Whole Foods in Prince George's County?
Whole Foods wants to build its first supermarket in Prince George's County, Maryland. County residents and public officials say their communities are regularly overlooked by high-end retailers and businesses. So why is a proposed development -- on Route 1, near College Park -- meeting with local resistance? Kojo talks with community activists and officials, and explores the challenge of attracting and retaining businesses in Prince George's County.
Guests
Mayor, Riverdale Park (MD)
Community activist and Resident, University Park (MD)
Community activist and Resident, Calvert Hills (MD)
Assistant Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development and Public Infrastructure, Office of the County Executive, Prince George's County, Maryland
Contributor, Greater Greater Washington
Map of Area
View Cafritz Property, Riverdale Park, MD in a larger map
Prince George's County Citizens Argue For and Against Whole Foods
A group of Prince George's County citizens produced a letter of support for the proposed Whole Foods there:
A group of Prince George's County citizens produced a letter arguing against the proposed construction of a Whole Foods there (note: this letter was distributed in July 2011, before some of the aspects of the development planwere released) :
Comments
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Well I am moving to accokeek and would love to see one on 210 in fort Washington.
Is 210 in Fort Washington already zoned for commercial ? If so, then that would be an appropriate location ! You can have it !
PG County? NOOOO - PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY! Shame on the caller!
For many of us living in the area surrounding the University of Maryland, the idea of aging in place is simply not an option given the current lack of walkable/easily accessible grocery and other amenities. The reason that College Park currently is one long strip mall along Route 1 north of the proposed development is precisely because the community has not committed to resources that serve residents as opposed to students. The Cafritz development is specifically designed to be such a residential asset (as opposed to the UTC project).
Rick Borchelt
Calvert Hills/College Park
I realize that this is private property and it we need to have input in development. However we now have many excellent spots for Whole foods in College park and in Hyattesville under other mixed development already in place. We in the past few years have lost much of our trees to new development that has had mixed success. I am totally for urban development but we need to use the space already developed first before flatting more lots.
I am an avid biker but if Whole foods wants to attract bikers they need to give out bike trailers or saddle bags to make it practical shopping experience.
Kris
That is a wooded lot on a steep hill. i have seen deer dead on rt 1 along that lot site twice in the last 2 years. the property abuts, is nearby, parkland on the east (part of the floodplain trail system). yes, there are too many deer. yes something should be done to manage space for wildlife corridors- which rt 1 does not currently allow.
rt 1 is very congested during work travel times. very!!! there is no real way to widen the road. even so, the light at rt 1 and EW highway would still be an issue. all of rt 1 is congested, so this would further indicate that some traffic solution, aside from widening the road (traffic patterns, what??) needs doing.
more housing would be useful. but also improving the older town of riversdale to encourage movement there would be even better-?
bike traffic along rt 1 in that area can be dangerous for the bikers due to the hill and NO shoulder on the wooded lot side. what about that?
i drive this every day, twice a day, for over 35 years. we could talk for awhile...
What's wrong with saying PG County ? I've lived here 11 years and love it and love saying "PG." In all seriousness, am I doing something wrong ?
As a frequent and grateful patron of the new "high-end" retail in Prince George's County including Wegman's at Woodmore and the Busboys and Poets in the Hyattsville Art's District, I am concerned about the rush of similar developments that remain half-filled at best and run-down at worst, many of which are more metro-centric than the project under discussion. Look at the Largo town center, Blvd at Cap center, Prince Georges Plaza, Landover mall, even Woodmore, with its thriving Wegman's, was often delayed and only partially complete. Aside from the cache that comes with Whole Foods, how is this project different?
I live in Greenbelt, MD where the same issues are in play. Prince George's County residents shout out for quality, but don't additionally demand other quality of life amenities such as green infrastructure and safe, convenient and reliable public transportation. Developers keep some approval authorities afraid to demand more or to penalize them when they threaten to take projects elsewhere. The County Council must know that they will be re-elected if they insist on quality green development and people friendly connectivity.
Greenbelt's better bus service to Metro is due to hundreds of hours of hard work from a volunteer non-profit (Transit Riders United - Greenbelt). In Prince George's County we must overcome the low expectations and demand great amenities, walkable communities, clean waterways and quality retail.
Sorry to the massage therapist. This region is choking under the overuse of cars. We need relief from cars not more.
As a resident of Cheverly, former employee of and active member of the UMD community, active participant in the efforts to improve the waterways of the Anacostia watershed, and patron of businesses in the vicinity of the proposed project, I appose this project on the basis of economic, social and environmental impact, scale, and site selection.
- I find it offensive that this project is advertised as am amenity to the area. It is appropriate to the income level of Univ Park, and would only occasionally be used by residents of other adjacent neighborhoods due to the high price of most of the products offered in the stores. The participation of Whole Foods in this project is very obviously a move to squelch competition of currently established businesses (Wegman's, Yes, Mom's) which are more appropriate to the average income level of the adjacent neighborhoods. This is not consistent with the economic needs of our county. And to assert that this site will be served by the CP Metro and Purple Line are patently ridiculous.
- If autoless use and environmental protection are goals of development in this county, we need to knit small scale commerce into existing neighborhoods, preserve greenfield sites, and respect fledgling businesses serving their adjacent neighborhoods which are sprouting up despite the grave state of our economy (ie "Spanishtown" along Edmonston Road north of Peace Cross, LaGrande Marts in the underdeveloped shopping center south of the proposed project and on Route 450 in Landover, the Hyattsville Arts District, and Brentwood/Mt. Rainier corridor.) Local Brownfield sites (like the area on South 201 north of route 50 and accessible to the Cheverly Metro Station, Landover Mall, and the entire route 450 corridor) are ripe for development. Our County needs to impose an immediate moratorium on development of greenfield sites and encourage the move towards living, buying, and acting locally.
Thanks-
Marian
Why doesn't Cafritz build according to the zoning in place when they purchased? They bought land zoned for single family residential, so build single family residential.
One thing the 6,900 residents of Riverdale Park need to consider is that 900+ resiential units will create a singnifcant voting bloc whose interests will not necessarily align with those of current residents.
As for traffic, that will be a nightmare. I went to a Riverdale Park meeting on this development and the Cafritz traffic person said that people exiting the development would only be able to go north on Baltimore Avenue. Well, what are people who want to head south going to do? They'll head north and turn around, so somewhere north of this development there will be a giant jam-up point of people turning around.
I have to say, after having lived in Montgomery County and recently relocated to PG County, I have noticed a huge difference in the type of stores, and level of quality available in the area.
It is normal to expect traffic near high quality stores. I think its a great idea that finally a Whole Foods would come to this county. I wish they would develop in southern MD, down near Upper Marlboro/Ft. Washington area. Down on 301/Crain Hwy, its like a dead zone as far as good quality stores and restaurants.
These areas have nice middle class areas that would definitely support higher end retail. My husband and I now drive into Alexandria VA to go to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I say if Riverdale does not want it, please come on down to southern PG County!!