Only a Handful of Bethesda, Chevy Chase Properties Affected by Purple Line Plans
But Silver Spring businesses and homeowners could be hit hard.
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The properties of only a handful of homeowners and businesses in Bethesda and Chevy Chase are likely to be impacted by plans to construct the Purple Line, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and published late Wednesday night, Jan. 25.
Bethesda businesses listed as being likely to be partially affected by the construction of the Purple Line include the Bethesda Hotel Associates at 7301 Waverly St., the Bethesda Chevy Chase Racquet Club at 4400 Montgomery Ave. and Bethesda Arc LLC (at four separate locations).
Chevy Chase properties listed as likely to be partially affected by the light rail's construction include the Jacobson property at 7600 Lynn Dr., the Landis property at 4300 Kentbury Dr. and the Dietrich property at 7901 Kentbury Dr.
In addition, a property owned by the Town of Chevy Chase on Lynn Drive in Bethesda will likely be partially affected, and the condominium building at 4242 East-West Highway in Chevy Chase is also on the list of properties likely to be partially affected, according to The Post.
The list, as published by The Post, also contains at least one obvious error: The Columbia County Club at 7900 Connecticut Ave., in Chevy Chase, is listed as being in Silver Spring. The club's property is likely to be partially affected by the construction of the Purple Line, according to the list.
Nonetheless, dozens of firms and homeowners that actually are located in Silver Spring will likely be impacted by construction of the Purple Line. Scroll through the list to see the property addresses.
The list—which is not final, transportation officials say—"provides the first detailed look at properties that state transit planners say might be needed to build two tracks for light rail trains along local streets," The Post reported.
"The spreadsheet lists about 500 parcels, including about 170 that would be condemned temporarily during construction before being restored and returned to the owner, said Henry Kay, head of project development for the Maryland Transit Administration," The Post added.
Thirty-one homes and 43 businesses could be condemned permanently, according to the state’s most recent projections, The Post added.
Mark Western
9:44 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
The one property left off of the list is the one called the cognitive "property of common sense" in research. Not one single individual has been asked if they would use the purple line - not one!! If that makes sense to you, I have some awesome uses of your tax dollars to ask you for - I could use a new roof, maybe a beach house, and I can think of more!!
Anyone who would support, fund, vote for or otherwise not object to the $1B+ dollars being proposed for this project (or any other) without a single potential rider (consumer) being asked/surveyed has no business touching one cent of taxpayer dollars!! And boy do I hope I never do business with them - oh wait, they would be super easy to take advantage of so never mind.
If you don't want to take my word for it, ask any consumer research/consumer demand expert - or actually even novices - and they will say the same thing - the first step in evaluating any investment in a new service or product is to directly ask - survey, focus group, other direct feedback methodologies - your target audience what they want, will use, will spend money one, etc.
There is simply no data that would suggest the purple line would be successful and if anyone supports it based on the current data, they are being foolish with their own and everyone's tax dollars - it simply makes no sense based on the research that has never been done.
Purple Line supporters - I have some land to sell you in the desert - please contact me @ 301-537-0476!!
Corbin Dallas Multipass
12:35 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
The idea that no one was asked if they would use it is kindof crazy, but easily verifiable. So I went to: http://www.purplelinemd.com/studies-a-reports where I clicked on the pdf called comment summary: http://www.purplelinemd.com/images/stories/purpleline_documents/deis/comment_summary/Purple_Line_AADEIS_Comment_Summary.pdf and read this text:
"Overall the public hearings and comment process generated widespread and strong support for the Purple Line. There were 1,255 commentors who stated support for the Purple Line. In addition there were 12 petitions with a total of 3,367 signatures who stated support for the Purple Line. This included 1,185 individuals (residents, elected officials, and businesses), 70 organizations (community organizations, special interest groups, government agencies) as well as the 12 petitions received. There were 138 commentors who stated opposition to the project as a whole (135 from individuals and 3 from organizations). "
You claimed no one has been asked if they would ride it - I see a comment process with responses. You claimed no research has been done - I see a slew of studies at that website that indicate the opposite.
From what I can tell, your claims are all factually incorrect. Please explain if I'm missing something.
Mark Western
9:44 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
The one property left off of the list is the the cognitive "property of common sense" in research. Not one single individual has been asked if they would use the purple line - not one!! If that makes sense to you, I have some awesome uses of your tax dollars to ask you for - I could use a new roof, maybe a beach house, and I can think of more!!
Anyone who would support, fund, vote for or otherwise not object to the $1B+ dollars being proposed for this project (or any other) without a single potential rider (consumer) being asked/surveyed has no business touching one cent of taxpayer dollars!! And boy do I hope I never do business with them - oh wait, they would be super easy to take advantage of so never mind.
If you don't want to take my word for it, ask any consumer research/consumer demand expert - or actually even novices - and they will say the same thing - the first step in evaluating any investment in a new service or product is to directly ask - survey, focus group, other direct feedback methodologies - your target audience what they want, will use, will spend money one, etc.
There is simply no data that would suggest the purple line would be successful and if anyone supports it based on the current data, they are being foolish with their own and everyone's tax dollars - it simply makes no sense based on the research that has never been done.
Purple Line supporters - I have some land to sell you in the desert - please contact me @ 301-537-0476!!
Wayne Phyillaier
11:54 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Of the 31 homes expected to be condemned, most are east of College Park on Riverdale Road and Kenilworth Avenue. According to this Washington City Paper blog post, 21 of these homes asked to be taken rather than losing a few more feet from their yards. Apparently past widenings of these streets had already marginalized their homes by leaving them with hardly any yards left.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2012/01/27/why-arent-homeowners-getting-booted-by-the-purple-line-raising-hell/
The "taking" of any homes is serious and unfortunate. But any significant increase in transportation infrastructure inside the beltway will require some taking. The alternative is to face ever increasing congestion.
Patricia J. Kelly
6:24 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thanks for the article Wayne it's interesting and does out some things into perspective. You know what they say..."If ya can't beat em...join em" or move!!