Under the plans, the plaza would lose a fountain and gain another, would gain a faux lawn, would have a nice stage, and would have canopy trees such as pin oaks.
The plans call for two kiosks, one out by S. Joyce Street at the “mouth” of the plaza, the other in the back corner. If they cannot get two, the developer said they will not be able to make the finances work, and they won’t complete the project at all.
Wait, what?
That was the county board’s response. The board collectively understood that the developer and the neighbors had come to an agreement about the project overall and that they could negotiate exactly what was there. And part of that negotiation would be one or two kiosks.
Although they were referred to as “kiosks,” these are small, roofed buildings, large enough for retail or restaurant space, a staff bathroom and similar amenities. To give them an open feel, about two-thirds of the wall space would be windows in the buildings.
Board member Chris Zimmerman opened a can of worms when he said he would not vote to have both kiosks on the property. The one by the road blocks too much vision and would clutter the space when the ice rink is in place.
John Tschiderer, vice president of development for Federal Realty, said “marginally, we’re viable” with 1,600 square feet of retail. He added that the $4.5- to $5 million project would have to be paid for by the money they could earn for those buildings. Lose one building, lose the project.
Zimmerman countered that certainly some costs would be recouped in the rents of the perimeter buildings which Federal Realty owns, but the developer did not budge. Rents are heading down, not up, so they cannot rely on future, higher rents to pay for the plaza.
“The last thing we want is to get an approval that can’t be built,” Tschiderer said.
It sounded to the board like an ultimatum: vote yes to the whole thing or the developer walks away and makes only minimal upgrades. But the developer backed off that position and said they would be happy with a deferral to let them find an answer.
The board voted to see Federal Realty again in March.
After the vote, Tschiderer, who did not seem too bothered by the decision, said that he hoped to sit down with the community and highlight the positive elements of the project.
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