The 'Realize Rosslyn' panel met last night and issued its draft 'vision stateement' for Rosslyn. Or rather, its County Board Chair Jay Fisette's shared vision with his developer cronies. The extensive planning for redeveloped Rosslyn has been dubbed 'Neverland on the Potomac' by unhappy residents of Rosslyn, Ft. Myer Heights, Radnor, and other Rosslyn-area neighborhoods whose civic association leaders constantly criticized Chairman Fisette, County planning staff, and developers on the 'Realize Rosslyn' panel for imposing too much new in-fill on their already-urbanized neighborhoods.
The draft Rosslyn sector plan calls for redevelopment of the area between Key Bridge and Fort Meyer into a place 'where Yuppies can frolic' according to an unhappy Ft. Meyer Heights resident. Chairman Fisette and his developer cronies in effect chaired the panel and made ad hoc changes to things they didn't like. For example, Jay doesn't want skywalks (residents should be walking past retail and restaurants), doesn't want solar (detracts from Dominion's district energy plan), and wants more really tall buildings extending into Clarendon to provide more upscale residents with vistas of D.C.
But what's most interesting is that a County planning staffer revealed that not only will the DC streetcar be brought across Key Bridge into the Rosslyn Metro station but secret planning is underway to build a streetcar line from the Rosslyn Metro station to Ballston, and possibly beyond to East Falls Church Metro and the City of Falls Church. When asked about citizen opposition to such planning, Chairman Fisette reportedly remarked 'They'll get over it once they see the Pike streetcar'.
Oh, BTW, County is appropriating another $290,706 to fund 'Realize Rosslyn' planning. Agenda item 18 at Saturday's County Board meeting.
Later,
2100
40 comments:
How many parking spaces get constructed under the new buildings?
Does it tell you something about County Government when civic association members who are yellow dog Democrats had to fight for basic amenities like parks and open space at last night's meeting?
Why is the County paying the 'planning consultants' for Realize Rosslyn almost $500,000 if Jay Fisette is allowed to overrule their recommendations? Where did Jay earn his degree in Architecture, Planning, Community Development?
From the Nelson A. Rockefeller School of Advanced Megalomania
They are also planning a streetcsr line from Rosslyn to FC via Lee Highway, and a streetcar line from Potomac Yards to Ballston via Glebe Road.
Tells me - John Vihstadt for County Board.
They are talking about a DC to Ballston to Potomac Yards to DC streetcar line. Cost? At least $1 billion.
Jay said 'no way' to solar renewable on Rosslyn buildings last night.
County Manager announced today that she's squirreling away at least $12 million in FY 15 for "Creative Class" gimmmes.
John Vihstadt for County Board !!
Was a really, really, dismal meeting. Jay is so gone on his total gentrification of the County that he's not only ignoring, but beating up, and having his developer pals and county staff beat up on, the Democrats in the neighborhoods who overwhelmingly elected him to County Board.
Competitive Planning? What's that? Same old, same old is OK by us.
Yes the Rosslyn neighborhoods had to fight Fisette, the developers, and the County's so-called 'planning staff' who want to make Wilson school more mixed use development.
Fi$$$ette was more interested in the views residents of future 400 foot buildings will have of the District than concerns of the civic associations.
Regarding Jay imposing Dominion's 'district energy plan' on Rosslyn instead of the recommended on-site solar, given same-sex marriage will soon be legal in Virginia will Jay and his spouse file an amended statement of economic interests aka financial disclosure statement? I want to see how much Rob earns in consulting fees from Dominion, Washington Gas, and other fossil fuel utilities.
County Board Meeting of February 22nd, Consent Agenda Item 18, will most likely be pulled off the consent agenda and taken up next Tuesday at 6:30.
Check it out on arlingtonva.us under Realize Rosslyn
May not reflect Jay's last minute changes to the Rosslyn Sector Plan.
Jay wants to build tall buildings back from Rosslyn into Clarendon so the Creative Class can all have views into DC from the top floors.
Like buildings A and B:
II
II
II II
II II
II II
II II
II II
A B
"Neverland on the Potomac"? No fooling !
If you Google Jay's residence in Ashton Heights you will see that Jay is another one (like Zimmy) who lives in a luxury (formerly middle class) single-family home enclave.
Local Media ($un Fi$ette) are keeping mum. Can't print anything that would decrease real estate ad revenue.
Don't expect anything critical from the local media, where journalism is totally driven by ad income.
Jay drives his gold Prius everywhere, but would have you believe he bicycles everywhere. Another Yupster charade orchestrated by Diana Sun and the PR team at 2100.
So they are inflating an upscale housing bubble, after inflating an upscale office space bubble.
"They'll get over it". Classic Jay Fisette
Jay ignored the Clarendon sector plan two CB meetings ago and last CB meeting ignored Bluemont residents who didn't want AHC's creative class entry-level housing jammed into their neighborhood. Jay only listens to developers and people who facilitate developers.
Barbara Donnellan stated yesterday that she will have $12 million in a slush fund next year to pay for "stuff". Like maybe for secretly planning new streetcar routes?
There is also a secret (and illegal) Park Shirlington redevelopment 'planning' committee operating totally outside the legal planning, zoning, site plan review committee structure.
It became obvious during this meeting that the County Board, developers, and County Staff consider the Radnor, Ft. Myer Hts., Rosslyn etc., residents to be 'neighborhood nuisances'.
Only ones who mentioned historic preservation were the Rosslyn residents.
Time for Jay to go to work for Smart Growth America?
The Rosslyn - Ballston streetcar route is likely to be constructed and operated via a public-private partnership.
Where will they find 5,000 more people who have at least $50,000 in disposable income per year who will want to live in Rosslyn?
USA will start another war?
Did you hear the woman complain at yesterday's CB meeting? A developer made an in-fill mess of her neighborhood and DES ignored her questions about how in-fill developers are allowed to trash North Arlington neighborhoods.
Did you hear Zimmy's neighbors and ACDC ward heelers spout their propaganda about the stupid Pike streetcar?
FYI, next major activity by Arlington Economic Development is recruiting more food truck entrepreneurs to compete with restaurants in Rosslyn.
The woman from North Arlington whose neighborhood is being overwhelmed by in-fill is just another 'neighborhood nuisance' to County Staff who live in Fairfax County.
Arlington Economic Development food truck event is March 19th.
Food truck event scheduled for March 19th has been cancelled by Economic Development.
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