Re: [BloomingdaleActionList] Support a McMillan Petition Drive

I don't know anyone who wants the status quo to remain. Everyone I've spoken with once the site returned to public use.

The DC government, VMP and some of their supporters are peddling a false choice between 90% destruction of a historic site and the building of something the HPRB has described as Tysons Corner or Rosslyn.

Our petition asks them to slow down, reject the VMP propsal and consider alternative proposals with various degrees of development.

Again, it's a lie that we have to choose between the current poor proposal and amenities.

Sent from my Droid Charge on Verizon 4G LTE

------Original Message------
From: Todd Phillips <todd20036@gmail.com>
To: "bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com" <bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com>
Cc: "friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com" <friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com>,"bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com" <bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com>
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2013 11:46:18 AM GMT-0400
Subject: Re: [BloomingdaleActionList] Support a McMillan Petition Drive

I think park land is a great asset, but most urban parks like Central Park and the National Mall have high-density development all around them. Bloomingdale doesn't have that (rightly so as it's a residential neighborhood for the most part). That's why w/o some development in McMillian there won't be any significant additional tourism revenue--there have to be businesses for tourists and visitors to spend their money at. W/o new businesses there is really no big economic benefit to the area--no new jobs, no new places for investment, etc. Of course property values may go up, but that only benefits a small set of homeowners.

We are all clamoring for new restaurants and businesses. I haven't seen anyone complaining about Red Hen for example. :-) So out of a 92 acre park it certainly seems reasonable to have some development that offers services and amenities we all seem to want. 1st and RI can only support so many new places.

Though I agree it would be great to have our own Meridian Hill park or something equivalent nearby along with new retail, restaurants and some local employment. Some folks may be even able to walk to work at a local office building. I think it would be great for Bloomingdale to offer that option. A park alone only meets one need in the neighborhood. A park plus reasonable development can meet several neighborhood needs.


On Apr 27, 2013, at 11:15 AM, Eric S <eschultzdc@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have not had a chance to read all of the associated emails, so my comments are not fully informed. I need some further guidance on why park land is not valuable. Great cities have great parks. Look at central park in new York city. Mcmillian was designed to be a city park for Washington. Why does it need to be developed? Are there other parks in the city that we should consider turning into condos and office buildings? Why can't the park be restored and we put the development in the historic underground cells? The national mall is worn out because so many people use it. NoMa is screaming for parks. They have none and the people moving in are organizing to petition the city for park land.
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> How does the development of mcmillian help the neighbors with traffic, congestion, water run off, etc? Who will benefit from the development?
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> Perhaps these questions have already been addressed and I've not read them yet. Thanks, Eric
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> From: Miriam <miriamg123@gmail.com>
>
> Reply-To: <friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com>
>
> Date: Friday, April 26, 2013 9:56 PM
>
> To: "friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com" <friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com>
>
> Cc: "friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com" <friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com>, Todd Phillips <todd20036@gmail.com>, "bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com" <bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [BloomingdaleActionList] Support a McMillan Petition Drive
>
>
>
> Patrick
>
> You need to look at our proposal and understand it.
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> The city only wants the developer driven maximize development scheme
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> Their latest plan copies our design because we have a smart solution to the site and they don't .
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> our alternative vision for the future that builds upon the past.
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> An all preservation scheme is unrealistic and does not inspiring anyone but the hard core.
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> It is seen as only negative energy and gives them the monopoly on positive energy.
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> I will be happy to update you.
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> Miriam
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> Sent from my iPhone
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>
> On Apr 26, 2013, at 7:08 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:
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> Thanks Miriam. Is it being considered by the city?
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> On Apr 26, 2013 7:03 PM, "Miriam" <miriamg123@gmail.com> wrote:
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> That is incorrect.
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> We have developed a community based alternative that is fully fleshed out.
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> See www.McMillanPark.com
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> Miriam
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>
> Sent from my iPhone
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>
> On Apr 26, 2013, at 5:29 PM, "Patrick" <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:
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> > Your point is exactly right. The city has not called for a proposal that examines the alternative to destruction of a historic site or the adaptive reuses of other cities. Therefore, we have nothing to compare the VMP proposal to and are left with a false choice between no development and nearly total destruction.
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> >
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> > DC is sitting on a large financial surplus and development is off and running at record speed all around us. Why the rush to destroy a unique historic treasure? We're simply saying slow down and examine all possibilities.
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> >
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> >
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> > Sent from my Droid Charge on Verizon 4G LTE
>
> >
>
> > ------Original Message------
>
> > From: Todd Phillips <todd20036@gmail.com>
>
> > To: "bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com" <bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com>
>
> > Cc: "bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com" <bloomingdaleactionlist@googlegroups.com>,"friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com" <friends-of-mcmillan-park@googlegroups.com>
>
> > Date: Friday, April 26, 2013 5:11:00 PM GMT-0400
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> > Subject: Re: [BloomingdaleActionList] Support a McMillan Petition Drive
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> >
>
> > But the gist of my question was whether there has been a financial analysis to determine the viability of the restoring the park in a way that meets your stated objectives...i.e., what are the costs of restoring the park and preserving the original above- and below-ground structures with limited commercial development.
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> >
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> > I wouldn't want to waste time pushing for something that can never happen financially. Otherwise it's going to end up fenced and off limits for a long time.
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> >
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> > On Apr 26, 2013, at 4:47 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:
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> >
>
> >> Todd,
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> >>
>
> >> I'm not sure I understand your question. The current proposal by VMP -- the only proposal on the table -- does not envision tourism revenue, for example. Are you wondering how much subsidy the DC Government is providing to this private business should they get the contract?
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> >>
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> >> I think the fact sheet is clear: the Friends of McMillan is not proposing a specific alternative plan. We are urging the city to 1.) reject the current plan and 2.) call for a proposal that develops the site approriately for a historic site and park.
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> >>
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> >> We can't compare numbers because the city has not entertained alterntive plans... and that's a large part of the problem.
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> >>
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> >>
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> >> On Fri, Apr 26, 2013 at 4:38 PM, Todd Phillips <todd20036@gmail.com> wrote:
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> >>> Is there a financial analysis based on this plan/vision outlining the costs of restoration/development, sources of funding to meet these costs, projected sources of tourism revenue, etc?
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> >>>
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> >>> I didn't see any of this in the fact sheet.
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> >>>
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> >>> On Apr 26, 2013, at 4:25 PM, Patrick Hudak <patrickhudak@gmail.com> wrote:
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> >>>
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> >>>> Bloomingdale Action List,
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> As I'm sure most of you know, the city is considering a proposal to develop the McMillan Reservoir Park Historic District. Although returning the site to productive use by DC's residents and visitors is a goal we all share, the current plan will demolish about 90% of the historic structures. In fact, the Historic Preservation Review Board's (HPRB) members criticized -- politely but pointedly -- the plan at yesterday's meeting for being more appropriate for "Tyson's Corner or Rosslyn" than McMillan, destroying the historic fabric of the site, and turning the few remaining historic elements into "tombstones of what was there." You can watch the HPRB's meeting here:
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=0enrXEJP8odZMDqrKQxXfQ%3d%3d
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> >>>>
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> >>>> We in Friends of McMillan Park (http://friendsofmcmillan.org/) are considering launching a petition drive to let the Mayor, Councilmembers, and HPRB know that 1.) we support development that is 2.) appropriate for a historic site and park. I'm attaching a Fact Sheet (in color and B&W) and petition sheet for your review.
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> We are looking for volunteers to commit to gathering at least 25 signatures each on the petition. So far, we have commitments from 6 people totalling 250 signatures. (Some have committed to more than 25.) I'm confident that with several more people helping (asking friends, family, coworkers, strangers in DC) we can easily hit over 1000 people while educating folks around town about the beautiful and historic site many know nothing about.
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> Please consider making a commitment to collect 25 signatures. We've already developed the materials (the fact sheet and petition) for you, and we're finding that most people are very eager to see the historic site developed in a way that preserves its history.
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> >>>>
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> >>>> Again, no one wants the status quo. However, demolishing 90% of such a historic and beautiful treasure to create our own "Tyson's Corner or Rosslyn" is simply too much. Yet, if we are to avoid this fate, we must make our views known.
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> >>>>
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> >>>> Please let me know if you're willing to help.
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> >>>>
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> >>>> Thank you
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> >>>>
>
> >>>> Patrick
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> --
>
> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bloomingdale Action List" group.
>
> >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to bloomingdaleactionlist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
>
> >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>>
>
> >>>> <FactSheetColor - 4-23-13.docx>
>
> >>>> <FactSheet - 4-23-13.docx>
>
> >>>> <Petition - 4-23-13.docx>
>
> >>>
>
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> >
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> >
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