Old Town Residents' Association
Serving Takoma Park's Philadelphia-Eastern Neighborhood
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It is the purpose of OLD TOWN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION (OTRA) to facilitate discussion and communication about neighborhood issues among residents and between the neighborhood and the City of Takoma Park. -- OTRA's mission statement

Old Town is the name, dating back many decades, for the section of Takoma Park that is bounded roughly by Carroll, Philadelphia, Piney Branch, and Eastern Avenues: the Philadelphia Eastern Neighborhood (PEN) plus a bit on the edges. PEN residents have carried out many community-building activities via the PEN Exchange, but the neighborhood had not had an advocacy organization in many years. Residents founded OTRA in 2003 to be that group: to identify neighborhood issues, seek out residents' views, help the city government reach out to residents, and act as an intermediary when needed with the city and other neighborhood associations. We even have a Constitution, adopted October 24, 2004.

OTRA is a volunteer organization, and membership is open to everyone who lives in Old Town. We meet monthly at the home of one of our members or at the Takoma Park Community Center, and we organize or co-sponsor occasional community activities. Meeting are public, open to members and non-members alike. To join and vote, you must pay annual membership dues, currently $10 individual, $20 household. To join, contact us or attend a meeting.

Please come meet the folks planning two new Takoma Park restaurants, Thursday evening, August 21, starting at 7:30 pm. We'll be hosting --

  • Gillian Clark and Robin Smith, formerly of Colorado Kitchen, who plan to open a new restaurant, Avenue Oven, in the former Taliano's space at 7005 Carroll Avenue.
  • Murat Uzuntepe and Cenk Duzturk, who are planning a "gourmet" pizza restaurant for the former House of Musical Traditions space at 7040 Carroll Avenue.
They will be here to meet community members, talk about their plans, and field questions.

The meeting will be held at the Echo Park dance studio, 7014 Westmoreland Avenue, just downhill from Carroll Avenue. (A big thank you to Kelly Mayfield!)

If you're a neighborhood resident, please join OTRA using our handy membership form and also join our e-mail list by sending a message to TakOTRA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.