it's amazing that, even in the face of well-written, fact-based, level-headed, reasonable arguments against the cafritz project such as those articulated above by "BigDan," the project was approved nonetheless!

and it's not just cafritz! what was the county thinking when it approved "eyesores" like rowhomes and retail space in historic downtown hyattsville? and to destroy beautiful empty lots to do so? for shame! i hope those "unsuspecting" EYA homebuyers are able to flee their "crime ravaged" community before it's too late.

oh, well. we can only hope that PG county's whole foods offers the same quality of "overpriced garbage" as offered in the silver spring and annapolis whole foods. no more second-best for us here in "gangland"!

I agree completely; I've lived in the area for most of my over-60 years and contrary to what some people might think, I am NOT against change. However, since I HAVE lived here for so long, I have a somewhat different perspective on how these changes will affect our area than people who either don't live nearby or who've only lived around here for a few years. Going to University Town Center is almost like going into a ghost town, even during the day and even during the day I don't feel safe walking around all of those empty stores. I don't care one way or the other about Whole Foods, but even if they're left out of this proposal, what on earth is going to happen to our neighborhoods when all of those hundreds of extra housing units come in? Far too many people are acting like there will be little or no impact and while I'd love to agree with them, it just ain' gonna happen, folks. Too, if people want to put in new housing units or new stores, for goodness sakes, there's vacant properties which were storefronts all over the County. We don't need to tear up what few green spaces we have left. But hey, trees just create oxygen which we breathe, who needs that, right?

@Pachacutec -- You really agree completely with BigDan's comments? I understand that you oppose this project, but some of the things BigDan wrote about our community are quite strong. Do you really agree with this?

since we are probably getting an Aldi and a dollar store now "mid County can join the rest of PG.

actually, we already have an aldi in the community (in west hyattsville), not to mention more dollar stores than i can count.

i presume from your comment, though, that you have some information suggesting to you that aldi is planning another store in the area. if so, please share!

Well if you followed the hearings you might have caugt the fact that Whole Foods is not necessarily going to be the Grocery store that will occupy the Cafritz property. There is simply going to be a "grocery store" at that point, slated for that location.
Personalty I think Cafrits is going for a zoning change so they can dump the tract at some profit.

thanks -- just wanted to check whether you were expressing your opinion (which, of course, is your prerogative) or you actually had some information that aldi is coming. apparently it's the former and not the latter.

Fear of change blinds people to the inevitable benefits that usually follow with circumstances such as this. What is there to fear? People would rather be comfortable in familiar surroundings even when those surroundings are like a cancer to progress and positive change. When will people learn that its okay that society is moving forward. What's so wrong with growth in an urban area? That's to be expected. And to live next to a major university and not expect the main thoroughfare into a major urban city to remain untouched is a bit naive and shortsighted. Yes, traffic is an issue. But there is progress like the future Purple Line and housing and services close to the University like the Future East Campus development and the recent University View properties. Everything can't be built and fixed in one fell swoop. There will be fits and starts. Growth will come in spurts. Not everyone will agree on how some of that growth occurs, but does it have to be as bad as the Apocalypse as some would have us believe? Change will occur with or without us. We can learn to live with it and appreciate it or live in misery and disdain. I choose the former. It's more healthy. :)

Amazing how people who do not live near the proposed building are all for it and the people who are directly impacted think it is disastrous.
Try living on Rockville Pike for a few months and you might be singing a different tune.

I do live less than a mile from it. And I drive through there all the time unless I'm feeling adventurous, in which case, I cut through the maze that is University Park.

Lee Havis, why don't you take a break from making anti-gay comments to do some actual research on why an "ordinary single-dwelling housing project" is or is not appropriate for the cafritz land? then perhaps YOU can write the article you propose.

To Danny -
your sniping is not adding anything interesting or intelligent to this discussion. Anyone who reads patch and sees your name attached to a post automatically knows the remark will be snide, sniping and irrelevant and or twisted.

i'm sorry. i didn't realize you were the official mouthpiece for the community as well as the intelligence police. please give me your contact info, and i'll be sure to run my opinions by you for permission before posting them. thanks!

Danny - don't get distracted - it's time to turn on rush.

wow, you sure have me pegged! people who shop at whole foods are also known for being rush limbaugh acolytes!

Wow Danny you shop at Whole Foods?
Can you pick me up some goat cheese the next time you go there.

Danny, Melissa: play nice, please. --The Editor

Nicely summarized! And extraordinarily significant engagement by Hyattsville, University Park, Riverdale Park and College Park citizens, professionals and officials has gotten us this far. It will take our continued vigilance over the next 5 years to realize this development as a true asset to all of our communities. So please do engage and insist on a continued open process as there will continue to be opportunities for public input.