You are invited to a special event!

 We are ex cited to invite you to a special event entitled: Community Brainstorm for River Hill's Future; Share the Journey as We Develop the Plan for the Village Center of Tomorrow.

Are you interested in seeing changes in our Village Center? Do you have a fantastic idea on how the Village Center can be improved? Would you like to have your voice heard by fellow members of our community?

You are invited to attend a Community Brainstorming Session that will be held concurrently with Village Elections on April 30 at Claret Hall. Meet and greet, and a light breakfast will be at 10 a.m. A Presentation and interactive session will begin at 10:10 a.m.

The Village Center Master Plan Committee wants to know what is important to you. Your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions are essential in formulating the plan for our Village Center’s future. The Committee will share its analysis of the existing Village Center and seek input from members of the community to identify long term priorities for the center and immediately adjacent area.

To aid in obtaining feedback and stimulating conversation, the MPC encourages residents to complete and return the questionnaire located on page 6 of the Villager. Questionnaires will also be available at the event.  Attendees who bring a completed questionnaire to the Brainstorming Session on April 30 will be eligible to win prizes!

Merchants in River Hill Village Center Area

Two members of the Master Plan Committee worked extremely hard making a list of many of the merchants and stores located in the River Hill Village Center and the area the MPC is defining as the "High Impact Area."  After scanning the list, I was shocked just how many establishments there are in walking distance from the 108/Great Star Drive intersection. 

The list is written twice, once grouped by location, and once group by type of service. 

If there is anything we left off the list, let us know.  And, without further ado... the list:

(NOTE: This list was last updated 2/23/2010)

River Hill Village Center and High Impact Area Facilities and Services

IN VILLAGE CENTER:

Claret Hall

Tower Federal Credit Union

Massage Envy

The UPS Store

Ledo Pizza

Everett Jewelry

Bagel Bin

Panda Kitchen

Subway

The Columbia Bank

River Hill Optical

Vintage Cellars

Maggie Moos

River Hill Sports Grille

Hair Cuttery

Columbia Gym

Giant Supermarket

M&T Bank

McDonalds

Ruby Tuesdays

Capital One Bank

Ten Oaks Ballroom

Sunoco

River Hill Station (Medical Bldg)

Fire House

The Gathering Place

Professional Bldg (Across from Columbia Gym)

NEAR/AROUND 108 & TURNING LEFT

Kendalls

Pizza Hut

Walgreens

Sandy Spring Bank

Post Office

AutoPark Drive dealerships (Antwerpen, Win Kelly, Jim Coleman etc)

Exxon

Oral/Dental/Maxillofacial Surgery 

Hillmuth Certified Automotive

Showcase Real Estate

ABC Satellite

Bank of America

St. Louis Church and School

Clarksville Plaza (across from St. Louis) 

not full, several empty retail spots

Clarksville Nails and Spa 

Flitz Hair Designs 

CRC Martial Arts 

Pizza Place 

Clarksville Crossing (off Ten Oaks near Bank of America)

Brookfield Christian School

Jostin Cafe

Over the Rainbow Salon and Spa

Clarksville Chiropractic

Clarksville Crossing Dental Center

Dr. Lea Lazar MD Family Practice

Pro-Nails

Kitana Japanese Restaurant

Siloam Cleaners

Art Partners Framing and Art Gallery

Tropical Tan tanning salon

Family Dentistry -- Dr Varsha Shah

Freestanding "House" near Clarksville Crossing

Hair Loft

Artistic Accents (permanent cosmetics)

Ten Oaks Gallery

Nina’s Closet Exchange

Plaza with Long and Foster

Long and Foster/Creig Northrop

Columbia Family Eye Care

Clarksville Barber

Mimis Kabob

Verizon Wireless

Sherwin Williams paint store

Clarksville Square Shopping Center(Across 108 from Village Ctr)

Wendy’s

Pasta Blitz

Bark

State Farm Insurance

Salon Tusey

Computer Installation, Etc.

Cleaners

Roots

Great Sage

Nest

Biago Salon and Day Spa

Kids Time Out

Woodbridge Music Shop

Charles Luck Stone Center

Dr. Benavent (dentist)

Flooring and Painting

Orthondontix

PNC Bank

Dogtopia

Shopping Center Next to and East of Clarksville Square

Jiffy Lube

Clarksville Car Wash

Clarksville Auto Center

Cleaners

Fast Wok

Charm City Run (Athletic shoes and clothing)

Pet Vet

Village Liquors

El Azteca

Tina’s Nails

Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbin

East of Linden Linthicum Lane

Linden Linthicum Church

Free State Gas (Across the street)

Lutfi’s

River Hill Garden Center

Memorial Park

Categories of Facilities and Services

In the Village Center:

Specialty Stores:

Everett Jewelry

Dining/Food and Beverage:

Ledo Pizza

Bagel Bin

Panda Kitchen

Subway

Maggie Moos

McDonalds

Ruby Tuesdays

River Hill Grille

Groceries/Food at Home:

Giant Supermarket

Vintage Cellars

Consumer Retail Services:

Tower Federal Credit Union

Massage Envy

The UPS Store

The Columbia Bank

River Hill Optical

Hair Cuttery

Columbia Gym

M&T Bank

Capital One Bank

Auto Related:

Sunoco

Public/Gov’t/Community Services:

Claret Hall

Columbia Gym

Ten Oaks Ballroom

Fire House

The Gathering Place

Professional Bldg (Across from Columbia Gym)

River Hill Station (Medical Bldg)

Categories of Facilities and Services in the High Impact Area:

Specialty Stores:

Art Partners Framing and Art Gallery

Ten Oaks Gallery

Bark

Computer Installation, Etc.

Nest (environment friendly items)

Woodbridge Music Shop

Charm City Run (Athletic shoes and clothing)

Dining/Food and Beverages:

Pizza Hut

Pizza Place 

Jostin Café

Kitana Japanese Restaurant

Mimis Kabob

Wendy’s

Pasta Blitz

Great Sage

Fast Wok

El Azteca

Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins

Village Liquors

Groceries/Food at Home:

Roots

Consumer Retail Services:

Kendalls

Walgreens

Sandy Spring Bank

Showcase Real Estate

ABC Satellite

Bank of America

Clarksville Nails and Spa 

Flitz Hair Designs 

CRC Martial Arts 

Over the Rainbow Salon and Spa

Pro-Nails

Siloam Cleaners

Tropical Tan Tanning Salon

Hair Loft

Artistic Accents (Permanent Cosmetics)

Long and Foster/Creig Northrop

Clarksville Barber

Sherwin Williams Paint Store

Verizon Wireless

State Farm Insurance

Salon Tusey

Cleaners (2)

Biago Salon and Day Spa

Kid’s Time Out

Charles Luck Stone Center

Flooring and Painting

Nina’s Closet Exchange

PNC Bank

Dogtopia

Tina’s Nails

Lutfi’s

River Hill Garden Center

Auto Related:

Exxon

Auto Park Drive dealerships

Hillmuth Certified Automotive

Jiffy Lube

Clarksville Car Wash

Clarksville Auto Center

Free State Gas

Public/Gov’t/Community Services:

Post Office

Oral/Dental/Maxillofacial Surgery

Clarksville Chiropractic

Clarksville Crossing Dental Center

Dr. Lea Lazar MD Family Practice

Family Dentistry – Dr. Varsha Shah

Columbia Family Eye Care

Dr. Benavent (dentist)

Otrhodontix

Pet Vet

Memorial Park

     Religious:

St. Louis Church and School

Brookfield Christian School

Linden Linthicum Church

Virtual Walk-A-Bout #3 - South on Route 108

Welcome back to our Virtual Walk-A-Bout tour of the area around the River Hill Village Center.  Though we haven't posted recently, much work has gone on "behind the scenes" to create a Village Center Master Plan. 

The Master Plan Committee (MPC) has held several meetings to define the scope of the plan.  As discussions continue, and as we receive feedback of the desires of members of our community, the MPC is working to focus the plan in a manner which maintains the positive elements of our Village Center while improving areas about which people have concerns.  Please continue to give us feedback so we can make the plan meet your needs and desires.

In today's post we will venture south from the River Hill Village Center along route 108.

Here we are looking south on Route 108 (the road on the left of the photo).  This is at the intersection of Route 108 and Auto Drive.  This is the route you would have to take if you wanted to walk from the River Hill Village Center to the bridge that crosses route 32.  If a pedestrian or biker wanted to travel from River Hill to the Bank of America, St. Louis Church, or the popular biking routes of western Howard County, this is the only way to go, without going several miles out of the way.

This photo is just a few feet down route 108.  Notice the nice sidewalk that abuts the new Walgreens.  Also notice that the sidewalk magically ends right at the beginning of Antwerpen Toyota property.  A pedestrian would have to walk on the grass at this point.  A biker would have to be brave enough to ride along this extremely busy stretch of route 108. 

As an interesting side-note, it was reported that soon route 32 will be widened to two lanes in each direction going west from route 108.  When that is done, bikers will be allowed to ride along route 32.  A likely access point for bikers to get onto route 32 is the exit ramp in this photo.  Certainly improvements could be made in this area to make it safer for both pedestrians and bikers.

Now we have traveled south on route 108 about 200 yards, and are on the other side of the bridge over route 32, and the other side of the road, looking north.  You can see the area we came from in the distance in the middle of the photo.  Notice the incredibly poor condition of the sidewalks in this area.  More importantly, notice the lack of crosswalks in this highly used stretch of road.  Additionally, notice this dangerous intersection.  The right lane is told that it can only turn right, but other than this sign there is no deterrent from drivers in the right lane going straight.  I have seen several near accidents in this area as drivers in the right lane attempt to go straight while drivers coming in the other direction assume drivers are turning, and narrowly avoid missing them when they also turn.

Now we turned 90 degrees to our left.  We are looking west down Ten Oaks Road, and going left to right in the photo is route 108.  To the right of the photo is an undeveloped (and frankly, unkempt and sunsightly) parcel of land.  To the left is Bank of America.  Notice, again, the complete lack of crosswalks.   You want to walk or ride your bike across the street here?  Fine, but you are taking your life into your hands.

Just to get the point across, we are now standing on the other side of 108 looking north.  Ten Oaks Road is to our left.  Imagine pushing a stroller or riding a bike across this busy, and confusing intersection.  Also, though there is a sidewalk right where we are standing, there are none on the opposite side of the street.

Now we are back on the other side of route 108, looking south.  St. Louis Church is on the other side of the pine trees in the back of the photo.  The former location of Artie's Ice cream is on the left of the photo.  Though the landscaping is pleasant in this area, imagine being a pedestrian and trying to walk along here.  It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to realize the danger in this area.

We are still looking south along 108.  This is the former location of Artie's.  A new pizza place called "Pudgies" will be opening up here.  Is this area designed to handle the traffic and parking needs of this establishment?  Time will tell.  Certainly, it is clear that it is not safe for pedestrians from River Hill to travel to this location.

Turning around 180 degrees we see the Clarksville Plaza shopping center.  This plaza, though aesthetically pleasing, has many vacancies.  Could this be partially due to the difficult turn lane and lack of safe pedestrian access?

We are, once again, a little further south on Route 108.  Artie's is to our left.  We are looking south at the shopping center that houses Craig Northrop Real Estate and Mimi's Kabobs, amongst other businesses.  Again, there is no sidewalk and no crosswalk in this area.  A proposal has been submitted, and is working its way through the legal system, to build a funeral home slightly further down route 108.  If built, this funeral home, though providing an important service to the community, would likely increase the amount of traffic and pedestrians along route 108, making an already dangerous situation more-so.

Now we venture to a different location.  We are on Ten Oaks Road, just past the Bank of America, looking west towards the shopping center that houses Katana Japanese Cuisine as well as a pre-school and several other businesses.  Again, like the rest of this area, there is a complete lack of crosswalks and sidewalks.  This area is very popular with bikers, and much could be done to improve safety in the area. 

To sum up, the area south of the River Hill Village Center, along Route 108 and Ten Oaks Road is in need of major improvements for pedestrian and bike safety.  Additionally, much growth is anticipated in this area, as new homes are constantly being built (even during the tough economic times).  As we drag ourselves out of the recession, it is anticipated that further growth will occur in this area, increasing the amount and speed of traffic.  With increased pedestrian access, it is likely that the businesses in this area would see additional customers and revenue.  This revenue is needed to help these mostly small businesses survive and thrive.

With some relatively minor improvements, such as improved signage, painted crosswalks, and the fabrication of sidewalks, this area could be vastly improved.