AFRH update 10/6

[from the AFRH listserv]

From "bcitrus":

At last night's UNC meeting our guest speaker was the Director of Community Relations who gave us an update on the AFRH development. A series of "Armed Forces Retirement Home Master Plan Meetings" are being held in the Petworth area over the next few weeks. Details are on the AFRH website: www.afrhdevelopment.com. Please get the word out by telling everyone in your neighborhood that these meetings are occurring. You can also enroll by phone at 202-588-7029.

It is critically important that these meetings are well attended and that our voices are heard. Current dates are Oct. 22, 24 and Nov 3.

From John Hughes:

The gentleman from AFRH in his remarks to the group said:

-- The four community meetings are being held to gather "community input'' and will be "well advertised'' through mail drops.

-- The AFRH plans to "take down the barbed wire'' and integrate better with the community.

-- The AFRH takes in about $65 million a year and spends $78 million, hence the need for development. The objective of this development is to keep the home solvent for 60 to 100 years.

-- "There will be development on that particular site.''

Afterward, I had a chance to visit with the gentleman. Perhaps one or two others listened in to portions of the conversation. I have seen no plan, or have no official document, to confirm the following details. I also wasn't taking notes during our conversation. But this is what I took away from our conversation:

-- The fence along Park Place will be moved back, behind what will be a townhouse/rowhouse development for 55-year-old or so retired and semi-retired military personnel and families.

-- The idea of six-story or so buildings is no longer under consideration, at least in part because of the community response at the public meeting this summer. The plan is now for a townhome/rowhouse development that will be in character with the surrounding neighborhood.

-- There is no green space for community use in the development plans at this time.

-- There will be access to the grounds of the Soldiers Home for the people that live in the development. Basically, this will be an extension of military housing inside the complex, except it will be more independent, and outside the fence, and aimed at younger military retirees. The folks who live in this development will have access to the AFRH grounds through a gate, and be able to walk on the trails, play golf, etc. This access will not be extended to the surrounding neighborhood, and there will be no new recreation or green space for the community.

-- AFRH doesn't view the area bordering North Capitol or Irving as suitable for this kind of townhouse/rowhouse development. People wouldn't want to live on North Capitol. Irving is one-way road without suitable access or entry for residents of a rowhouse development.

My take away from the evening is that AFRH is doing exactly NOT what many in the community have asked for. I have heard many neighbors say they are opposed to any development near Park Place/Rock Creek Church. I have also heard many neighbors who welcome development but suggest that there should be some community green space in an area that is sorely lacking for such space.

The larger point is, no matter what your view is, please participate in this process! Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, and please attend these community meetings. Make your voices heard before it is too late!!

Comments

[jeff williams]

Did anyone at AFRH-G know Charles Thomas Reed?

[HiItsNino]

So what about the greenspace? What about the traffic? Did they come back with anything else from the big meeting a few months ago? Back then they didn't say anything about low income military housing (thats what apartments for fixed income military personel are). I don't think its right for that particular spot. That is historic land in an already developed area. The traffic on Warder is already a nightmare. Not to mention Park Place...and North Capital is already at FAILURE. There goes our summer breeeze..