Sunday, April 12, 2015

County Board Likely to Save Artisphere, Demolish Wilson School



Hey Yupette,

I listened to Friday's broadcasts of the County Board-School Board budget work session and County Board-County Manager budget work session via the County's Web site.

Appears there is great interest in saving the Artisphere and little interest in saving Wilson School.

The County Board will not raise the FY 16 residential real estate tax rate per County Board budget reductions and budget reductions by APS.

From the discussion among County Board members Friday afternoon, it appears that if Ingrid Morroy had listened to the legal advice she was given about the BPOL tax Arlington taxpayers might have a 1 cent tax reduction next fiscal year. Instead, $6 million is stashed away for refunds to overtaxed businesses.

J.M.
22201

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is the accountability for the County Treasurer and Commissioner of the Revenue?

How does the County Treasurer get away with an increasingly expensive annual car tax decal design festival?

Anonymous said...

Why does the county spend heavily on technology upgrades when the technology is never used? Why use plastic stickers on vehicle windows when the County Board bought the Treasurer's Office license plate reader cameras?

Anonymous said...

Zimmerman-controlled County Board signed a secret Letter of Intent with Penzance in January 2013 to build a mixed use high rise building on the site, and that would not allow for the school building to be preserved.

Anonymous said...

FYI....Zimmerman didn't just retire from the County Board to promote Smart Growth...he was told to resign...or else.

Anonymous said...

Plus, Wilson School is about classrooms. Classrooms are a necessary annoyance to County Government and a School System focused on sports, recreation, and entertainment.

Anonymous said...

How about the County Board and County Manager putting their appointments calendars on-line?

Anonymous said...

Forget about an FOIA request for the paperwork between the County and Penzance. It's 'legally privileged' information.

Anonymous said...

What is Ingrid Morroy's defense (if any)?

Anonymous said...

It gets worse. At least another year of Zimmerman's smart growth mixed use redevelopment projects are still in the site plan approval pipeline.

Anonymous said...

see Nielsen Company LLC US vs. County Board of Arlington County

Anonymous said...

I read the VA Supreme Court's decision. LOL. Who was the Arlington Circuit Court Judge?

Anonymous said...

Ingrid's Defense: "Frank made me me do it".

Anonymous said...

It will be interesting listening to their stories about why demolition of Wilson School is 'necessary'.

Thanks for telling us about their pre-arranged deal with Penzance.

Anonymous said...

Arlington will have to possibly refund $13 million to corporations. There's a 3-year statute of limitations for claims.

Anonymous said...

Another group of performing artists in need, another expensive bailout.

Anonymous said...

Treasurer's annual car tax decal design competition is illegal...Misuse of Public Assets.

Anonymous said...

When does my street get repaved?

Anonymous said...

Who said Virginia Supreme Court opinions are dull and boring?

Nielsen Company vs. Arlington County Board reads like a soap opera.

Anonymous said...

Why have historic committees and commissions at all if all Arlington's historic buildings are going to be demolished for smart growth via secret agreements?

Anonymous said...

Should be a requirement that County Board and County Manager publish their appointments calendars.

Anonymous said...

When does MY street get repaved?

Anonymous said...

What's the deal with Reeves Farm? Waiting for a REIT Rescue?

Anonymous said...

APS and County Board have to defer Reeves Farm again. Synthetic surface athletic fields need renovation.

Anonymous said...

I second the motion to require the County Board and County Manager to publish their appointment calendars.

Anonymous said...

Planning Commission and HALRB are part of the Big Charade.

So are the local media, e.g, Sun Gazette and ArlNow.

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile, Arlington's streets, sidewalks, and roads continue to crumble. What happened at the bond funds the voters approved for paving?

Anonymous said...

Going to Bikeshare?

Anonymous said...

Yup, balanced the budget without raising the residential tax rate. Gimme Groups got everything they wanted as well.

Anonymous said...

No one could come up with a viable plan for the Artisphere.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sad that AED ran the Artisphere for several years and could not come up with a plan to save it.

Anonymous said...

John Vihstadt kept his campaign promises.

Anonymous said...

The County Board cannot say no to any interest group. I think a deal will be struck and taxpayers will continue paying at least 50% of the cost of operating the Artisphere.

Anonymous said...

Why don't the wealthy people who want a live theater in every neighborhood pay for their own entertainment?

Anonymous said...

Why do we have to wait until Monday morning to read a report of the County Board's decision not to grant historic designation to Wilson School on the InsideNova and ArlNow blogs?

Anonymous said...

I also believe a last minute deal will be reached to bail out the Artisphere.

The County Board cannot say no to any special interest, for-profit or non-profit unless there is a "Residents Revolt" against what is being proposed.

Anonymous said...

In the event anyone didn't see the news anywhere else, County Board voted 4-1 to demolish the Wilson School on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

I also believe that a last minute deal will be reached to save the Artisphere and the taxpayers will have to cough up the cash to make the deal work.

Anonymous said...

Really outrageous that Cecilia Cassidy from the Rosslyn BID tried to shame the County Board into bailing out the Artisphere yet again where there are so many Rosslyn corporations that have apparently taken no interest in the Artisphere.

Anonymous said...

Anyone seen Arlington's streets lately? Where is the repaving? I thought we passed bonds to fund repaving our streets and roads.

Anonymous said...

Reported in the Post Metro Section today. Walter Tejada voted for historic designation for Wilson School.

Anonymous said...

There is always plenty of money in the County Budget for sports, entertainment, and recreation...

Anonymous said...

Always money in the budget to pay millions in overtime to police, fire, ems, des for festivals and pub crawls

Anonymous said...

Stayed tuned Tuesday afternoon...

Anonymous said...

Artisphere should be settled, insofar as the taxpayers are concerned, by tonight.

I hope if there's a deal made the taxpayers aren't going to be liable.

Anonymous said...

Always money to demolish an old high school when there's a pressing need for classrooms and replace it with an expensive baseball field.

Anonymous said...

It's the Millenial Generation. Where's my trolley pub, Dude?

Anonymous said...

Something may be done about the Artisphere by June 30th.

Anonymous said...

Vihstadt stated the Budget process and County's spending has to change.

Smart Growth Sucks said...

Check out Inside Nova. Civic activist who has been one of the biggest proponents of Smart Growth is retiring and moving to a classic dumb growth sprawl suburb in NJ.

Anonymous said...

If New Urbanism is so great why, according to the Post, are people moving away from New Urbanism?

Anonymous said...

New Urbanism = Urban Renewal + 50

Anonymous said...

Audrey Clement for County Board