Wednesday, November 1, 2006

a "silver lining" in college park

College Park - Just Up The Pike's school-year headquarters - won't be found on many Good "College Town" lists. The City Paper hates the place so much they called it a "vile broth of popped-collar thugs and P.G. violence." Nonetheless, there are a few people (including myself) who're seeking out the silver lining.

A couple of years ago, Downtown Silver Spring was considered a "hellhole" of similar regard (save for the riots), but today, I consider Silver Spring an example for what College Park could be. That's the argument I made at Monday night's Housing Forum hosted by the SGA and the Rethink College Park blog. It was an unusual opportunity to bring students, the University, College Park residents and the development community together to talk about housing needs in a town with a 2% vacancy rate and thousands of students seeking places to live.

It was a surprise to see that the developers I spoke to were actually interested in what both students and the community wanted. The Diamondback, the University of Maryland student paper, called the meeting "sparsely attended," but that leaves student apathy more to blame than those of us who went. It's not a surprise that most students don't care about the renewal of College Park - after all, even I may not be here for too long - but the long-term benefit seems to be worth the trouble.

7 comments:

Silver Springer said...

I'm surprised you aren't as interested in what goes on in "your own" Silver Spring.

Dan Reed said...

What's your point? I live in College Park during the school year. Don't I have the right to take an interest in what's going on here?

John von Kerczek said...

I went to school in College Park. I even drove the campus shuttle buses. The place has a lot of potential but hasn't realized it all due to pretty lousy decisions like locating the Metro miles away from Campus. Another argument for the Purple line.

I'll definitely have to follow that College Park Blog. Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Yes, the location of the College Park metro stop is completely inexplicable. It's like if they built the Silver Spring Metro back in Woodside Park or something.

Anonymous said...

Silver Springer said...
I'm surprised you aren't as interested in what goes on in "your own" Silver Spring.

11/01/2006 2:33 PM

RE: Its not wise of you to act as if you are supporting an improved upscale Silver Spring but under the same breath make statements as if you are against upscale Development for Prince Georges County.

Silver Springer said...

Anonymous said...

RE: Its not wise of you to act as if you are supporting an improved upscale Silver Spring but under the same breath make statements as if you are against upscale Development for Prince Georges County.

Do you even have a brain? Even Dan can tell you I'm a statewide advocate for economic growth in Maryland.

You should be aware of this too by now.

Anonymous said...

Silver Springer said...
Anonymous said...

RE: Its not wise of you to act as if you are supporting an improved upscale Silver Spring but under the same breath make statements as if you are against upscale Development for Prince Georges County.

Do you even have a brain? Even Dan can tell you I'm a statewide advocate for economic growth in Maryland.

You should be aware of this too by now.

11/06/2006 12:07 PM

RE: If that were true then you would not be support Democrats that are anti-economic growth.