The Washington Post and Washington Times both now have stories on this.
Nancy Trejos writes in the Post:
“Most of our tenants are not national chains,” Levitt said. “They’re people who have one business and it’s located at the Festival, and their livelihood is dependent on that business. That’s how they put food on their table and pay for things they want to provide for their families, and we’re very cognizant of that.”
Humpton said city representatives will meet with the county to explore other options. “Unfortunately, we’re in some ways back to square one,” he said.
The county has agreed to fund the center but has asked the city to find a location for it. County leaders yesterday urged the city to step up its efforts.
“At some point, they need to make a decision and understand that 100 percent of people are never going to be satisfied,” said County Council President George L. Leventhal (D-At Large).
I think that Mr. Leventhal needs to get a grip here. Perhaps the County operates by bullying property owners, but in Gaithersburg it seems that when a property owner says “no”, the City takes it as a “no”. Mr. Leventhal’s comment might make sense if the City Council had rejected the site based on public concern. But the City approved it, and it was the owner of the property who said no. In exactly what sort of coercion does the County think that the City should be engaging? Moreover, it was the County that was negotiating a lease with Nellis, not the City. The County failed to make this site work; perhaps Mr Leventhal could explain that.
Personally, I don’t think that, in the current climate of intense scrutiny, either the City or the County will ever find a witting property owner in the City of Gaithersburg to lease for this purpose unless one of these governments, or some advocacy group, ponies up property of their own, just like the County did for CASA’s site at 734 E University Blvd. If the County can give a 1.45 acre lot and a house to CASA (CASA uses it rent free; the fair rent value is estimated to be $140,000 according to the final report of the Day Laborer Task Force), they ought to be able to do something similar for Gaithersburg.
The Post again:
For years, workers have congregated each morning at a parking lot next to a church on North Frederick Avenue. Last year, the county leased a building a few blocks away, but residents said that was an unsuitable spot for a center. Since then, city officials have considered 30 other sites, only to have the owners turn them down in many cases.
I’ll take that as a correction.
Keyonna Summers writes in the Times:
“They felt this would be harmful to their businesses, to their sales,” Mr. Levitt said after the meeting. “We have a responsibility to the investors.”
City officials yesterday said they respect the company’s decision. Officials have tried to find a site for the center for more than a year.
Earlier this month, the Gaithersburg City Council voted 3-1 to endorse the Festival site, allowing Montgomery County officials to seek a lease with the company.
“Nellis Corp. did a great job researching whether it could get done but couldn’t overcome tenant resistance,” Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello said.
Officials said they would discuss the next step at the Nov. 6 city council meeting.
“It’s certainly been frustrating for everyone, but it’s not an issue we can just walk away from,” Mr. Tomasello said.
County officials said they remain committed to funding a center.