Hi Yupette,
I attended this afternoon's Pike redevelopment work session with the County Board and County Manager at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. The County's primary out-of-state development consultant, Dover, Kohl, and Associates, pitched massive Pike in-fill development to the County Board. The in-fill would consist of new buildings placed on the same parcels as existing apartment buildings, sometimes replacing existing buildings. This would allegedly place enough density on-site to keep the affordable apartments affordable.
County Board members Walter Tejada and Barbara Favola (both candidates this Fall) asked whether enough funds could be obtained to preserve affordable market-rate rental properties on the Pike (like Barcroft Apartments) pretty much "as is" with some upgrades.
Dover, Kohl also pitched the series of Pike Charettes (pronounced "Charades") to be held between June 24th and June 30th to persuade Pike residents to go along with Chris Zimmermans's grand yuppification of the Pike.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Zimmerman, County Board Privatizing Public Meetings and Events
Hello, Yupette,
Have you noticed what Chris Zimmerman and the County Board are doing to public meetings and public access to information? They're privatizing everything. It will cost you $35 to attend the CPRO Pike luncheon to hear Zimmerman talk about Pike planning. The Pike "planning" charades at the end of this month are run by CPRO. It will cost another $50 to hear Zimmerman talk to the Chamber of Commerce about business opportunities. The working session on June 9th between the County Manager and County Board regarding Pike planning will not hear comments from the public. Important items are being placed on the County Board meeting consent agenda (there is only one item on the regular hearing agenda at the June 11th County Board meeting). This is going way beyond telling minorities that they are not welcome to attend Pike planning meetings, Civic Federation meetings, etc. It's become difficult or impossible for voters, taxpayers, and residents to know what's occurring in County Government, except via the County's PR organization and from press releases from the County's PR organization appearing in the local media.
Ron - Barcroft
Have you noticed what Chris Zimmerman and the County Board are doing to public meetings and public access to information? They're privatizing everything. It will cost you $35 to attend the CPRO Pike luncheon to hear Zimmerman talk about Pike planning. The Pike "planning" charades at the end of this month are run by CPRO. It will cost another $50 to hear Zimmerman talk to the Chamber of Commerce about business opportunities. The working session on June 9th between the County Manager and County Board regarding Pike planning will not hear comments from the public. Important items are being placed on the County Board meeting consent agenda (there is only one item on the regular hearing agenda at the June 11th County Board meeting). This is going way beyond telling minorities that they are not welcome to attend Pike planning meetings, Civic Federation meetings, etc. It's become difficult or impossible for voters, taxpayers, and residents to know what's occurring in County Government, except via the County's PR organization and from press releases from the County's PR organization appearing in the local media.
Ron - Barcroft
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Mark Kelly Reported Ready to Announce for County Board
Hello, Yupette,
I heard from a couple of Neo-Con activists that Mark Kelly is going to make another run for County Board. Looks from his recent statements he's going to run. The Neo-Cons who control the Arlington Republican Party are all for one or two candidates running against Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada. Moderate Republicans are only interested in getting wealthy in Arlington's current mega-development economy. Thanks for your blog.
Ted
I heard from a couple of Neo-Con activists that Mark Kelly is going to make another run for County Board. Looks from his recent statements he's going to run. The Neo-Cons who control the Arlington Republican Party are all for one or two candidates running against Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada. Moderate Republicans are only interested in getting wealthy in Arlington's current mega-development economy. Thanks for your blog.
Ted
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Favola Firehouse Fiasco to Cost Taxpayers Another $127,000
Hello Yupette,
I was outraged to see the County Board is wanting another $127,000 to complete the $18 million Cherrydale Fire Station because of "unforseen circumstances". This time resulting from street paving problems. This is item 20 on the County Board's consent agenda for the June 11th County Board meting. The County will be paying the Cherrydale Fire Station's architects another $27,000 as an additional "administration fee" for this project. Why?
When it comes to large construction projects for her employer, Marymount University, where she is Chief Lobbyist, Barbara was extremely attentive to ensure there were no delays. When it comes to us, the taxpayers, having essential public infrastructure completed some time in our lifetimes, she could apparently care less.
Frank, Cherrydale
I was outraged to see the County Board is wanting another $127,000 to complete the $18 million Cherrydale Fire Station because of "unforseen circumstances". This time resulting from street paving problems. This is item 20 on the County Board's consent agenda for the June 11th County Board meting. The County will be paying the Cherrydale Fire Station's architects another $27,000 as an additional "administration fee" for this project. Why?
When it comes to large construction projects for her employer, Marymount University, where she is Chief Lobbyist, Barbara was extremely attentive to ensure there were no delays. When it comes to us, the taxpayers, having essential public infrastructure completed some time in our lifetimes, she could apparently care less.
Frank, Cherrydale
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
1 Billion Non-Biodegradable Trash Bags to Landfills from Arlington Annually?
Hello,
I have seen the green this and green that all over Arlington the past couple of years. But did you ever try to figure out how many non-biodegradable trash bags are being sent to landfills from Arlington every year? A lot. Maybe as many as a billion trash bags of all sizes (from wastepaper basket liners to yard waste bags). How many of these trash bags are biodegradable? Almost none. It's difficult to even find a retail store that sells biodegradable kitchen trash bags in Arlington. I had to order the biodegradable kitchen trash bags for my home from the Internet. They are not cheap, which is probably why they aren't widely available.
If Mr. Fisette is so concerned about the environment maybe he can find an economical source of biodegradable trash bags for use in County offices, including the County Board offices.
Susan
I have seen the green this and green that all over Arlington the past couple of years. But did you ever try to figure out how many non-biodegradable trash bags are being sent to landfills from Arlington every year? A lot. Maybe as many as a billion trash bags of all sizes (from wastepaper basket liners to yard waste bags). How many of these trash bags are biodegradable? Almost none. It's difficult to even find a retail store that sells biodegradable kitchen trash bags in Arlington. I had to order the biodegradable kitchen trash bags for my home from the Internet. They are not cheap, which is probably why they aren't widely available.
If Mr. Fisette is so concerned about the environment maybe he can find an economical source of biodegradable trash bags for use in County offices, including the County Board offices.
Susan
Monday, May 30, 2011
Alexandria Seeking Massive Redevelopment of S. Beauregard Street Between Seminary Road and King Street
Hi Yupette,
You may have heard about the controversy surrounding the development of the Alexandria waterfront. If you read the Alexandria weekly newspapers you'll also see that the City of Alexandria wants to re-develop what it calls the "West End", specifically South Beauregard Street between Seminary Road and King Street. This stretch of South Beauregard Street includes Southern Towers, a number of older garden apartment complexes, and the old hospital site and strip shopping plazas on King Street. The pitch by the out-of-state REITs is lots of BRAC employees at Mark Center will want to live in new mixed-use mega-development in the South Beauregard Corridor.
I live in Fairlington and any redevelopment of King Street would seriously impact us.
Kristine.
You may have heard about the controversy surrounding the development of the Alexandria waterfront. If you read the Alexandria weekly newspapers you'll also see that the City of Alexandria wants to re-develop what it calls the "West End", specifically South Beauregard Street between Seminary Road and King Street. This stretch of South Beauregard Street includes Southern Towers, a number of older garden apartment complexes, and the old hospital site and strip shopping plazas on King Street. The pitch by the out-of-state REITs is lots of BRAC employees at Mark Center will want to live in new mixed-use mega-development in the South Beauregard Corridor.
I live in Fairlington and any redevelopment of King Street would seriously impact us.
Kristine.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Zimmerman to Boost Arlington Chamber in Return for Sun Gazette Boosting Dem Candidates
Hello Yupette,
In case you wondered why Sun Gazette editor and Arlington Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee member Scott McCaffrey won't provide any information about Green Party candidate for County Board Audrey Clement it's because he's made a deal with County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman whereby Zimmerman will hold a series of exclusive meetings with Arlington Chamber of Commerce members (the first two are June 10th and June 20th) in return for McCaffrey boosting Arlington's Democratic candidates and ignoring their challengers. It's unclear what additional "comps" Boss Zimmerman and Sarasota Scotty will receive from this arrangement. Aren't we paying Zimmerman $55,000 a year to represent everyone's interests as an elected public official?
Green Businessperson
In case you wondered why Sun Gazette editor and Arlington Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee member Scott McCaffrey won't provide any information about Green Party candidate for County Board Audrey Clement it's because he's made a deal with County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman whereby Zimmerman will hold a series of exclusive meetings with Arlington Chamber of Commerce members (the first two are June 10th and June 20th) in return for McCaffrey boosting Arlington's Democratic candidates and ignoring their challengers. It's unclear what additional "comps" Boss Zimmerman and Sarasota Scotty will receive from this arrangement. Aren't we paying Zimmerman $55,000 a year to represent everyone's interests as an elected public official?
Green Businessperson
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