Old Takoma Business Association
General Meeting
* Minutes *
February 10, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. at Sangha
1. Bob Atwood, President, opened the meeting, calling for introductions
of those present.
2. Takoma Park Community Center
2.01 The Takoma Foundation’s Mary Stover and Howard Kohn
reported on its progress:
v It is mainly a façade that wraps around the Municipal
Building and the Library.
v Will be finished in about one year
2.02 Distribution of services/offices:
v City offices on upper floor
v Community Center on main floor
v Police in basement
2.03 Three major sources of funding:
v $750,000 from the County
v Last half million dollars is promised from the State
v $1.5 million from private sources
- Steve Francis, professional basketball star from Takoma Park,
wants to name center after his Mom.
2.04 Promotion
v Bodil Meleney suggested that the design be published in the
Voice
v Jan Schwartz suggested that a large copy of the design be
placed in front of the construction site.
2.05 Who can use Community Center?
v Takoma Park residents
v Takoma DC residents
v Silver Spring residents
2.06 Included among the services offered:
v Computer lab
v New City Council chambers
3.0 OTBA’s application for Main Street Maryland designation
3.01 The program, once designated, is driven by volunteers
3.02 Four main committees:
v Organization
v Design
v Promotion
v Economic Restructuring
3.03 Letters of support: Sample letters of support are on the
OTBA website, Takomaonline, to make it easier for residents
and business owners/managers to write them.
v Sam Kittner and Leslie Riehl will canvass Old Town for letters
of support
v Pennye Jones-Napier and Faith Wheeler will cover Takoma DC
v Bob Atwood and Bodil Meleney will solicit letters of support
in Takoma Junction
4.0 Carroll Avenue Streetscape Project
4.01 Coverage: from Philadelphia Avenue to the DC line
v Extends no further than Philadelphia Avenue because:
o Limited money
o Possible roundabout at Takoma Junction
o Temporary firestation
4.02 Purpose: to develop more pedestrian and bike-friendly ways/routes
4.03 Meetings for Community input:
v Meeting on several different days and at different times:
e.g., Thursday, February 26 at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
4.04 Funding: No T-20 money will be used.
4.05 Relevance to OTBA’s Main Street application
v OTBA will include information on the City Streetscape in its
Main Street application as it supports the revitalization of
the community.
v John Lickerman suggested that we get a letter from the City
about the Streetscape project.
5.0 Takoma Foundation – Mary Stover and Pam Larsen reported
5.01 What is TF:
v Belongs to Montgomery County community foundation
v Is a 501(c)3
5.02 New grant cycle is coming up
5.03 Goal re Community Center: $300,000 to raise funds to furnish
it
v Brick sale, etc.
5.04 Fundraising for Takoma Foundation grant program
v Takoma Foundation wants to partner with OTBA
v Silent Auction
v Wine tasting at the Savory
5.05 OTBA benefits and contributions
v Split the proceeds, 50 – 50
v John Urciolo and Philippe Duverger are on the Board
v Eric Bond, Voice editor, would donate an ad
v Foundation has advertising venues
v OTBA members could put information on display in store windows
6.0 Membership
6.01 New Members
v Pennye Jones-Napier reported that a new membership letter
went out with the help of Bodil Meleney, Philippe Duverger and
Karem Shine.
v New members’ names are now being entered into the data
base.
7.0 Financial Status report: Acting Treasurer, Pennye Jones-Napier
reported
7.01 Membership dues receipts: $900
7.02 Income and Expenditures
v Income: $16,400
v Expenditures: $7,700
7.03 Items of expense:
v Holiday Party: under budget
v Advertising
v Legal and professional fees
8.0 Old Takoma Street Festival: Andrea Urciolo will coordinate
it again this fall
9.0 Takoma Children’s School’s Silent Auction:
Marnie Jones reported
9.01 School is small and wants to grow: 54 kids and 10 staff
members
9.02 Involvement of outstanding citizens:
v TP Council Member Joy Austin Lane: a parent
v Jennifer Carter, owner of Sangha: Board member
v DC Council Member Adrian Fenty will visit soon
9.03 Silent Auction will be held on March 27 behind where Arise
rented.
9.04 They want sponsors and would like OTBA to be a sponsor
v OTBA could have a display
10.0 CVS
10.01 The Takoma Park City Council will pass a resolution to
send to CVS headquarters. It will express concerns of the community
objecting to their electronic sign.
10.02 The CVS lot was exempted from historic designation several
years ago, when the Takoma Historic District was being drawn.
10.03 The CVS sign is a traffic hazard; it distracts and confuses
drivers from observing the traffic lights at the intersection
of Carroll, Willow and Eastern.
10.04 OTBA will send a letter to CVS objecting to the electronic
sign.
11.0 Main Street Program
11.1 We need to encourage a lot of people to attend
11.2 Joy will inquire into the possibility of the teachers at
the Takoma Children’s School’s offering baby sitting
services.
11.3 The Director of the DC Main Streets program, John McGaw,
will attend. The DC program offers funding over a 5 year period:
$80,000; $60,000; $60,000; $40,000; $20,000
11.4 The decision on OTBA’s Main Street Maryland application
will be made at the end of April.
11.5 To promote the Main Street program:
Old Town: Sam Kittner & Leslie Rhiel
Takoma Junction: Bob Atwood & Bodil Meleney
DC: Pennye Jones Napier & Faith Wheeler
12.0 Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce
12.1 Breakfast, tomorrow 7:15 – 9:00 a.m.
12.2 Bob Atwood suggested that OTBA ask them for a letter of
support for our application to the Main Street Maryland program.
12.3 Philippe suggested that OTBA try to get them to run an
extra route to Takoma with the Van Gogh shuttle.
12.4 OTBA can become a member.
13.0 Next OTBA General Meeting will include a discussion of
the Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.
Mission Statement: The Old Takoma Business Association brings
together businesses and community organizations dedicated to
developing a vibrant market center, from Takoma Junction Maryland
to the Takoma Theatre DC, to enhance our unique and historic
town setting.
Post Office address: Old Takoma Business Association, Post
Office Box 5440, Takoma Park, Maryland 20913.
