The Glenmont Shopping Center has for decades been the most visible feature of the community to those passing through the area on Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road. While it enjoyed a golden age in the past as one of the top shopping centers in the area, and still provides many critical products and convenient services to residents today, it admittedly reflects the time period of its construction. As home ownership has turned over in Glenmont, growing numbers of residents want to see the property updated or redeveloped. The latest push is coming from an online petition started by resident Danny Chae.
Chae's petition calls the present condition of the center "embarrassing, an eyesore, and dangerous." It lays out how the upgrades or total redevelopment called for in three consecutive sector plans has never come to pass.
There are essentially two reasons this has not happened. One is that what appears to be a single shopping area is actually many separate parcels owned by different people or entities. And second, there hasn't been any smart or muscular leadership effort by Montgomery County's elected officials to bring those parties to the table, and reach a consensus on a direction for the future of the center.
The petition asks the politicians and landowners to do just that. So far, 109 residents have signed the petition, but it's only been online for a day. There are about 15,000 more potential signatures out there within the unofficial borders of Glenmont.
It's too bad the council isn't actually a shill for developers. It'd be great if eminent domain was used to funnel these properties toward redevelopment.
ReplyDeleteWhat is dangerous about it? Kind of lost me with that one and makes me wonder about the motives behind this.
ReplyDeleteI’ve nearly been hit by other vehicles walking & driving there multiple times. Honestly, if you even have to ask what the issues are your not paying attention.
DeleteOh god, yet another shopping center to be redeveloped into expensive housing, and worse of all - all the shops you see there, wouldn't come back.
ReplyDeleteIt is ugly. If that isn't a scam to replace it with more crappy housing do not make the parking lot the dominant visual feature of the shopping center. Put the buildings out front with the parking lot in the back.
ReplyDeleteI would disagree that different council members have not done anything. There have been many efforts over 40 years to change this shopping center. Eminent domain is not something our county does nor should do in efforts for improving the "look" of a shopping center. As a resident of this area, the only things that are unsafe about the shopping center is the traffic flow and lighting.
ReplyDeleteThe trucks need to park somewhere else. It’s a shopping center not a truck stop.
ReplyDeleteHas there been ANY progress on this? The lot just seems to get more & more parked semi-trucks and vans selling god-knows-what. More than an eyesore. The lot has no real right-of-ways. I avoid it when possible but still like going to Country Boy.
ReplyDeleteThe hell with the people defending this place. The lot IS dangerous. For the most part the stores suck and the county should facilitate improvement of this shantytown garbage strip center.
ReplyDeleteThe county leadership is terrible, they proposed a plan 9 years ago and nothing has happened. I think the shopping area is terrible, cheap, dangerous and attracts crime.
ReplyDeleteDesperately needs a facelift
ReplyDeleteThis shopping center is such an eyesore it is embarrassment to the county. This location has so much potential - if it was located in Western MOCO something would have been in the past 40 years. The county leadership needs to finally get serious about making some improvements. Maybe Elrich can wake up and get the 14 owners together for a walkthrough and after seeing how blighted the shopping center is they might realize something desperately needs to be done. The sidewalks and parking lot is so trashy. I believe there is only one outside trash can that Staples put in which is totally inexcusable.
ReplyDelete