Monday, May 9, 2016

Arlandria Smart Growth Redevelopment Abandoned in Favor of Neighborhood Modernization


Hey Yupette,

Latest that's happening in Alexandria since Allison Silberberg became Mayor is City Government has taken a hard look at New Urbanism aka Smart Growth. Consequently, plans for massive Smart Growth redevelopment of the area of Arlandria around My Organic Market (MOM) will be shelved indefinitely and the current shopping plaza will be modernized instead. My Organic Market will be renovated and expanded.

The original Mount Vernon Village Smart Growth mixed-use redevelopment called for replacing the current shopping plaza with two massive six-story buildings with 480 apartments (28 to be "affordable"), 53,000 square feet of ground floor retail, and on-site parking for 940 vehicles. However, given the proximity of redeveloped Potomac Yards the mixed-use redevelopment of Arlandria would not, apparently, be economically viable for a developer.

This is another indication that allowing neighborhoods to deteriorate is a deliberate strategy and is an essential element of New Urbanism "revitalization".

You can read all about it in the Alexandria Times on-line edition, at alextimes.com.

Alex

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, it's deliberate. New Urbanists not only allow neighborhoods to deteriorate but a large amount of deteriorated residential and commercial infrastructure is essential to the "success" of New Urbanism.

Jeff said...

Translation of the above comment: New Urbanists are greedy f'ing PIGS.

Anonymous said...

Who was it on the Planning Commission who stated at a Lee Highway Smart Growth charade: "Too bad it costs individual business owners who own their buildings on Lee Hwy $7 million for renovation and expansion".

Anonymous said...

It was ACDC's and Zimmerman's Designated Smart Growth Facilitator for Lee Highway Corridor Mixed-Use Redevelopment Ginger Brown.

Anonymous said...

They are rich greedy yellow dog Democrats who allow EVERYTHING to deteriorate - Metrorail, streets, highways, sidewalks, crosswalks, street trees, commercial, residential, everything.

Anonymous said...

Smart Growth redevelopment of MOM would have resulted in 18,000 motor vehicle trips per day in/out of the site.

Anonymous said...

Any number of Arlington businesses over the years could not modernize because of the run around they received from DES.

Anonymous said...

See what Smart Growth is doing to the Berkeley Apartments on South Glebe Road, just across Four Mile Run from Arlandria? More unaffordable affordable apartments.

Anonymous said...

If Smart Growth is so great why won't the County's Planners who inflict Smart Growth on us move to Arlington?

Anonymous said...

Check out the mixed-use gentrification on the County Board's agenda Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Berkeley Apartments - LOL - What a charade.

Anonymous said...

Anyone else notice that ArlNow has become a Smart Growth real estate / restaurant blog, with local news as the second or third priority?

Anonymous said...

I seldom visit Inside Nova because of the screen freezes I experience.

Anonymous said...

The local media are out to maximize ad revenue and minimize actual news. $cott Brodbeck now runs ads as news on ArlNow. Then there are the press releases published as news by all the local media, including the Post.