Monday, November 28, 2016

County Staff: Four Mile Run Valley Deterioration is 'Deliberate'

Hello,

AY wanted to know why Four Mile Run Valley is such a deteriorated mess in advance of the Planning Commission meeting on November 29th which will vote on recommending moving the Columbia Pike recycling drop-off to the Trades Center and the Four Mike Run Valley redevelopment charades that will commence on December 2nd.

Short answer is the County's Democratic Regime allows neighborhoods to become deteriorated so corporate and non-profit cronies - in partnership with the County's bloated planning, housing, and transportation bureaucracies - can impose mixed-use redevelopment (e.g., Clarendon) on neighborhood after neighborhood.

Regarding the Columbia Pike recycling drop-off, County Staff stated that it's the de facto 'neighborhood dump'. Moreover, home renovation contractors are also allowed to dump construction debris in and around recycling bins. And park their vehicles overnight near the recycling bins. Planning Commission and County Board are going to have to decide what deal the County will make with the renovation contractors and neighborhood businesses if household recycling is moved to the Trades Center.

Regarding the Four Miles Run Valley, a deal was reached years ago to allow Shirlington-Nauck to deteriorate to the point where the only option is a complete tear-down and "Clarendonization". Signature has been promised a new 500-seat theater. Rosslyn Spectrum has been promised a new theater. WETA has been promised new production studios. A dozen performing arts groups have been promised as much space as they need in at least 6 new buildings dedicated to the performing arts. All to be heavily taxpayer subsidized.

Needless to say, County Staff is very unhappy about the commercial businesses in the Four Mile Run corridor that have spent a considerable amount of money modernizing their buildings. If there's one thing County Staff doesn't want it's more upscale renovations like The Italian Store in Westover. As usual, the people on County Staff who are facilitating Four Mile Run Valley redevelopment don't live anywhere near Arlington.

Cindy

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

What else can you expect from a Democratic Regime that makes dozens of closed-door deals with corporate and non-profit cronies every year?

Anonymous said...

They are completely clueless about where thay are takng the County - socially, economically, and environmentally - over the next decade.

Anonymous said...

Stay tuned for the Dover-Kohl Four Mile Run Valley Planning Charades this weekend and next week.

Anonymous said...

No brainer: a live theater, doggie spa, and bicycle spa in every Arlington neighborhood by 2026.

Anonymous said...

You forgot: every neighborhood park a reservation-only multi-neighborhood multi-jurisdiction activity area.

Anonymous said...

Neighborhood Dump? Been there lately? All kinds of trash and garbage. DES hasn't cared for decades. It's obviously another closed door deal between the County Board and local businesses in return for votes.

What Car Free Diet? said...

Arlington's streets and sideqwqlks are also deliberately allowed to deteriorate so they can be renovated and repurposed to the specifications of the Bicycle Lobby.

Anonymous said...

Arlington has been "governed" by political patronage for decades.

Anonymous said...

Pay to Play is ubiquitous. So is Graft.

Anonymous said...

Same old same old Smart Growth mixed use redevelopment in store for Four Mile Run Valley, per tonight's planning charade at WETA.

Anonymous said...

Waaaayyyy too much money is being spent on planning consultants for any industrial amenities, like auto collision repair shops, to remain in Four Miles Run Valley.

Anonymous said...

Same old, same old, gentrifying industrial infrastructure out, packing as much sports, recreation, and entertainment infrastructure in.

Anonymous said...

Sam old, same old...Fire, Aim, Ready by so-called "Planning Staff".

Anonymous said...

Same old, same old. Working group packed with special interest representatives, County Staff (e.g., from Parks and Rec) looking to pack every imaginable activity into a few acres of what's presently open space.

Anonymous said...

Rational and Sane 4 Mile Valley Redevelopment will require all stakeholders' interests be respected. That's not going to happen. Performing Arts Groups are threatening to move out of Arlington unless their extravagant demands are met.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who doesn't go along with what's been pre-decided is dissed by County Staff (not by Dover-Kohl). In the event you were planning to attend the planning sessions.

Anonymous said...

Seen elsewhere: "Smart Growth promoters are vultures and every older neighborhood is roadkill".

Anonymous said...

Dover-Kohl has been repeatedly told that Four Mile Run Valley should not be completely de-industrialized and moreover that essential community amenities (like hardware stores) are completely lacking in South Arlington.

Anonymous said...

Dover-Kohl should tour Columbia Pike, which it helped "plan". Where are the "community amenities"? Replaced by upscale mixed-use redevelopment. No open space. Massive increase in the number of vehicles.

Anonymous said...

I heard that the biketards have been promised the neighborhood dump once recycling is moved to the trades center.

Anonymous said...

How and why was this neighborhood recycling center allowed to become the neighborhood dump?