26: Marriott is already here, spam links to competing websites (now deleted) aside. What does the merger have to do with Westbard?<br /><br />7:09: Who are the "other children"?<br /><br />5:25: The Kenwood condominium is a non-conforming property. It could not be built under today's zoning code, and therefore cannot be used to justify additional high-rises (although that hasn't stopped the Planning Board, County Council and developers from doing so). 6:42's comment does a good job of answering the rest of your questions.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-47096457504280327272016-04-08T19:26:35.267-07:002016-04-08T19:26:35.267-07:00MoCo Machine snags another Fortune 500 corporation...MoCo Machine snags another Fortune 500 corporation! Woo hoo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-17375304834247169582016-04-08T19:09:31.132-07:002016-04-08T19:09:31.132-07:00Why should buying a house entitle your children to...Why should buying a house entitle your children to attend a specific PUBLIC school, to the exclusion of other children?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-37724798085297357612016-04-08T19:03:11.514-07:002016-04-08T19:03:11.514-07:006.47 pm: Good catch! Typo-- that should be distric...6.47 pm: Good catch! Typo-- that should be districted (not distracted). The problem was the dreaded auto-correct. My apologies. --6.42 pmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-32755989548419645232016-04-08T18:55:41.324-07:002016-04-08T18:55:41.324-07:00@ 6.06: Bethesda has two news sites of record (so ...@ 6.06: Bethesda has two news sites of record (so to speak): Dyer and Bethesda Beat. Looks like that poster thought it was best to cover all bases and post in both places. <br /><br />If the community is lucky, maybe the WaPo will do another story on Westbard in its local news section, and it's possible that the Washington Times would do the same. Too bad the Gazette is gone: it was indeed MoCo's "paper of record," but we're fortunate to have Dyer and Bethesda Beat reporting here. Hard to have press freedom without any local press, y'know?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-8000865394481554662016-04-08T18:47:56.646-07:002016-04-08T18:47:56.646-07:00"[S]tudents in Montgomery County will no long..."[S]tudents in Montgomery County will no longer have a guarantee that they will attend the school for which they are distracted."<br /><br />What???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-4251308794729931962016-04-08T18:42:16.357-07:002016-04-08T18:42:16.357-07:005.25 PM: Put on your thinking cap.
1. The Westb...5.25 PM: Put on your thinking cap. <br /><br />1. The Westbard sector plan (Planning Board-approved version) will affect downtown Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Cabin John, Glen Echo and Sumner by adding 4,000+ cars to major roadways. That's in addition to the +/-3,000 additional cars coming into the area to access the new Intelligence campus on Sangamore Road. Even if the Westbard sector plan is cut back as proposed by Councilmember Berliner, 2000+ vehicles will be added to the area, in addition to the +/-3,000 vehicles heading to Sangamore Road. That's a lot of additional cars.<br /><br />2. Teachers and PTA organizations for both the Whitman and Bethesda-Chevy Chase school districts have vigorously opposed the Westbard sector plan, saying that it will exacerbate school overcrowding. Note that the Whitman district is already overcapacity, so the planners have recommended that students housed in the Westbard sector be educated in the BCC school cluster. One tiny problem: the BCC schools say that they can't handle the additional students. <br /> While the Council is "confident" that Montgomery County Public Schools will add capacity, no actual plans have been announced. Councilmember Rice has stated that school overcrowding will likely mean that elementary, middle school and high school students in Montgomery County will no longer have a guarantee that they will attend the school for which they are distracted. But not to worry: according to Councilmember Rice, changing local school assignments is "no longer a third rail." Really?<br /> In any case, the Westbard sector plan will affect school assignments for the BCC and/or Whitman clusters, and may affect other communities due to spillover effects. The Planning Board version of the sector plan will accelerate school overcrowding. Councilmember Berliner's alternative will reduce the problem, and the solution favored by SaveWestbard will reduce it still further. But development planning for the Westbard sector should be dovetailed with MCPS's planning process. So far, this hasn't happened.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-62813554671090495972016-04-08T18:06:38.624-07:002016-04-08T18:06:38.624-07:00Anonymous @ 5:58 PM posted the exact same thing as...Anonymous @ 5:58 PM posted the exact same thing as "ANetliner" on Bethesda Magazine three hours ago. I guess he realizes which is Bethesda's news site of record.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-61739162840770813842016-04-08T17:58:49.036-07:002016-04-08T17:58:49.036-07:00I went to the Friday, April 8 Westbard protest and...I went to the Friday, April 8 Westbard protest and am happy to report back.<br /><br />The organizers easily met or exceeded their hoped-for attendance of 75-100, and the number of protesters *grew* throughout the demonstration.. Not bad for 4 pm on a Friday.<br /><br />The protest crowd was multi-racial and drawn from all age groups: elementary school to teens, millennials Gen Xers, Boomers and members of the Greatest Generation. In short, the protesters were broadly representative of the community.<br /><br />Media covered the protest, and Jeanne Allen, one of the organizers, was interviewed.<br /><br />Signage was plentiful, diverse and imaginative. The demonstrators were peaceful and orderly.<br /><br />Nonetheless, Equity One called the police to have the demonstrators removed from its property. This being Bethesda, the protestors left voluntarily before the police arrived. Bad move by Equity One: throwing a group of peaceful demonstrators who also patronize your retail space out of your spacious parking lot rather undercuts the friendly image that you are trying to project. A better solution would have been to allow the protestors to occupy a far corner of the parking lot, away from traffic. In any case, the demonstrators set up shop on the sidewalks along Westbard, where passing cars honked in support. <br /><br />And the planners say Westbard isn't livable and walkable? Stay tuned for the Saturday demonstration. It should be even better!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-55458197867732060982016-04-08T17:25:11.926-07:002016-04-08T17:25:11.926-07:00"150 ft tall buildings along Westbard (taller..."150 ft tall buildings along Westbard (taller than anything currently there)"<br /><br />Wrong. The Kenwood Condominium is taller than that.<br /><br />"[I]t will impact...the entire southern part of the county."<br /><br />Please explain. How will it affect downtown Bethesda? How will it affect Chevy Chase? How will it affect Silver Spring? How will it affect Cabin John, Glen Echo and Sumner?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-46911414412057107512016-04-08T16:52:28.363-07:002016-04-08T16:52:28.363-07:00I am a mother of three young children and live in ...I am a mother of three young children and live in the neighborhood. We support measured, reasonable, sustainable development. The current plan is not measured, reasonable or sustainable. It will add a row of 150 ft tall buildings along Westbard (taller than anything currently there) and will more than double the current population of the area - without a plan to increase road, public transportation or classroom capacity. <br /><br />River Road and Massachusetts Ave are already overcapacity, particularly during rush hour, when River Road becomes almost a high speed freeway. Neither road has sidewalks or bike lanes and it seems we lose members of our community in tragic accidents every other month. Our children can't walk to the middle school or high school because there are no sidewalks and the crosswalks are not well-marked or respected by drivers. Now think how an additional 2000 to 3000 cars will impact this already difficult situation. There is no metro service and Metro Bus service is limited, at best. Realistically it is a public transportation ghost town. <br /><br />The only mention in County plans to address services to the community has been a discussion about closing the well-used and well-loved County Library to replace it and it's green space with additional townhouses or apartments. It is little wonder that residents are not supportive.<br /><br />Our schools are already overcrowded, now imagine adding 1000 to 1500 new children to the system. Where will they go? How will they be educated? Responsible governance requires thinking of and planning for these questions in advance of allowing urban-scale development in a suburban, residential neighborhood. Neither the Planning Board or the County Council have seriously addressed these concerns with substantial, realistic planning.<br /><br />If this plan goes forward in its current iteration, it will impact not only the close neighborhoods, but the entire southern part of the county. We are not against development, we are against poorly planned, over-densification.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-51524702805717133522016-04-08T16:24:53.898-07:002016-04-08T16:24:53.898-07:00What a great show of support for the community. Ov...What a great show of support for the community. Over 400 people were there to oppose Equity One's plan and a premature rush to judgement.<br /><br />The counter event held by Equity One was a complete dud. Obviously they hoped to trick the camera crews that the people dressed in red were there for their event to "honor the Nationals." Well the poor folks at the food trucks were pretty lonely and I didn't see any baseball cards being handed out.<br /><br />The event went so badly for Equity One that they threatened to tow people's cars. How would they know which cars to tow? I hope they didn't tow one of the developer trolls cars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-77959204122847651732016-04-08T15:04:49.212-07:002016-04-08T15:04:49.212-07:00Dyer's blog gave us Poppy the Progressive Beth...Dyer's blog gave us Poppy the Progressive Bethesdian, so you can't say that it's totally worthless.<br /><br />Hopefully he won't delete her delightful posts as "spam".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-66349310879548263092016-04-08T14:45:24.260-07:002016-04-08T14:45:24.260-07:00Yeah, Dyer, report on how the big protest went! I ...Yeah, Dyer, report on how the big protest went! I was at work so couldn't attend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-84929547856789583902016-04-08T14:13:13.831-07:002016-04-08T14:13:13.831-07:00@11:13 Sorry that my reply is a little late, but y...@11:13 Sorry that my reply is a little late, but you caught me when I was on the way out to yoga.<br /><br />In previous comments I have also advocated for a Thomas Pink at the new Westbard for the boys, so I don't really think you can call me selfish.Poppyhttp://www.progressivebethesda.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-15762185412424412812016-04-08T13:34:40.157-07:002016-04-08T13:34:40.157-07:00Hmmm... it's 4:30 p.m. now. How many old whit...Hmmm... it's 4:30 p.m. now. How many old white people showed up for the protest?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-92229097165650521072016-04-08T12:41:42.194-07:002016-04-08T12:41:42.194-07:00At best, we'll get a Panera, a chain like Hair...At best, we'll get a Panera, a chain like Hair Cuttery instead of Westwood Barbershop, another bank, etc.<br /><br />So, we'll toss out the small businesses we trust, overload the roads and schools and at best get a Panera out of it. Bad deal!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-51651373847176889022016-04-08T12:10:20.434-07:002016-04-08T12:10:20.434-07:00Ya'll don't know anything about race so do...Ya'll don't know anything about race so don't even try. Both sides. Dawaynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-84730937143638279032016-04-08T11:40:00.777-07:002016-04-08T11:40:00.777-07:00Lol. It looks like the "progressive Bethesdan...Lol. It looks like the "progressive Bethesdan" a name and blog.<br /><br />Still can't tell if she's being for real. Some people really exist in their own warped version of reality. Hilarious either wayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-14054861308227613372016-04-08T11:13:48.427-07:002016-04-08T11:13:48.427-07:00Poppy, so you know that Vineyard Vines is going to...Poppy, so you know that Vineyard Vines is going to be in this retail mix?<br /><br />I was hoping that Vineyard Vines was a placeholder from you to represent upscale shopping.<br /><br />So this whole project depends upon you getting Vineyard Vines? How selfish are you?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-8705780569905833332016-04-08T11:04:27.878-07:002016-04-08T11:04:27.878-07:00Look, I don't want to get into a back and fort...Look, I don't want to get into a back and forth on this, but if you think I can shop at Vineyard Vines in downtown Bethesda, it may be you who does not know much.<br /><br />Poppyhttp://www.progressivebethesda.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-40341872973748603932016-04-08T10:59:15.052-07:002016-04-08T10:59:15.052-07:00That's the problem Poppy. You don't know m...That's the problem Poppy. You don't know much about the project. You don't seem to care about how the housing units will affect the schools or traffic.<br /><br />There is upscale retail in downtown Bethesda, so you don't have to drive all the way to Georgetown or Montgomery Mall to go to Vineyard Vines.<br /><br />How do the residents of the Westbard community come up with a plan to "attach upscale retail to your proposed reduction in housing units"? We do not make the plans, we can just react to the proposals put forth by Equity One and the Planning Board. Those proposals are then voted upon by the County Council.<br /><br />Also, your continued ageism and race baiting do not represent you as a smart, progressive Bethesdian.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-10835140551200198452016-04-08T10:29:51.024-07:002016-04-08T10:29:51.024-07:00@10:14 - You're painting with a very broad str...@10:14 - You're painting with a very broad stroke when you call me pro-development. I haven't really put much thought into how many housing units go into the development, I just don't want to have to drive all the way to Georgetown or the Montgomery Mall to go to Vineyard Vines.<br /><br />If you somehow manage to attach upscale retail to your proposed reduction in housing units, you may get the ears of myself and many other smart, progressive Bethesdians.Poppyhttp://www.progressivebethesda.comnoreply@blogger.com