Wednesday, June 6, 2007

amish market could move to upper marlboro

BUT FIRST: Residents talk buses, booze and bad poetry at last Saturday's transportation forum.

An e-mail sent out this morning by Eileen York, head of Citizens Involved, suggests that the Amish Market can stay in Burtonsville - but if the community, elected officials and developers don't get their act together, we may lose the market to Upper Marlboro, in southern Prince George's County.

Yesterday - following a Post article mourning the loss of the Amish Market - we mentioned a landowner who wants to help the Market relocate to a one-acre property behind Route 198. That landowner is Yoav Katz, former Israeli basketball player and current Bethesda resident who has drawn up plans for a new, 17,000-square-foot building to house the Amish Market on what is currently an auto repair shop.

The following comes from Eileen York's e-mail:

. . . The Amish need to make a decision re: Mr. Katz's proposal. I have spoken to Sam [Beiler, from Beiler's Structures] about looking for a pro-bono attorney to facilitate these options for the Amish, hoping that if we could find them an attorney working in their behalf, they would feel more confident making a decision asap, as there is no time to waste. To date, no attorney has been found . . . If we can not secure them a location here, they have already found a location in Upper Marlboro where they will be moving next summer when the market get[s] torn down, if it will happen in that time frame, as only a preliminary plan to-date has been approved from Park and Planning. . .

I just called Chris Jones [the owner/developer of the Burtonsville Shopping Center] and asked that we be kept informed of what is happening in our community, as it was disturbing to read about it in the Washington Post . . .

17 comments:

Sligo said...

With all due respect to my brothers and sisters "up the pike", Burtonsville might as well be Upper Marlboro to me. Nevertheless, the thought of MoCo losing something to PG County still annoys me.

Anonymous said...

Awesome. Amish, please come to Upper Marlboro. Gorgeous Prince George's needs you!

It kind of annoys me, that until very recently, PG county has had ZERO high end retail/eateries. I think a teeny-tiny victory against MoCo is a long time coming.

Anonymous said...

Only a fool would force the Amish out! They draw people from miles around to Burtonsville to conduct commerce there. They're *exactly* the type of "draw" any vibrant community needs to stay alive. Talk about shooting onself in the foot! geesh!

Anonymous said...

The Amish may not realize what a mistake moving to PG County would be. Someone needs to inform them that PG County leaders are fools and their business venture there is at grave risk.

Sligo said...

They'll get buggyjacked in PG County.

Dan Reed said...

Do any of you even know where Upper Marlboro is? It was rural, but is now filled with million-dollar McMansions. In fact, it looks a lot like parts of East MoCo. I don't think the Amish have gotten buggy-jacked here.

This kind of talk makes me wonder if we are worthy of that amazing Dutch Country Farmers Market. You know, the Lord giveth, and he taketh away . . .

Sligo said...

Perhaps, but they have to get there first. Upper Marlboro is a long way from home. I'm sure Harrison Ford will protect them, anyway.

You're right that I don't spend much time there, but I always imagined it as being one of those places where they call Washington "Warshington".

Also, how come you never hear about Lower Marlboro? They are the ones who should feel slighted.

Anonymous said...

Lower Marlboro is in Calvert County. Not much is there, except prime riverfront real estate and some (former) tobacco farms.

Until the 1980's, Amish farmers sold a fair amount of tobacco at the Upper Marlboro auction market. The PA Amish would be much closer to their brethren if the market is relocated Upper Marlboro as there are many Amish in Charles, Calvert & St. Mary's counties.

Silver Springer said...

I really cringe at these MoCo vs. PG County contentions, I thought we all learned long ago that the real enemy is Northern Virginia? ;)

Sligo said...

If this were Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Montgomery County would be Clint Eastwood, PG County would be Tuco and NoVa would, of course, be Angel Eyes.

Anonymous said...

Hmm.

But what if this were Trading Places?

Montgomery County would be Randolph & Mortimer Duke, PG County would be Billy Ray Valentine, and NoVa would, of course, be Louis Winthorpe III.

Sligo said...

LOL so you are equating your county to a homeless hustler?

Anonymous said...

Heh, yeah. It seems that way sometimes.

Anonymous said...

How about we work to improve MD as a whole and then no one has to complain about neighboring counties anymore? Or are we perpetually wired for an us vs. them mentality?

Sligo said...

Well, in this case it is a zero-sum game between counties. Either we (MoCo) have the Amish market or we don't. Maryland isn't affected positively or negatively because it keeps the Amish market regardless.

If PG County wants to build a second Amish market, I fully support their efforts.

Anonymous said...

Eileen York is right on and needs everyone's support! We need the Amish market to stay in Burtonsville. Everyone should be a part of Citizens Involved. And to silver springer...Northern VA is not the enemy.

Anonymous said...

As a Silver Spring resident, I support the amish market to stay where they are right now, right here at burtonsville ! its the place to be and where the market should be !