Residents Await the Opening of Busboys and Poets

The bulldozers and construction were a welcome sight to some business owners and residents awaiting the long-promised retail and a better view across Baltimore Avenue.

"There's great places in Hyattsville to eat, and it will be great to have more just across the street," said Matt D'Uval, 36, a resident of EYA's western section and director of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals.

"When the pool opens up on the other side, that's going to be a great amenity," said Amy Neugebauer, 37, a community development professional.

Their reaction follows the grading and construction – started this spring – of the second half of the EYA Arts District Hyattsville project. Complimenting the mixed-use business and residential properties west of Route 1, EYA is working on more than 400 homes and has signed major tenants such as Busboys and Poets and Tara Thai restaurants.

The project has strong local support, Hyattsville Community Development Director Jim Chandler said.

"One thing the community has worked on is the saving of the Lustine Center," he said. "While it's not 'historically significant,' it does represent a historic value for some people born and raised in Hyattsville. A lot of people bought their first cars there.

"This is a project that was well planned-out. It is very much a grassroots project," Chandler said.

The entire EYA project is designated mixed-use and arts district under state and local zoning. 

That means it is "going to be able to integrate commercial with residential, have some place that is walkable, has an urban feel to it and take advantage of a property that was under-used," Chandler said.

Residents are not the only ones waiting for the new doors to open early next year.

Erica Riggio owns Design Studios, a combination interior design studio/art gallery next to the Lustine Center.

She understands why it took longer than planned to develop the east side.

"Anything you do, if you do it well, it turns into a project," she said. "It takes time."

Riggio is looking forward to giving passing cars more reasons to slow down and stop along Route 1.

"Hopefully, we can only go up from here," she said.