Yep, keep Bethesda nice, keep Wheaton as the county dumping ground....hate to raise land values there, we'd have no place to put all the Sec. 8 housing.

Official county policy, thank you...

If the county misses the opportunity to influence Wheaton renewal, what we may see is the steady disappearance of local businesses and neighborhood identity "parcel by parcel."

well, that's a fluffy statement-"Change will come to Wheaton, but let the market bring it, parcel by parcel. Developer profit in Wheaton is not an urgent concern of 99.9% of people there or countywide. What is urgent, is that we have a failing Metro entrance here in Bethesda."

He conveniently understated the first sentence regarding the Wheaton redevelopment and overstated the Bethesda metro entrance problem. The "failing metro entrance" really means failing escalators, which is a problem, but not a uncommon problem in this area.

The more Wheaton is ignored, the greater the possibility that redevelopment will not happen in the community. Whether there is competition or not with Bethesda, Wheaton cannot be ignored and passed up again

The fact that the Wheaton Redevelopment has not occured has already impacted several business negatively. There are some small business owners that already being charged over $30 sq./ft. in anticipation of the redevelopment with no benefits. Ferdinands is gone, Long and Foster, Mama Lucias, Royal Mile Pub, El Boqueron, Island Hut, Genus Flowers, Wheaton Jewelers, Baskin Robbins, Nail #1, Mattress Warehouse, and I can go on and on. The entire corner of Georgia and Blueridge Ave at the BB&T building is part of this redevelopment and three buildings there have already been vacated and sit empty waiting for this redevelopment. The BB&T building itself is practically empty since they are no longer renewing any leases past June of this year. I own a restaurant across the street and my once thriving lunch business is gone now do to this project being in limbo. So I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Dyer when he says that, "With pressing needs addressed, Wheaton is doing just fine." Any Wheaton business owner will tell you that there are developers that are just sitting on properties waiting for the redevelopment and are not willing to lower the rents to a reasonable rate because they know they can get more when the redevelopment starts. Personally, I can say that my landlord is fair and works with his tenants, but unfortunately a lot of my neighbors can't say the same. For now they will just write all those empty retail spaces as a loss on their accounting books.

I live in Wheaton right off of Dennis Ave. I prefer Wheaton the way it is. Small immigrant owned businesses and restaurants are doing fine. I just went to Marchones for lunch and there had to wait a few minutes for a parking spot in lot 13. There were people on the streets, coming and going, doing business etc. I much prefer this community, my community than some fake planned town center with lousy chain stores. Besides, the pursuit of the American Dream is going full force in Wheaton by those folks who have opened their businesses there. What is going to happen to them when they bring in two years of construction, raise their rent. I guess they can get in line for the dish washing job at Red Lobster. -chip py

You read my mind Esther!

When I see the statements of Hans Riemer and Bethesda Blogger, I question whether they and others in the County care about business and home owners in Wheaton. Mr. Riemer: How will a Purple Line help Wheaton when it won't even come close? It will come close to your constituents' area, of course. Also, I assume your district of Silver Spring (or is it "Silver Sprung"?) got County dollars for redevelopment.

As for the blogger, he doesn't come here much now. He thinks crime is the only major problem in Wheaton; otherwise, with a few bucks, "Wheaton is doing just fine. Visit sometime ... the best chicken can be ordered in Wheaton, and many critics have said the best dim sum is at Wheaton Plaza's Hollywood East Cafe." We do have great restaurants (including Mr. Lazo's Los Chorros), but overall diversity in businesses is fading. Along with businesses mentioned by Mr. Lazo in his comment, gone are Barry's Magic Shop, Royal Mile, Sabang, Asian Foods market, Kosher Pastry Oven, the bike shop, Barnaby's, & Silver Stars gymnastics. "For Lease" signs are everywhere, and that helps nobody, businesses and homeowners alike.

The County can act or passively let Wheaton become either (1) a for-lease/check-cashing/low-to-moderate-income center or (2) a homogenized box store center. Without any action, either result will harm small businesses and the character of Wheaton overall.

Finally, what's Bethesda's "failing Metro entrance"? Couldn't a few million solve that problem?

It is a bit difficult for me to understand why this is even considered a competition. First of all the purple line is several years from even breaking ground. Is a new Bethesda metro entrance going to be built years ahead of it realizing its full potential (capacity)? If redevelopment funds were to be inserted in Wheaton, benefits would occur instantly – literally. Property values would increase before breaking ground, increasing county tax revenue. This will be a catalyst to future development in the area bringing in more tax payers and increasing property values simultaneously. Developing in Wheaton is an investment that will return tremendous value for the county. I’m not sure what type of return a renovated Bethesda metro entrance will generate.
As for the Bethesda blogger comment and the “pro metro entrance” folks out there, I’m a bit perplexed as a majority of the downtown Bethesda/Chevy Chase population is against the purple line as it will bring “negative results”. You would think they would be for Wheaton redevelopment as it could cause delays to the purple line construction.
If the county does not take the opportunity now to revitalize Wheaton, they can expect a mass exodus of those that have been waiting so long for this to happen. In result, lower property values, lack of community, and something that resembles the town in Clockwork Orange (i.e. Pentagon/Crystal City sans the cheap Costco beer and wine).

Wheaton doesnt need to lose any of its appeal and unique character under redevelopment. This fear of driving out all the current business that reside in the area is way overblown.

Wheaton cannot stay in its current structure. I found the Bethesda bloggers post absurd because it is easy for him to say Wheaton is "ok" when Bethesda has experienced its own revitilization and redevelopment over the years.

And the Council is very capable of accepting both the Bethesda and Wheaton Redevelopment project. If this isnt about a pick one project over another scenario, there should be no issue then to support the redevelopment project. If its a problem about the project itself (the design, structure, or otherwise), I have read very little on that subject so I again go back to asking out loud why the delay?

This isnt complicated to me. Wheaton is past due redevelopment and there are plans and projects ready to go. If the Council doesnt support this project, the community will lose a tremendous opportunity to have something positive happen in terms of economic opportunity to Wheaton.