Maryland Gazette – Wheaton Development Coalition Seeks Support of Urban District Committee

Below is news coverage related to the ongoing work of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, of which LEDC is a member.

In its first appearance before the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee, the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton asked the committee on Nov. 13 to help voice — and support — requests for the county’s commitment to help small businesses during the planned redevelopment project for Lot 13.

The coalition — composed of small business owners, residents and nonprofits — has been seeking since September 2011 a written pledge from the county to the businesses that will face “a difficult time” maintaining business in the next two to three years as a result of the project, said Ash Kosiewicz, the coalition’s lead organizer.

The coalition asked the advisory committee to send a letter to County Executive Isiah Leggett stating the coalition’s requests for that pledge and a “construction mitigation plan,” as well as showing the committee’s support.

To read the full article, click here.

 

Wheaton Patch – Wheaton Small Business Survey Shows Parking Concerns

Below is news coverage from this morning related to the ongoing work of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, of which LEDC is a member.

A survey of small busineses in the Wheaton Urban District found that the top three “immediate business concerns” are parking, rent and safety.

The Wheaton Redevelopment Program, which is part of the county’s Department of General Services, conducted the survey in April and May. There was a 36 percent response rate; of the 298 surveys given to businesses, 108 were returned.

Peter McGinnity of the Wheaton Redevelopment Program said the survey will help to inform the county’s Department of Economic Development, as it tries to flesh out Bill 6-12. The bill, which was passed earlier this year by the county council, calls for assistance to small businesses negatively affected by county development projects.

To read the full article referencing the Coalition’s response to the survey results, click here.

To read a short writeup of the Coalition’s presentation on the survey results Tuesday before the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee, click here.

 

The Wheaton Coalition: On Record Before Today’s Final Budget Vote

This morning, the Montgomery County Council unanimously voted in support of investing $66 million of public taxpayer money to jump start Phase 1 of the Wheaton redevelopment project.

On Tuesday, members of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, which includes LEDC, delivered copies of the Small Business Pledge to Councilmembers in advance of today’s final vote. Coalition small business leaders, including Filippo Leo, Raymond Rose, Luis Bonilla, and Kofi Sillah, met with District representative Councilmember Nancy Navarro to thank her and the Council for its support as well as indicate the Coalition’s continued commitment to the fair redevelopment of the area.

Kofi Sillah, owner of Wheaton small business Global Cafe African Grill, shared his enthusiasm for the Coalition’s work to activate new voices in Wheaton to become more involved in the significant decisions that affect his community. He reinforced his hope that the redevelopment project slated to begin in 2014 will ultimately benefit the existing community, including small businesses.

“I want to be able to say that I was there when all of this began,” Sillah said.

To read more, click here.

 

Wheaton Patch – Council’s Redevelopment Plan Includes Coalition’s Revisions

Below is news coverage from over the weekend related to the ongoing work of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, of which LEDC is a member.

On April 10, the Montgomery County Council recommended the appropriation of $66 million in public money to fund a series of planning studies and the construction of a new town square, office building, and underground parking on Parking Lot 13.

The Council also recommended language proposed by the Wheaton Coalition that in part requires Montgomery County to conduct a comprehensive parking study to identify how construction disruptions might affect existing businesses in Wheaton as well as study innovative models of local job creation connected to redevelopment projects. It also requires the County Executive to brief the Council on any planning or negotiations regarding job opportunities and training as well as small business protections prior to the finalization of any General Development Agreement.

To read the language proposed by the Coalition and adopted by the Council, click here.

 

The Wheaton Coalition’s Response to the Updated Draft Council Staff Plan

Last night, members of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, of which LEDC is a member, met with community groups and citizens of Wheaton to share our collective feedback to the latest draft Council Staff Plan for the Wheaton redevelopment project.

Since March 12th, the Wheaton community has scrambled to respond to significant proposed changes to the project. The Coalition has participated in two meetings of concerned community groups and citizens, and while there is still much work to be done, the experience has galvanized community members to work together to make sure that Montgomery County public officials and elected representatives understand and are responsive to the feedback of the Wheaton community.

The updated draft Council staff plan, which has the support of Councilmember Nancy Navarro, recommends the appropriation of $58 million in public taxpayer money to support construction on Parking Lot 13 and feasibility studies on the Bus Bays platform redevelopment. Click below the Coalition’s response to this plan.

 

The Wheaton Coalition and Bill 6-12: A Critical Step in the Right Direction

Below is news coverage related to the ongoing work of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, of which LEDC is a member. On Tuesday, Coalition members testified in front of the Montgomery County Council in support of Bill 6-12, legislation introduced by Councilmember Nancy Navarro that would create a new Small Business Assistance Program to help small businesses in Montgomery County adversely impacted by County redevelopment projects. The Coalition said the bill should be one piece of a comprehensive approach to help small businesses benefit from the Wheaton redevelopment project.

The Daily Record (2/29/2012) – Two Bills Aimed at Assisting MoCo Small Businesses Likely to Pass (restricted access)
Maryland Gazette (2/29/2012) – Public Supports Assistance for Wheaton Businesses
Wheaton Patch (2/29/2012) – Wheaton’s Small Business Community Testifies to Support Bill
Telemundo (2/27/2012) – Hope for Wheaton Small Business Owners (Spanish)
Washington Examiner (2/26/2012) – Wheaton Redevelopment Faces Battle for Funds

 

The Wheaton Coalition’s Message to the Montgomery County Council on Wheaton Redevelopment

Last night, the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton – of which LEDC is a member — presented testimony at the Montgomery County Council’s first public hearing on County Executive Ike Leggett’s proposed FY13-18 Capital Improvements Program Budget. The budget includes a $40 million public subsidy to support the Wheaton redevelopment project and BF Saul.

There was a strong turnout and members presenting testimony included small business owner Luis Bonilla, co-owner of Choice Electronics; Filippo Leo, owner of Marchone’s Italian Deli; Ash Kosiewicz, lead organizer; and Zorayda Moreira, staff attorney at CASA de Maryland. Patients of coalition member Proyecto Salud and renters working with coalition member Impact Silver Spring also attended.

Click here to read the Coalition’s official testimony calling upon the Council to pass the proposed public subsidy with strings attached to protect Wheaton’s ethnic soul and small businesses!

 

Telemundo WZDC – Comerciantes de Wheaton Preocupados

Yesterday, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett proposed to support the Wheaton Redevelopment Program and B.F. Saul with more than $40 million of public taxpayer money to realize the Wheaton redevelopment project and defray its costs.

At a budget town hall last night hosted by the County Executive, members of the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton presented 500 signatures from Montgomery County residents and small businesses calling for a written agreement to protect the livelihoods of small business owners, renters, daylaborers, and patients in Wheaton during and after redevelopment in return for the public subsidy.

To watch a Telemundo clip in Spanish on the Coalition’s presence at the town hall, click here.

 

Who Will Shine in a New Wheaton? The Wheaton Coalition’s Take on the Proposed Public Subsidy for B.F. Saul

by Ash Kosiewicz
Communications and Advocacy Director, LEDC

A few months ago, I walked into the Emanuel Christian Library to talk to Wheaton small business owner Jose Gonzalez. For years, Jose has sold a variety of Christian books, compact discs, and DVDs in the Wheaton Triangle.

I asked Jose for his take on the small business community in Wheaton and the prospects for its survival given developer B.F. Saul’s plans to redevelop the Triangle, which include new offices, a hotel, and high-rise apartments.

“It’s because of all of us small business owners that Wheaton shines,” Jose said.

 

Maryland Gazette – Small Retailers Feeling the Redevelopment Squeeze

Some five years ago, Amanda Sanchez moved her restaurant/bar from Silver Spring to Wheaton because her rent was rising and access problems arose from a redevelopment project.

Now the owner of Riverside Lounge is going through Act II of the same squeeze play.

The area around Sanchez’s relocated business in downtown Wheaton is undergoing changes that include more mixed-use development with new offices, housing and retail.

“There is not much parking for my customers,” Sanchez said. “It’s a very slow economy. I might have to sell because of the new offices and houses causing rents to increase.”

To read the full article, which references LEDC’s ongoing work with the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton, click here.