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Cafritz
July 2007 Edition
Cafritz property discussions ongoing
Route 1 property could see supermarket, housing developed
by Ronald F. Docksai, Jr.
HL&T Writer
Bookstores, hiker-biker trails, senior housing and a Whole Foods supermarket are all possible construction goals
for a vacant property next to the post office on U.S. Route One in Riverdale Park. But some residents are not sure
the site needs any new buildings at all.
Property owners Calvin and Jane Cafritz held a series of community meetings last month to cull public input for the
35.8-acre site they own
next to a post office on the heavily traveled road just north of U.S. Route 410.
"We want to develop something that will be of great appeal, and of great credit, to the community," said Calvin Cafritz
in a speech to a packed auditorium whose audience also included members of the College Park City Council and State
Sen. Paul Pinsky.
Not all residents welcome the change.
"I’m quite content with it as it is," said Harriet Komisar, a Riverdale Park resident during a June 14 meeting at the
Riverdale Park Elementary School.
She expressed concern that the introduction of the new housing complexes and shops might increase traffic at the crossing of the roads.
"That intersection is already a very congested intersection," she said. "That’s clearly something they need to deal with."
Posters along the meeting room walls illustrated suggestions residents made in earlier sessions. Included were scenes of
playgrounds, café tables, bikers on bike paths and people of all ages strolling through verdant park space.
Opportunities for development of the property include book stores, art shops, music stores, bakeries and farmers’ markets,
and senior and student housing, said Matthew Bell, an architect from Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architect who is working on the
site design.
Ideas for retail opportunities also include a Whole Foods supermarket.
"They are interested," Bell said of the supermarket chain, adding that the Cafritz family has spoken with the company about possibilities
for a store on the property.
"That’s all we can say at this point."
Riverdale Park resident Alexandra Lippincott echoed Ellis's concerns over the proposed Whole Foods.
"We already have a lot of grocery stores in the area," she said. "Gourmet Safeway would be somewhat competitive."
The Cafritzes announced future meetings to further discuss the plan and get more community ideas for the final proposal on July 26,
July 28, Sep. 15 and Sep. 18.
Cafritz property discussions ongoing
Route 1 property could see supermarket, housing developed
by Ronald F. Docksai, Jr.
HL&T Writer
Bookstores, hiker-biker trails, senior housing and a Whole Foods supermarket are all possible construction goals
for a vacant property next to the post office on U.S. Route One in Riverdale Park. But some residents are not sure
the site needs any new buildings at all.
Property owners Calvin and Jane Cafritz held a series of community meetings last month to cull public input for the
35.8-acre site they own
next to a post office on the heavily traveled road just north of U.S. Route 410.
"We want to develop something that will be of great appeal, and of great credit, to the community," said Calvin Cafritz
in a speech to a packed auditorium whose audience also included members of the College Park City Council and State
Sen. Paul Pinsky.
Not all residents welcome the change.
"I’m quite content with it as it is," said Harriet Komisar, a Riverdale Park resident during a June 14 meeting at the
Riverdale Park Elementary School.
She expressed concern that the introduction of the new housing complexes and shops might increase traffic at the crossing of the roads.
"That intersection is already a very congested intersection," she said. "That’s clearly something they need to deal with."
Posters along the meeting room walls illustrated suggestions residents made in earlier sessions. Included were scenes of
playgrounds, café tables, bikers on bike paths and people of all ages strolling through verdant park space.
Opportunities for development of the property include book stores, art shops, music stores, bakeries and farmers’ markets,
and senior and student housing, said Matthew Bell, an architect from Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn Architect who is working on the
site design.
Ideas for retail opportunities also include a Whole Foods supermarket.
"They are interested," Bell said of the supermarket chain, adding that the Cafritz family has spoken with the company about possibilities
for a store on the property.
"That’s all we can say at this point."
Riverdale Park resident Alexandra Lippincott echoed Ellis's concerns over the proposed Whole Foods.
"We already have a lot of grocery stores in the area," she said. "Gourmet Safeway would be somewhat competitive."
The Cafritzes announced future meetings to further discuss the plan and get more community ideas for the final proposal on July 26,
July 28, Sep. 15 and Sep. 18.
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