College Heights Estates Association Newsletter
SUMMER 2011
Dear College Heights Estates Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are all enjoying your summer. I’d like to bring you up to date on some important issues.
On June 20th, our County Council Member Eric Olson held a public meeting, and County Executive Rushern Baker, III was there to answer questions. There was a very good turnout and issues included the budget, development, ethics, public safety, and education. A report of this meeting can be found on our website. One of the subjects was redistricting in the County which is required every ten years as a result of census findings of population shifts.
The Prince George’s County Redistricting Commission is considering moving College Heights Estates to District 2, with County Council Member Will Campos. The sense of the CHEA Board is that this is not a welcome change for our community, and we plan to oppose being moved out of District 3 which currently includes us as well as University Park and the University of Maryland. Why our wedge is being considered for transplantation is unclear at this writing, but you can be sure that our College Heights Estates Association will be working this issue and I welcome your thoughts. For more information about the Redistricting Commission and its members, the schedule of July and August public meetings, the August Public Hearing, and maps, please visit their website at
http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/LegislativeBranch/redistricting_commission.asp.
The preparation of the proposed National Register Historic District documentation for College Heights Estates was requested by the College Heights Estates Association (CHEA) as a way to recognize the history of the community and to provide eligibility for tax credits to interested property owners. Our application was held up for two years while the Town of University Park revised its own historic designation to include the properties that were once part of the original College Heights Estates and were originally included in our application. That process is now complete and a hearing will be held before the Historic Preservation Commission on July 19, 2011. Please plan to attend. To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places, consult the National Park Service website, http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/.
Progress is being made on construction of new homes adjacent to our community. They are part of a development now called The Reserve at College Heights Estates, previously referred to as the Buddington Property.
I want to encourage you to attend our CHEA Fest which is being planned for Sunday, October 9, 2011 from 2 to 5 p.m. It is always a great chance to meet your friends and neighbors, bring the kids and have hot dogs and hamburgers. No Redskins game that day assuming the lockout ends without games being rescheduled. So please save the date! I hope to see you there.
Regards,
Beverly Silverberg
President, College Heights Estates Association
ELABORATION OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT BOUNDARY
The boundaries of the College Heights Estates Historic District encompass the development of a single residential suburb created primarily by two development companies—College Heights Estates, Inc., and University Park Homes, Inc. These boundaries recognize the eighteen plats created as College Heights Estates between 1938 and 1976. Initially, the subdivisions making up the neighborhood to the south of Wells Parkway were not to be part of the College Heights Estates neighborhood, primarily because the land was owned by a different development company. Yet, these lots were subsequently platted and developed contemporaneously to portions of College Heights Estates to the north of Wells Parkway. Plat Six of College Heights Estates (1949) and Plat Seven of College Heights Estates (1950) were dedicated by University Park Homes, Inc., and Plat Eight of College Heights Estates (1950) was created by Arthur and Pauline Seidenspinner, who owned College Heights Estates, Inc. The inclusion of “College Heights Estates” in the naming of these platted areas signified their intended inclusion within the College Heights Estates neighborhood by both development companies. Moreover, the lots, roads, and improvements respected the landscape planning and architectural vocabulary established by Arthur Seidenspinner and College Heights Estates, Inc., in the initial subdivisions to the north of Wells Parkway.
The College Heights Estates Historic District has a discontiguous boundary that captures the two properties at 4318 and 4319 Clagett Pineway. These properties were platted originally as four lots in 1920 as part of the subdivision of College Heights, and then replatted as two disconnected lots in Plat One of College Heights Estates in 1938 by College Heights Estates, Inc. These lots reflect the residential construction of College Heights Estates and were not improved as part of the smaller College Heights, which is now part of the Town of University Park.
The histories of College Heights Estates and the Town of University Park after their platting and development require that the two historic districts be independent. Unincorporated College Heights Estates is strictly residential, relying on neighboring communities for churches, schools, and commercial establishments. The Town of University Park was incorporated in 1936, and provides its residents with an elected mayor and town council, town administration, police force, and public works department. Additionally, within the borders of the Town of University Park are churches and an elementary school. Although the company of University Park Homes, Inc., platted and developed lots in the neighborhood College Heights Estates while simultaneously working in University Park, Arthur Seidenspinner and College Heights Estates, Inc., did not expand their development into the Town of University Park—with the exception of the two undeveloped lots originally created within College Heights. In 1962, the charter of the Town of University Park was amended to include the three subdivisions to the south of Wells Parkway that were created in the late 1940s and early 1950s by University Park Homes, Inc., and Arthur Seidenspinner as part of College Heights Estates. This annexation occurred after the period of significance established for the College Heights Estates Historic District. As a result, the area of the College Heights Estates Historic District to the south of Wells Parkway has legally and communally been a part of the Town of University Park, rather than a part of the unincorporated, residential neighborhood of College Heights Estates.
WELCOME NEW NEIGHBORS
Maotang and Quan X Zhou reside at 7020 Hunter Lane (previous owner Margaret Follas).
LOSS OF OUR NEIGHBOR
Edward C. DeSaussure has died. He was the father of Richard DeSaussure and Ann
Davidson. He served as a Captain in the U. S. Marine Corps in Vietnam, and was buried with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
EMAIL ADDRESS
You can receive CHEA Alerts, time-critical safety notifications, and the CHEA Newsletter on line if you submit your email address to CHEA. Send your current email address to cheamd@cheamd.com.
CHEA WEB SITE
Visit us at www.cheamd.com for the latest happenings in our neighborhood. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact us at cheamd@cheamd.com.
SAVE THE DATE!
On Thursday, July 14th, Justin Ross, Maryland State Delegate from the 22nd District, will host his 5th Annual Ross Picnic at the Greenbelt American Legion, 6900 Greenbelt Road, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Residents and friends of District 22 are invited to enjoy this time with neighbors and the best BBQ in Prince George's County.
2011 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Andrew J. Nugent, of Clagett Road, has graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School. He will attend Coastal Carolina University. Carl White, of Hunter Lane, graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School. He will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you wish to recognize your high school or college graduate, please send the information to cheamd@cheamd.com. It will be posted on the CHEA web site.
FOLLOW UP TO ANNUAL MEETING
A proposal to landscape areas around the four entrance pillars in exchange for allowing Evergreene Homes to place a sign at Adelphi Road and Wells Parkway was discussed at the meeting. This violates County ordinances governing signs so the decision has been reversed.
AREA DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
Domain At College Park (mixed-used residential with 258 multi-family units and 11,400 square feet of retail space at the corner of Campus Drive and Mowatt Lane): Domain’s Detailed Site Plan was approved with conditions on February 24, 2011 by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Planning Board.
Mosaic At Turtle Creek (multi-family residential with 300 housing units on Mowatt Lane): The developers requested a departure to reduce the required parking spaces from 700 to 335. On March 24, 2011 the Planning Board approved this with conditions.
Other: There are many development projects for the Route 1 corridor of College Park. Is Whole Foods coming? Did the University drop its opposition to part of the Purple Line? To keep abreast by newsletter, go to http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2010/2889/.
POLICE NONEMERGENCY NUMBER
The new non-emergency number for County Public Safety Communications is (301) 352-1200. The emergency number is 911.
POLICE DISTRICT I COFFEE CLUB
County Police District I Station Coffee Club provides a bi-weekly community forum for all citizens, business owners, organizations, and public officials to discuss public safety matters, crime statistics and other citizen concerns. This forum is an opportunity for residents and police to engage in a comprehensive discussion of public safety issues.
Participants are invited to share ideas on building a stronger police and citizen relationship, as well as the need for greater parental and community involvement with our children, in school, at home and in our neighborhoods. The setting is always casual with an open format. Prince George’s Officer J.J. Black, our community police officer, sends out an email reminder for every meeting (the second and fourth Wednesday of each month).
Meeting minutes are recorded and distributed following each meeting. If you would like to be included on Officer Black’s email listing, send your email address to cheamd@cheamd.com.
WASTE AND RECYCLABLES
Effective June 6, 2011, the County Department of Environmental Resources’ Waste Management Group implemented new hours of operation for solid waste, yard waste, recycling and bulky trash collection services. The new collection start time begins at 6 a.m. Refuse containers, recycling bins/carts, bulky trash, and yard waste items should be at curbside by 6 a.m.
In our area, solid waste is collected on Tuesday and Friday, yard waste on Wednesday, and recyclables on Friday. On October 3, 2011 the collection hours will revert to the 6:30 a.m. starting time. For more information, call
(301) 952-7630.
Back door collection of refuse and front door collection of recyclables and household hazardous waste is available for senior citizens over 65. This program does not include collection of yard waste and bulky trash. For more information about the details of this service, call (301) 952-7630.
Bulky trash collection is available by calling (301) 952-7600, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., or by email at bulkytrash@co.pg.md.us. Additional information about these programs is available at www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/der/waste.asp.
RIVERSDALE HOUSE MUSEUM
Jazz on the Lawn Concerts—7:00 p.m.
4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park
July 27st by Brûlée
August 18th by Cheek to Cheek
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a FREE concert by some of the area's top jazz musicians. Visit the Riverdale Park Farmers Market. Buy dinner at the market or bring a picnic. In case of rain, concerts move inside. Concerts are supported by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
LOCAL EVENTS
Farmers’ Markets Open
The Riverdale Park Farmers Market, located at the Riverdale MARC station on Queensbury Road, is open every Thursday until November. Market produce includes crops, bedding plants, flowers, baked goods, eggs, jams, and honey. Please visit their website for more information at http://www.rpfarmersmarket.org/.
College Park Farmer’s Market, located in the parking lot of Herbert Wells Ice Rink/Ellen E. Linson Pool is open every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, until the end of October. The market has 11 vendors offer local produce, baked goods, flowers, and pottery.
Another College Park Farmer’s Market operates in Downtown College Park in the parking lot at City Hall, 4500 Knox Road, every Sunday between 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The market has four vendors offering fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods and will hopefully grow larger during the summer.
PARKS and RECREATION
Prince George’s County offers a variety of summer activities. Please visit
http://www.pgparks.com/parks_and_rec_home.htm
for information on outdoor performances and summer cinema, for swimming pool hours and classes, for late night activities, for summer classes. See The Guide on line.
CHEA OFFICERS/BOARD MEMBERS
CHEA continues to coordinate College Heights Estates initiatives such as monitoring area development, the Historic District Application, County Redistricting, etc. Listed below are the names and emails of current CHEA officials. Contact them with questions or suggestions.
CHEA Officers
Beverly Silverberg, President beverly.silverberg@gmail.com
Ron Browning, Vice President
arkabee@verizon.net
Jean Lee, Secretary
LeeJS@gao.gov
Don Hein, Treasurer
donhein@verizon.net
Anne Scott, Communications
jtsads@aol.com
Board Members
Ron Blunck, ron@thebluncks.com
Patricia Cunniff, pcunniff@pgcc.edu
Lisa Holt, balloongirl@msn.com
Sheila Kates, skates@digigaps.com
Matthew Kinnard, makinnard@verizon.net
Ric MacPherson, RicMacInc@aol.com
Alex Norman, AGNJR1@verizon.net
Kimberly Nugent, kimberlynugent@gmail.com
Maureen O'Brien, marob0104@comcast.net
Jean Pirovic, jpirovic@aol.com
Ellen Wallis, sewjjw@gmail.com
College Heights Estates Association, Inc.
2011 DUES INVOICE
College Heights Estates Association
Don Hein, Treasurer
4109 Clagett Road
College Heights Estates, Maryland 20782
Dues for 2011: Still $25.00 per household.
Thanks to those who have paid your 2011 CHEA dues. Proceeds are used to maintain the distinctive signs around our community, pay for mailings and other communications, as well as fund our neighborhood CHEA-Fest. Please make your check out NOW and send it to the address above with the following information attached: Name, Address, Email.
Thank you!
_______________________________
______________________________
________________________________
