Hello Yupette,
I had the opportunity to view public comment and discussion of Item 35 at the last County Board meeting - purchase of the building at 2020 N. 14th Street for a year-around homelessness mitigation program and for County office space. More bad planning and poor management by the County Manager's Office. The building is likely to cost $30 million to purchase and another $10-15 million to renovate. For $40-$45 million we could have gotten a brand new homelessness treatment facility and a brand new County Office Building custom-built on industrial property the County owns in Shirlington. The building at 2020 N 14th Street currently serves as a small-business incubator and generates $155,000 in real estate tax revenue. The purchase only makes 'sense' in the megalomaniacal world of Chris Zimmerman and County Manager Donnellan, who shares his 'vision' of totally urbanizing Arlington. Of course, Barbara Donnellan lives in Clifton, and most her staff are not disposed to live in the 'urban village' (an oxymoron concocted by Donnellan's PR / propaganda team who also choose not to live in Arlington). Then there are the ward heelers Zimmerman appoints to the Economic Development, Planning, Transportation, etc., advisory commissions who rubber stamp whatever 'smart growth' in-fill project is placed in front of them. When it comes time for THEM to retire they're outta here to live in a good old fashioned dumb growth community far away from Arlington.
Tom 22201
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Longbridge Sports-Recreation Complex May Cost $165 Million
Hello Yupette,
I want to give you a heads up on Longbridge Park. What you heard at Saturday's County Board meeting was finally an admission that the County Board promised the soccer interests an indoor soccer arena, something that was denied by county staff until after the elections.
So, about $35 million has been spent on what exists at Longbridge Park now, another $50 million will be spent on the aquatics center. The indoor soccer arena, field house, and mixed-use recreation facility (which will include every imaginable sports and recreation activity) will cost another $80 million. So all that adds up to $165 million.
The insiders all knew about this deal months ago, but it was kept quiet because Audrey Clement raised fiscal responsibility as a campaign issue when she ran for County Board.
Longbridge Park will be discussed at the continued County Board meeting Tuesday night (agenda item 21) so maybe we'll hear more about how massive, and expensive, the arena will be. Stay tuned.
Peter
I want to give you a heads up on Longbridge Park. What you heard at Saturday's County Board meeting was finally an admission that the County Board promised the soccer interests an indoor soccer arena, something that was denied by county staff until after the elections.
So, about $35 million has been spent on what exists at Longbridge Park now, another $50 million will be spent on the aquatics center. The indoor soccer arena, field house, and mixed-use recreation facility (which will include every imaginable sports and recreation activity) will cost another $80 million. So all that adds up to $165 million.
The insiders all knew about this deal months ago, but it was kept quiet because Audrey Clement raised fiscal responsibility as a campaign issue when she ran for County Board.
Longbridge Park will be discussed at the continued County Board meeting Tuesday night (agenda item 21) so maybe we'll hear more about how massive, and expensive, the arena will be. Stay tuned.
Peter
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