Park View Blog Encourages Folks Who Want Public Park Land at the Old Soldiers Home to Comment on the CapitalSpace Draft Plan
04 November 2009 10:15 PM | By Prince Of Petworth in Neighborhoods - Petworth, Petworth, parks
The Park View blog writes:
“Yet, in reviewing the CaptialSpace Draft Plan, it is clear that the issue of the green spaces belonging to the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) are not being considered as part of any master plan for the City.
Since the communities around the AFRH developed largely without green spaces due to the long-standing courtesy of the AFRH being open for use by the public, this is an opportunity to speak up and insist that these lands be opened for public use again.
Public comments will be accepted through December 8, 2009. If this is an issue that is near and dear to you, instructions for leaving public comments can be found on the CapitalSpace Contact page.”
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04 November 2009 11:42 PM | Ross Said:
I encourage EVERYONE to write in as this is of great important to the community. I was happy after writing my email to receive a response:
Dear Mr. [Ross]:
Thank you for sending us your comments on the draft CapitalSpace plan. We have been receiving comments from a number of District residents, and while diverse, we’ve heard from a number of people regarding public accessibility to open space at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. While the public comment period continues through December 8, our partner agency team is already reviewing these comments and discussing responses. We’ll keep you informed as we move forward.
Thanks again for your comments,
Jeff Hinkle
05 November 2009 7:11 AM | Andy Said:
sorry for the blunt question: how long until all the old folks at the AFRH die and it has to be repurposed anyway?
05 November 2009 11:54 AM | vonstallin Said:
05 November 2009 11:55 AM | vonstallin Said:
I like that they had the Cyclocross their for 2 years in a row….other than that…i guess I can let the Vets have something b4 they leave us…..
05 November 2009 12:28 PM | Anonymous Said:
This is what I wrote: I am writing to beseech you to consider keeping Park Land at the Old Soldier’s Home. Trails, parks and playgrounds are among the top three most important community amenities considered when selecting a home, according to the National Association of Home Builders and National Association of Realtors. The quality of life, the environment, and education possibilities would increase with parks. I understand there must be balance of land usages from residential, commercial and industrial, as well as parks and open space. But please do not let parks get lost in the discussion.
05 November 2009 12:54 PM | Ross Said:
@Andy.
It is not a stagnant population — and after Katrina when one of the big homes was lost, the home is really packed right now. Current enlisted members contribute to the home for their own retirement. So the home isn’t going anywhere.
That said they are vastly underfunded and desperate to sell some of their massive amount of land away. The hope is that much of this land could be purchased by the National Park Service and be dedicated as public park space.
05 November 2009 3:27 PM | andy Said:
thanks for the clarification! i was under the misimpression it was like a couple dozen WWII vets in their eighties living there.
05 November 2009 3:47 PM | Ross Said:
@ Andy.
Totally understandable. They are a bit far removed. While the process appears dead now, there is some good background here — http://www.afrhdevelopment.com/
30 November 2009 2:07 PM | Anonymous Said:
Parks are always good, that this is a military reservation,please consider contacting Archdiocese of Military Services on the usage of the land, as it should never become a city there as it has been in that state, semi rural, since Abraham Lincoln’s time.