Presentation to the Takoma Park City Council Monday, September 19, 2011
Background: Takoma Junction is a neighborhood that includes a cluster of homes, businesses, and properties that surround the intersection of Maryland state highways 410 (Philadelphia and Ethan Allen Avenues) and 195 (Carroll Avenue). For years, community members and elected ocials have discussed redevelopment strategies, debated their merits, and made some incremental changes. Junction Task Force Presentation 2
Goals: The Council outlined the following goals for the TJTF: 1. Evaluate current conditions in Takoma Junction and identify opportunities for the redevelopment and revitalization of the area; 2. Develop an outreach plan designed to solicit comment on future redevelopment proposals, increase awareness of available incentive programs and engage the community in revitalization initiatives that may be undertaken by the City and others; and 3. Create work plans with recommended near- and long-term actions for Council consideration that address the community s interest in improving existing trac patterns; resolving pedestrian safety concerns; increasing public use of public spaces; providing for the redevelopment of city-owned properties; enhancing the physical appearance and condition of properties; and increasing the economic viability of area businesses. Junction Task Force Presentation 3
Organization: Co-chairs: Howard Kohn, Seth Grimes, Co-secretaries: Roger Schlegel, Je Trunzo. Three subcommittees (A, B and C) with the following responsibilities: A. Business district, including the city lot, focusing on potential development uses and issues. Planner and developer input/ assistance needed to understand options. Parking. B. Research and outreach, organizing TF engagement of business and community stakeholders. Synthesizing previous Junction work, studies, proposals (e.g., OTBA market study, Fireplace group, neighborhood initiatives, charettes, other historical initiatives). C. Trac, pedestrian, streetscape, livability (Dan Burden walkability report, liaison parking with subcommittee A s work). Junction Task Force Presentation 4
Mission Statement: Takoma Junction, predominantly located in the Historic District, is a small commercial district in the heart of a residential community, with historically significant resources and a vital fire station that should... encourage motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists to slow down, park, relax, and shop, while functioning adequately as a link within the local road and transit networks, encourage sustainable commercial opportunities and provide convenience to local consumers, serve as a cultural meeting-point for old and young in a diverse community, and blend harmoniously with adjacent residential neighborhoods, all in a forward-thinking, attractive, and environmentally sensitive way. Junction Task Force Presentation 5
Website: The Takoma Junction Task Force also has a public website, which contains meeting notes and minutes as well as research documents relative to the study at http://takomajunction.org Junction Task Force Presentation 6
Takoma Junction Task Force Current Condition: Junction Task Force Presentation 7
Community Outreach Eorts: Ten residential outreach events; approximately 150 participants At outreach gatherings, individual surveys plus recording of group findings Business surveys outreach to every business Pedestrian intercepts Informal conversations, and visitors to task force meetings Junction Task Force Presentation 8
Community Outreach Responses: What s There and What s Not I d Like To See It Might Help Business if We It Would be Fun if We Had I d Be Happy if We Could Some Development is OK Ease the Flow Whatever Happens They d Better If We re Truly Green, We Ought To It Ought to Be Our Special Place We ve Talked Long Enough Junction Task Force Presentation 9
City Lot: Principal concerns include: Business/development potential Community space Environment Immediate steps: Engage expert assistance to conduct a non-invasive, first-step environmental assessment Direct sta to work with the task force, OTBA, and others to design and plan a flexible, mixed-use community/smallbusiness space Pursue expert assessment of business potential and site-use options Track TPSS Co-op planning For later consideration: Environmental assessment next steps A request for proposals for site development Junction Task Force Presentation 10
Roadways, Signals, and Crossings Principal concerns include: Bicyclist and pedestrian safety Community usability Historic preservation Parking and Trac flow Environmental impact Business climate: individual storefronts & as a unified district Immediate steps: Solidify the city's State Highway Administration relationship SHA completes signal optimization Public transit education After signals are stabilized: Measure motor vehicle, pedestrian & bicyclist flows Engage expert advice on feasibility and desirability of significant modification and to conduct simulations Consider near-term and long-term modifications Junction Task Force Presentation 11
Trac: Low Cost Modifications To Explore Now Change Sycamore Avenue into a one-way street for incoming trac from Ethan Allen Avenue; creating more parking spaces on the eastside of the TPSS Co-op. Changing the trac light pattern of the Sycamore Avenue light to allow westbound trac on Ethan Allen Avenue to proceed through the intersection while eastbound trac is stopped and vice versa. Permit only right turns into Sycamore and right turns out.left hand turns would not be permitted onto Sycamore Avenue or into the Coop s parking lot. Remove Sycamore Avenue trac light. Convert the left lane of southbound Carroll Avenue to allow right and left turns. Make two lanes on eastbound Carroll Avenue where it intersects Philadelphia Avenue at the fire station, assigning one lane for leftturns. Create signalized crosswalk from Grant Avenue to the City Lot. Junction Task Force Presentation 12
Recommendations: Schedule a work session for consideration of the full TF report for after the new council is seated. Extend Task Force through January 31, 2012 Consult city sta for feedback, feasibility assessment, report refinement through October and November (Deputy City Manager, Housing and Community Development Director, Police Chief, Public Works Director, Senior Planner) Work with sta on design and planning of a flexible-use community and business space for the city lot. Pursue, with city sta, the council, and other ocials strategy regarding the SHA relationship Participate, with ocial standing, in an anticipated January council work-session. Junction Task Force Presentation 13