Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Progress paves over Bowie's quieter past Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 14:37:03 EST Message-ID: \SE B;METROPOLITAN;NEIGHBORS \HD Progress paves over Bowie's quieter past \SH Development dooms landmarks \BY Jim Keary \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES As it has been for about 50 years, Rip's Restaurant is a landmark on the southern edge of Bowie, a place at the intersection of Route 301 and Route 197 to meet, talk and eat. But Rip's may not be there 10 years from now, as new roads and expected development are reshaping the southern edge of the Prince George's County city. "It's a landmark. It's a great place to meet and talk. They have the best fried chicken," said County Council Chairman Richard Castaldi. "Losing Rip's is one of the sad things. Maybe they can build the road over it or tunnel under it." The possible loss of Rip's is just one of the changes that could come as the state builds a massive new interchange for Routes 50 and 301 and new commercial development sprouts along the strip. Bowie Mayor Richard Logue said he fears that the area, already dotted with strip shopping centers, will wind up looking like the wall-to-wall development of Route 1 through Laurel. "Essentially we are building a Route 1. The county has allowed this development over our objections," Mr. Logue said. He said the city wanted the area near the Route 50/301 interchange for offices, but it appears it will become a commercial strip. The bright spot, he said, will be the construction of a minor-league baseball stadium behind Rip's, with state and county help. That stadium is expected to be completed in time for next year's season, when the Class AA Hagerstown Suns are scheduled to move to Bowie. Rip's owner, Nick Bassford, has agreed to provide access for the stadium from Route 301 if he can get his land north of the restaurant zoned from residential to commercial, said his attorney, William Knight. He said Mr. Bassford hopes to build a new Rip's at the site if the restaurant land is needed for the new interchange at Route 197. "That's the direction he's leaning in today," Mr. Knight said. But even with the road improvements, some officials worry that the potential for development could overwhelm traffic capacity if the recession eases enough to allow new projects in the area. "There is so much potential for development. There's so much sitting on the books with potential," Mr. Castaldi said of the south Bowie area. "When the economic situation turns around and the financial institutions get healthy you are going to see a real development boom." Those changes were promised with the development of the Bowie New Town Center, a massive commercial and residential project that was stymied by the downturn in the area's real estate market. They would be the most dramatic changes to the area since the 1960s. "When I drive down my street today it still looks the same," said Mr. Logue, who moved to Bowie in 1967. He said Bowie, now the fourth-largest municipality in the state, located at the crossroads of Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis and about six miles from the Capital Beltway and the New Carrollton Metro station, is "the best kept secret in the region." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM