Letter to the Editor
Rockville Gazette
04.10.09
Re: AGREEMENT REACHED OVER BEALL’S GRANT II (04.08.09)
Regarding the article on Beall’s Grant II in last week’s Gazette, (Agreement Reached Over Beall’s Grant II) we are concerned that there are several frank errors:
1. The description that the building is a “football-sized building” rather than the reality which is a huge building footprint the size of a FOOTBALL FIELD – ie over 300 feet long.
2. “Residents agreed to accept Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) to build 70-75 rental units”. (sic) In fact, the committee stated that we would consider a maximum of 70 – 74 units per the model that MHP presented on 03.19.09.
3. “The new tentative design… brings the building height down from 4 stories to 2 stories with a 3rd story on the North side of the building closest to Dawson Avenue.” In fact, the building proposed is a 3 story structure with 2 story face on Beall Avenue and N. Adams Street.
4. “MHP will draft a written agreement with the West End Committee….” In fact, what the committee has asked MHP to do is to provide a written description of the building with specific details as it relates to size, setbacks, number of units, shape and design features. The Committee will then consider this information prior to a vote of approval for the project.
5. “….in the last of a series of meetings….” Though we are hopeful that we are close to an agreement with MHP, we will continue to meet until we have reached agreement on a design.
By far the biggest error in the article is the statement that an agreement has been reached between the West End and MHP. NO AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED. NEITHER THE CITIZEN’S COMMITTEE NOR THE WEST END COMMUNITIY HAS SEEN A FINAL DESIGN LET ALONE VOTED APPROVAL OF SAID FINAL DESIGN. MHP had agreed to provide specifics of the design this week and to date, nothing has yet been received.
Additionally, the Committee, according to it’s charge by the WECA, has stated since it’s first meeting in December that though the GOAL of the Committee would be to work with MHP to come up with a recommendation of a design that is an asset to both the West End and MHP, the final decision rests with the West End Citizens Association. There has been no meeting yet of the community and no vote has been taken.
Dennis Cain, Chair
Bridget Newton, Vice-Chair
WECA Committee on Beall’s Grant II
