News

Planting for the future?

The debate over the Montgomery College expansion

BY AMY MARCUS

Montgomery College is going forward with plans to build a bridge from the Takoma Park campus into Jesup Blair Park, giving students ac-cess to a new Cultural Arts Center. Local environmentalists are concerned for the future of the parkÕs trees, some of which are over 200 years old.

"The 'tree people' can't see the urban forest for the trees," said Daniel Meijer, of the Gateway Coalition, an organization supporting urban renewal in the Georgia Avenue corridor. He was referring to the environmentalist opposition to a bridge that Montgomery College plans to build across the Metro tracks that run alongside the Takoma Park campus.

The bridge would connect the North Takoma main campus with new buildings in south Silver Spring. But some local environmentalists oppose the plan because the bridge will touch down in Jesup Blair Park. They say that the trees in the park will suffer.

The college's view
According to the college, the bridge is a crucial element in the college's expansion. It is a necessary connection between the existing campus and the new buildings west of the Metro tracks, college officials say. The Cultural Arts Center was to be located in the park, but the college reconsidered, saying that it was not in the best interests of the community or the college. They have located the center on Georgia Avenue outside of the park.

The school's main reason for the location of the bridge is that it doesn't want two divided campuses.

"The bridge needs to be where it is [connected to] the Student Services building," said David Capp, chief staff facilities officer for Montgomery College. "This building will be the hub of the campus...you can walk out the door and cross right to the Health Sciences building."

Montgomery College has gone to great lengths to protect the trees, Capp said—no trees will be removed to construct the bridge. For example, two holly shrubs now in the way are being moved by certified arborists to protect them. Generally, arborists will do the work so there isn't a shock to the trees, he said.

"MC wants to be good neighborsÉas the word 'community' in community college implies," he added. "It has no interest in expanding into the park further."

He believes that its new buildings will benefit the community as well, by housing the Holy Cross Health Clinic, a nursing school, and a physicians' assistant program, to name a few.

"It will be very positive for south Silver Spring—a big help to the neighborhood," Capp said.

"The bridge will cast a rain shadow like an umbrella," he said.

French and Marcie Stickle, another activist, wish to keep alive Janin's vision. They say that to develop it in any way is illegal and will destroy the park.

"The bridge is totally out of character with the historic center of the park," French said.

The community's view
Peter Dean is the Office Manager at Montgomery Gardens Apartments which border Jesup Blair Park. He sometimes goes running in the park, and believes the bridge will contribute to the revitalization of Silver Spring.

"The [college's] activity in the park will make it a friendlier place to be," he said. "We're frankly disappointed the Cultural Arts Center isn't going to be here."

The expansion of Montgomery College has the endorsement of Senator Ida Ruben (D-Dist. 20).

"It will be wonderful if MC can utilize this park and change its image to one of beauty and community pride," she said.

Meijer and the Gateway Coalition are also focused on the overall benefit to neighboring communities. According to Meijer, the "park is completely isolated from the community," both physically and politically. He believes that a bridge will provide the public with easy access to the park, and empower it by connecting it to the more affluent and voting North Takoma community.

Meijer said the park has become a haven for "alcohol abusing loiterers and panhand-lers," but that placing a government structure in an area ushers in further revitalization.

And there was a bridge in the area in the past, Meijer added. He explained that when Metro came in, they removed the bridge and never replaced it, because of protests from residents of North Takoma.

Laura Steinberg, a 25-year resident of Takoma Park and co-chair of the Silver Spring Town Center Steering Committee, summed up the feelings of many residents: "I mourned the loss of the [first] bridge coming down, so I am very excited about it coming back. [This community] can close itself off and become insular. The bridge is symbolic of openness and connection to Silver Spring."

The family's view
Heirs to the Jesup Blair Park property emphatically give their approval for the college's plans. In a letter to the Montgomery County Historical Preservation Commission, family member Bruce Lee said, "we are adamant in our belief that [Violet Blair Janin] would have been thrilled to give her consent to the college to siteÉthe bridgeÉin Blair Park."

"It is somewhat disturbing to note at this late date that there is some opposition to the plan, and that some individuals have invoked the name of Violet Blair Janin in support of that opposition," said the elder E. Brooke Lee, Jr. in the letter. "Since 1977, my family has made clear its strong support for MC's expansion, including the reasonable taking of some Jesup Blair Park trees. I unequivocally support my family's position in this matterÉI also request that the project's opponents cease using my name in their attempt to block the expansion."

Meijer hopes for an agreeable outcome between all parties. "

I say to these tree people: work with the college and encourage them to put all of this greenery around the new campus, and you basically will get the original. At some point trees need to be replaced. They don't live forever, so why not [cooperate] so that the next generation can enjoy the new crop. You have to plant for the future, and stop obsessing about the past.'"

Architect's rendering of the bridge