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Takoma DC Historic Preservation
TAKOMA DC CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAN
INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT ON THE TAKOMA METRO SITE
 In
early 2000, WMATA (the Washington DC area Metro subway and bus authority)
entered into an arrangement to sell to a developer a large parcel of land
in the heart of Takoma Park. The land is adjacent to the current Metro
station and takes up a large area of the original Victorian Takoma downtown.
It is now a part of the Takoma DC area that is beginning to experience
urban renewal and revitalization including two new retail and residential
projects and the revitalization of the Takoma Theater. The WMATA development
agreement including replacing an open parking lot, bus bays and park land
with up to 105 townhouses, a parking garage and bus bays. This land lies
in DC between Eastern Avenue and the rail tracks, north of Cedar and Carroll.
WMATA did not involve the Takoma community
in the development of these plans for the largest open parcel of land
the Takoma DC historic district. Responding to the resulting public outcry,
DC Mayor Anthony Williams chose the Takoma DC downtown for the first Small
Area Plan process through the DC Department of Planning. The process including
a community advisory group including a representative of Historic Takoma.
The process resulted in a Final Plan that Mayor Williams submitted to
DC Council on March 20, 2002. On June 4, 2002 DC Council adopted the plan
with a set of implementation recommendations.
Historic Takoma expressed great concerns
regarding the Plan. Most notably, the Final Plan fails to take into account
the upcoming Takoma DC transportation study. Historic Takoma feels that
this is necessary before building on the only remaining land at the Metro
station and busy intersections. Other elements of the plan, including
implementing revitalization elements for all of downtown Takoma DC are
strongly supported by Historic Takoma. The DC Advisory Neighborhood Commission
that includes Takoma voted to ask DC Council to reject the Final Plan
and send it back to the Department of Planning for revision after the
transportation study.
www.takomadcplan.org
has a current information about the status of the plan and related information
including:
If you have comments about this issue you can send them to us at dcplanE-MAIL DISABLED DUE TO SPAM--PLEASE USE getinfo at historictakoma.org
Click here to
contact Adrian Fenty, DC Councilmember for Ward Four, including Takoma
DC.
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