Sometime soon, the Takoma Park City Council will vote on a redevelopment plan for Takoma Junction (the City-owned lot next to the Co-op). We support development at the Junction, but the plan currently under discussion by the City Council will have permanent and unacceptable effects. It will:

• Increase traffic congestion and gridlock in the heart of our community;
• Put kids, other pedestrians, bus riders and bicyclists in increased jeopardy;
• Threaten the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Food Co-op’s continued existence as a community-based, neighborhood grocery store;
• Raise rents and threaten the survival of existing local businesses at the Junction; and
• Threaten the movement of our rescue vehicles from the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department.

Therefore, we petition the City Council to VOTE NO on this plan.

INSTEAD, the Council should begin a process for developing the Junction lot that ensures public safety, protects the Co-op, protects existing businesses, and gives citizens multi-functional public gathering space on this vital piece of public land in the heart of Takoma Park.

Ferd Hoefner, Montgomery Avenue

Joseph Klockner, Circle Avenue

Susan Schreiber, Willow Avenue

David Corn and Welmoed Laanstra, Cedar Avenue

Susan Katz Miller and Paul Miller, Montgomery Avenue

Denny May and Betsy Taylor, Willow Avenue

Joe Uehlein, Pine Avenue

Diane MacEachern, Tulip Avenue

Lynn and Paul D’Eustachio. Hickory Avenue

Roger Schlegel, Allegheny Avenue

Laurie Welch, Cedar Avenue

Robert Engelman and Colleen Cordes, New York Avenue

Dana Haden, Sligo Creek Parkway

Bruce Kozarsky and Megan Scribner, Willow Avenue

Nadine Bloch, Beech Avenue

Paul Wapner, Sycamore Avenue

Nina Falk and Steve Silverman, Cedar Avenue

Hugh and Maureen Taft-Morales, Hickory Avenue

Kerry Richter, Montgomery Avenue

Cathleen Kelly, Hickory Avenue

Rhonda Kranz, Montgomery Avenue

Leah Curry-Rood and Larry Rood, Montgomery Avenue

Joan Murtagh, Garland Avenue