Residents threaten to boycott

Loitering and trash at Watkins Park Shopping Center a concern to the Kettering community

The federation appointed a five-member committee to spearhead efforts to resolve their concerns. Starting last Friday and continuing through Aug. 18, the committee plans to document incidents and take photos of problems at the shopping center before presenting their findings to the county Department of Environmental Resources.

‘‘If we don’t have results [by Aug. 18], we must be prepared to move into protest mode,” said Phil Lee, Kettering Civic Federation president. ‘‘We let the situation go too far.”

Residents said any boycott will be pursued as a last resort.

‘‘I hope we don’t have to boycott,” said Kettering’s Gloria Smith.

The shopping center, located at Watkins Park Drive and Central Avenue, has a number of problems, residents said.

‘‘There are older men drinking and loitering in the shopping center,” said resident Brenda Ceasar.

Watkins Park Liquors store manager Sam Turner, who did not attend the meeting, said loitering is a problem.

‘‘We have police that come and they chase [loitering adults] out,” Turner said. ‘‘They’re drinking and loitering.”

Residents also complained of trash scattered behind the shopping center and of Safeway’s bathrooms needing to be cleaned.

The Safeway store was built in 1980, so it is an older facility, store manager Adrienne Williams said.

‘‘As far as cleanliness, I believe the store presents a clean appearance,” Williams said.

Craig Muckle, Safeway’s public affairs manager, said residents should contact the store directly if they have grievances.

‘‘The last time I had a conversation with the Kettering Civic Federation was two years ago,” Muckle said. ‘‘If they feel they aren’t getting traction with the store, they can call public relations. We’re happy to attend their meetings.”

Crime in the area is down, said Maj. Anita Rosser, commander of the county’s District 2 police division, which covers the Largo, Bowie and Lanham areas. Crime in District 2 is down 9.9 percent, with violent crime, which includes homicides, rape, carjacking and assaults, down 11.3 percent. Property crime, which includes theft and stolen vehicles, is down 9.7 percent.

There have been purse snatchings at gas stations in the area, she said.

‘‘We’ve got some citizen complains but haven’t found any drugs at the Sonoco,” Rosser said.

Over the past two years residents said they have called tenants at the 113,443-square-foot shopping center as well as Regency Centers, the management company, to complain about the conditions.

Regency Centers did not return calls for comment, and Brian Greene, leasing agent for Watkins Park Shopping Center, was unavailable for comment because he was out of the office for the week.