The New Ave Holds Community Meeting at La Cuscatleca

Interested citizens and three members of Takoma Park's planning division gathered at   to talk about The New Ave

Erkin Ozberk, one of Takoma Park’s planners said the informal gathering was designed to “get the people in the community talking to each other, allow us to update them on various projects and get them engaged in activities like the Garden Project which has been pretty successful so far.”

About a dozen members of the community mingled with one another, the city planners and Reemberto Rodriguez, director of Silver Spring’s Regional Center. The New Ave also distributed a number of printed materials from the New Hampshire Avenue Corridor concept plan and even flyers to demographic and development one-sheets and stickers promoting The New Ave’s community resource website and Facebook page.

Takoma Park resident Hiwot Zewelemaria came to the meeting to discuss a very specific topic – grocery shopping. "I’d like to see a good grocery store in the area, Zewelemaria said. “The co-op is too expensive and Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are too far – a Trader Joes on New Hampshire would be nice.”

Other members of the community talked about the Crossroads Farmer’s Market with the market’s Co-director Michelle Dudley. “I feel like I was out of the loop in the last few months,” Dudley remarked. “These meetings are a great way to maintain my connections in the community.”

Long-time Takoma Park resident Velma Dzidzienyo is a veteran of The New Ave events. “This is my second meeting, Dzidzienyo shared. “I want to know how our properties will be affected by the changes. Also, I have concerns about is moving out, and there is some talk about Holy Cross maybe coming in, I just want to know more.”

The next The New Ave meeting is scheduled for December 13th and is slated to focus on Streetscape standards.