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Post by uvrays on Nov 28, 2006 14:03:21 GMT -4
Is Kent Island destined to be nothing but strip malls and/or pad sites?
I was driving home from school (Chesapeake) last night and noticed the new CVS. It looks to me like Kent island is beginning to like like nothing but strip malls (albeit small ones) and pad sites. Is this how we want our island? Should we start insisting on "town center" concepts? Having multiple stores in a "walkable" single location? Kind of like the outlets at 50/301. Management did a nice job of infilling the empty parking areas with additional businesses. Does Kent Island have a need for more of this type of commercial development or do we have enough? I know that quite a few posters on this board feel that "chain" restaurants would be a welcome addition.
It's obvious that the empty store fronts at the Narrows would be the place to start. However, in my opinion that is nothing but a big strip mall. Reconfiguring it like the outlets would be a good start to jump start it.
I'm not advocationg anything, I would just like some other points of view.
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Post by Mike on Nov 28, 2006 14:42:41 GMT -4
That's life man, people build. This isn't the "Island" you had in your dreams, sorry. Get over it, it's too late.
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Post by falgar25 on Nov 28, 2006 20:13:59 GMT -4
What is green today should be green tomorrow.
If you are proposing utilizing existing buildings before clearing land for additional ones, I'm completely for that! Let's fill the storefronts that currently exist before creating more.
There are shops in Easton, there are the outlets way over at the split, there are shops in Annapolis, there is the Annapolis mall. On the island we will soon have four (?) pharmacys plus the one in Safeway, 10+ gas stations, 5+ liquor stores, three supermarkets plus nearly twice that many smaller markets. Is it possible that we have enough already?
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Post by ljp on Nov 30, 2006 14:04:01 GMT -4
This is exactly why there has been some much 'arguing' back and forth about development here. The look is really changing. I liken it to southern Maryland. Remember when the drive to Waldorf or Solomons was a country-like trip? now it is all strip malls. This area is too small and so many storefronts are congesting it and are any of them offering anything worthy of their changes? a new drugstore?? I would agree that Rite aid really really sux, so I just go to Happy Harry's. Do I need another choice when there are soooo many others? More banks? More liquor stores? I would think that 3 of each would offer enough competition. From a demographics standpoint, is it wise for a business to open with so much competition? There are only about 30k people in this small area of QA Cty. Can this number support 12 banks from the bridge to the outlets? (yes 12 once the safeway is finished and the Mercantile/ PNC is built by the CVS). 12...that seems outrageous.
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Post by matt on Nov 30, 2006 16:27:26 GMT -4
ljp, being familiar with the developers I can tell you they believe if they build it, they will come.. the sad thing is 1) the area is experienceing (astonishing?) growth 2) the new businesses just figure they'll put the old businesses out 3) the new residents help them do it because there's no connection to the formerly local businesses, and the transplants regognize "CVS", "Rite-Aid", and "Applebee's" not Kent Island Pharmacy, and Annie's. 4) Neither the developers nor the transplants want to spend more money to rehab an old structure rather than build a new one...
Fundamentally we as citizens need to demand, absolutely and without exception, our county adopts more green policies and offers incentives for redevelopment rather than further new construction. Otherwise, we do what we are currently doing, and Kent Island will look exactly like Glen Bernie and Waldorf very soon, at a minimum along the 50 corridor.
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Post by Mike on Nov 30, 2006 17:17:41 GMT -4
I was hoping "The Island" would look like NYC. But I guess Glen Burnie will do. But remember! "The Island" and encompasses only 2 small towns, Chester and Stevensville. The entire Isle of Kent is only 31.62 square miles whereas Glen Burnie and Waldorf are mini-metroplexs that encompass many different towns into one lump "town".
Arnold, Annapolis, Severna Park, Pasadena, Brooklyn Park all pretty much make up Glen Burnie as they are located on the Ritchie Highway corridor.
St. Charles and Waldorf make up the Waldorf Metroplex. That's why these areas are so built up
Here are the 2000 census population density and the square millage of the areas (zip codes) for those areas "The Island" are starting to "look like" as you hoity-toity types say:
Glen Burnie: 33.5 sq mi of land area - 3,182 people per sq mi. Waldorf: 12.8 sq mi of land area - 612 people per sq mi. Stevensville: 6.1 sq mi of land area - 352 people per sq mi. Chester: 7.0 sq mi. of land area - 705.3 people per sq mi.
Your precious "Island" as you people call it will never look like Glen Burnie or Waldorf.
Restaurants in Waldorf's Zip code - 162* Restaurants in Glen Burnie's Zip code - 272* Restaurants in Chester and Stevensville's Zip codes: 23*
If you don't like it move and don't visit the places that are built.
P.S. - I don't know the point of this post...
Reguards,
Greensboro Mike Rash.....410-507-2948
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Post by Guest on Nov 30, 2006 18:43:15 GMT -4
GBM: NOBODY on this thread called it "The Island" except for you, and yes it is precious. If you want us to become NYC, that would mean that Greensboro would be Jersey! Now if I could only figure out if that smell was your town or you...
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Post by bchevy on Nov 30, 2006 19:39:48 GMT -4
Arnold, Annapolis, Severna Park, Pasadena, Brooklyn Park all pretty much make up Glen Burnie as they are located on the Ritchie Highway corridor. Wow, how wrong is THAT thinking? if that's the case, take the Ritchie Highway corridor all the way to Calvert County, and up to whereever it ends on the north side. Glen Burnie is Glen Burnie, not Annapolis. If you're going to make a point, at least make it make sense
St. Charles and Waldorf make up the Waldorf Metroplex. That's why these areas are so built up "That's why these areas are so built up"? No, that not the reason it's built up, It's the other way around: St. Charles and Waldorf makes up the Waldorf Metroplex BECAUSE of the developement
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Post by bchevy on Nov 30, 2006 19:45:13 GMT -4
Your precious "Island" as you people call it will never look like Glen Burnie or Waldorf. How can YOU say that? Can I hold you to that? Never say Never. I'll bet that Glen Burnie people had that same thought, or hope, 30+ years ago: NO I-97 2 lane Ritchie Hwy. More trees and fields on the side of the road than not (read developement) Remember a Drive-In up there? how about a race track? Oh, and GBM, it's an ISLAND, Check any MAP.
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Post by bchevy on Nov 30, 2006 19:48:45 GMT -4
GBM: NOBODY on this thread called it "The Island" except for you, and yes it is precious. FYI: You posted on www.KentISLANDOnline.com, It's an Island.
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Post by Mike on Nov 30, 2006 20:06:49 GMT -4
bchevy -- I know it's an Island silly... but everyone says "I live on the Island". I hardly ever hear anyone say Stevensville or Chester.
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Post by falgar25 on Dec 1, 2006 6:31:19 GMT -4
bchevy -- I know it's an Island silly... but everyone says "I live on the Island". I hardly ever hear anyone say Stevensville or Chester. "Stevensville" is risky with my typing skills and I've never really figured out where Stevensville ends and Chester begins
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Post by bchevy on Dec 1, 2006 8:34:22 GMT -4
bchevy -- I know it's an Island silly... but everyone says "I live on the Island". I hardly ever hear anyone say Stevensville or Chester. I say it all the time, When I say I live in Stevensville, I usually get a puzzled look, then I say on Kent Island, usually another puzzled look, then i say on the eastern shore- JUST across the bridge. Then I get: "OH, YOU LIVE WAY OVER THERE?" Yeah, I do.
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Post by matt on Dec 1, 2006 9:11:40 GMT -4
GBM, you do realize your constant need badger about development on kent island, about what people call it or how they refer to it, about how people seem to feel protective about it... comes off as something other than genuine or constructive. I'm sure I'm off-base when I suggest it almost smacks of jealousy? That would be stupid. Greensboro is nice enough that the residents would be stupid to be envious of anything on Kent Island, (except the shorelines ). It's just a locale. People live there. Some of us that do actually care about it - it is, after all, our home. Do you not give a nutse about Greensboro? Would you honestly not care if it started changing in a fashion you considered to be too rapid? Call it "The Island", or Stevensville and Chester, or "where the bay bridge lands on the shore" (that's the most certain way I can tell people from the other side where I live)... it's just a place that some people call home. Some of them (myself included) regret the direction the development has taken and wish to ease/alter/fix that. (shrug) Easy, bub.
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Post by BlueMule on Dec 1, 2006 10:59:53 GMT -4
Pretty cool way of putting it Matt.
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Post by ljp on Dec 1, 2006 14:08:43 GMT -4
GBM: NOBODY on this thread called it "The Island" except for you, and yes it is precious. If you want us to become NYC, that would mean that Greensboro would be Jersey! Now if I could only figure out if that smell was your town or you... I appologize in advance for the following comment: LM friggin' AO
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Post by ljp on Dec 1, 2006 14:13:54 GMT -4
Glen Burnie: 33.5 sq mi of land area - 3,182 people per sq mi. Waldorf: 12.8 sq mi of land area - 612 people per sq mi. Stevensville: 6.1 sq mi of land area - 352 people per sq mi. Chester: 7.0 sq mi. of land area - 705.3 people per sq mi. Well then 'The Island' has more than 1000 people per sq mi. Wow so it's more congested than Waldorf? I wonder what those #'s are since the housing boom after Y2k? From 2000-2006 how much has that increased? Since 2000 there are at least 700 people more in my neighborhood alone.
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Post by parascope on Dec 1, 2006 14:16:37 GMT -4
whisperers say that the B should be V shhhhhhhhhhh GBM, you do realize your constant need badger about development on kent island, about what people call it or how they refer to it, about how people seem to feel protective about it... comes off as something other than genuine or constructive. I'm sure I'm off-base when I suggest it almost smacks of jealousy? That would be stupid. Greensboro is nice enough that the residents would be stupid to be envious of anything on Kent Island, (except the shorelines ). It's just a locale. People live there. Some of us that do actually care about it - it is, after all, our home. Do you not give a nutse about Greensboro? Would you honestly not care if it started changing in a fashion you considered to be too rapid? Call it "The Island", or Stevensville and Chester, or "where the bay bridge lands on the shore" (that's the most certain way I can tell people from the other side where I live)... it's just a place that some people call home. Some of them (myself included) regret the direction the development has taken and wish to ease/alter/fix that. (shrug) Easy, bub. par
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Post by matt on Dec 1, 2006 14:26:27 GMT -4
eh?
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Post by Frank on Dec 1, 2006 15:13:39 GMT -4
whisperers say that the B should be V shhhhhhhhhhh Am I missing something in this thread?
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Post by shadow1 on Dec 1, 2006 15:21:16 GMT -4
Frank - it lost me too
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Post by bchevy on Dec 1, 2006 16:06:30 GMT -4
Frank - it lost me too Count me in......
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Post by parascope on Dec 1, 2006 17:36:27 GMT -4
silence speaks volumes
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Post by Ann on Dec 1, 2006 19:54:11 GMT -4
Oh Parascope are you being all dark and twisty? What are you talking about!
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Post by Former KI Resident on Dec 2, 2006 6:53:24 GMT -4
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