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News & Information
Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Application
The Takoma Park Reimagining Public Safety Task Force was created to make recommendations that will make the community a safer, more livable community through addressing racial inequalities around policing and public safety. This is a short-term task force focused on looking at things in new ways and hearing voices that have traditionally been marginalized.
Applications are due Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. See here for information and here to watch an informational public meeting about the task force. I particularly encourage Black and Brown residents to apply.
Community Conversation on our Journey to for the Next City Manager
City Manager Suzanne Ludlow plans to retire on July 1st, and the City Council is working with a consultant to hire the next City Manager. Please join us for a community conversation on what kind of City Manager you think is best and what you envision for the city in the future.
Join us this Thursday, Feb. 4, from 6-8pm, for a virtual interactive meeting. Please see here for more information and to sign up. You must sign up ahead of time in order to participate in discussion groups as part of the meeting.
Centro Evangelistico at 117 Elm Ave
At the Ward 3 Virtual Meeting last week, Pastor Mac from Centro Evangelistico joined us for a community meet-and-greet. Centro Evangelistico purchased the former John Nevins Andrews School Property at 117 Elm Ave. They have a church in the Petworth area and have been looking for opportunities to expand.
Pastor Mac said that they hope to use the property for worship services and as a school. The specifics of what the school will look like long-term will be developed in the coming years, as they will need to lay the groundwork and develop plans for this.
In the shorter-term (i.e. several years), they will be working with a preschool provider to offer preschool on the site. Centro Evangelistico has a lease agreement with a Montessori-type preschool provider that has leased some of the classrooms and anticipates that it might start school operations there in 2-3 months. This would be a smaller-scale use than the full use of the school building at capacity.
Centro Evangelistico is also working with an architect to update the building to code and to renovate the gym to create a worship space. This would be utilized on Sundays, and worship would probably not start until after the renovation and after COVID gathering restrictions are changed.
Their plans are still being developed, but their general focus is to utilize the current building footprint with minor renovations and keep the parking space and playground space more or less for current uses.
They are interested in working with the community to help use the space to fill community needs, such as COVID testing. There are no plans for this use at this time, but they would like to use the site for purposes that would be beneficial.
Pastor Mac plans to share information about plans as they are further developed, and I have asked for information about the preschool as its opening nears, as I know there may be interest among community members in enrolling their children. He will also provide more information about times and numbers of students as this gets closer so that neighbors know when the school begins operating and can share any concerns or questions.
Takoma Junction Redevelopment Project Update
Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) recently resubmitted project plans to Montgomery County as part of the Development Review Process. See here and here for project submissions. Documents with the date of 1/15/21 are the most recent submission.
Council Priorities Retreat Documents
The City Council held a virtual retreat to discuss priorities for 2021 last month. I encourage you to take a look at some of the presentation materials from that meeting, which provided informative information about ongoing work of City staff on issues such as COVID, housing assistance, small business support, racial equity, climate change, and more. Documents are posted with the meeting agenda here.
County ZTA 20-07, Zoning in R-60
A few weeks ago, the City Council discussed ZTA 20-07, which is a proposed Zoning Text Amendment at the County level that would allow duplexes, townhouses, and apartments in the R-60 zone under certain circumstances, along with some other changes. The County Planning Board is holding a public hearing on ZTA 20-07 this Thursday, Feb.4, and the County Council will hold a public hearing on Feb. 11. See here for in the County Housing staff report on the ZTA.
Community Quality of Life Grants Program Now Accepting Applications
The City of Takoma Park is accepting applications for its Community Quality of Life Grants Program now through Thursday, March 11, 2021. Projects that provide greater access to the arts and sciences in Takoma Park are eligible for up to $10,000 in financial support. While not required, the City is encouraging applications for programming that connects arts and sciences with skills that promote workforce development and entrepreneurial programs for low-and-moderate-income Takoma Park residents. Funding for FY22 is available for projects taking place between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.
Visit the Community Quality of Life Grants program page for more information or email Jennifer Hale, grants coordinator, at JenniferH@TakomaParkMD.gov. Click Here to Apply
Stormwater Fee Structure Changes
The City Council will be discussing changes to the stormwater fee at our meeting next week (Feb. 10). More details will be posted soon, and I will share links in my next weekly email. You can also expect to receive a letter in the mail soon with information. Please see here for details, and please let me know if you have questions.
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