Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities|Coalition for Smarter Growth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 1, 2006

For More Information:
Cheryl Cort (202) 244-1105 or (202) 251-7516
ccort@washingtonregion.net
Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities

Laura Olsen (202) 244-4408 ext. 4
Laura@smartergrowth.net
Coalition for Smarter Growth

Community Planning Session Aims to Increase Housing Opportunity
at Takoma Metro Station

On Saturday, March 4, 2006 local residents and officials will discuss and plan a proposal for additional housing units and a vibrant public park at the Takoma Metro Station. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is hosting this planning session for the community.

“Development at Metro stations is a crucial part of solving our region's traffic congestion,” said Jessica Millman, Maryland Director for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, “because it provides residents with a range of transportation options and reduces the need to drive for every trip. The Takoma Metro project benefits the surrounding neighborhood and the entire region by providing more housing choices near a transit station. This is a great example of how we want our communities to grow.”

WMATA and EYA, a development firm with a reputation for creating high quality residential neighborhoods throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area, are working together on the Takoma, DC project which will include an active village green and increased housing opportunities.

Ilana Preuss, who lives with her husband and young children in Takoma Park, Maryland, a few blocks away from the Metro station, said: “The development around the Metro is a great opportunity for Takoma Park to create a real community asset that will support our local businesses with new people and add security to the streets around the station. I think this is the right place to expand the neighborhood in a way that benefits existing and new residents.”

Tony Giancola, past president of the local civic group, Plan Takoma, Inc., and appointed citizen advisor for the Takoma Central District Plan, stated, “As one of the many in the Takoma D.C. community who supported the 2002 Takoma Central District Plan, which was approved by D.C. Council, I continue to support its transit oriented development guidelines. We should move ahead with the proposal developed by EYA.”

Loretta Neumann, a long time Takoma, DC community activist, originally opposed the proposed development of the Takoma Metro station site. Now, however, she sees opportunities to improve her neighborhood through new housing and a well-designed park at the Metro station: “We should now strive to make the proposed development the best it can be, something that will serve D.C. and Maryland residents who use the Metro and those who live around it.”

Neumann explained that there will be ample opportunity to refine the design of the project as it moves through the zoning and historic preservation review processes.

According to Neuman, the proposed development will provide a sizeable village green that can be a “real park.” “It can provide a beautiful entrance to Takoma from the Metro,” she said.

At the local and regional scale, housing near Metro is in high demand. “The proposed housing and park at the Takoma station is an important contribution to meeting the needs of area families hoping to live close to Metro, jobs and stores,” said Cheryl Cort, Executive Director, Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities. “Metro and the city need to move forward with this process so we can all begin to enjoy the benefits of this proposal.”

At the community planning session, residents will be able to offer ideas about the proposed site plan. The session runs from 10am – 4pm, but people can attend any portion of the session.

Details on the community planning session:
WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2006, 10am – 4pm (Lunch will be provided)
WHERE: Trinity Episcopal Church, 7005 Piney Branch Road, Washington, DC 20012
RSVP: Scott Kubly of WMATA at (202) 962-2677 or skubly@wmata.com