Hey Yupette.
I had to laugh out loud when I read Patricia Sullivan's article in the Post yesterday about Courthouse area residents being upset about a 24/7/365 homeless shelter / homelessness prevention program in their neighborhood.
Who made the decision to locate a homeless shelter in the Courthouse-Clarendon neighborhood? Our non-resident County Manager (she lives in Clifton) and her non-resident staff.
Oh, Patricia Sullivan lives in D.C. Post's editors almost all live in D.C. or Maryland. Only media presence in Arlington are the blogs.
BTW, no one who's on the County Board now or who's among the top three contenders for Barbara Favola's seat on the County Board lives anywhere near Courthouse.
Thanks for the A.Y. blog.
Mike - 22201
Friday, December 9, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Board Your Horse 1 Mile from Arlington - Where the 'Smart Growth' Redevelopment Decision Makers Live.
Hi Yupette,
Thought you'd be interested in knowing that you can still board your horse a mile from Arlington. Just drive up Chain Bridge Road from Chain Bridge about a mile. You'll see the signs.
Oh, in the event you wondered where the Elitists who make all the 'smart growth' planning decisions for Arlington residents live, they live in Fairfax County, mostly in upscale communities like McLean, Great Falls, and Clifton.
I see them discussing which Arlington neighborhoods they're going to redevelop next at the McLean Family Restaurant.
Happy Holidays,
Peggy, 22207
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Bondi Is Controlled by Zimmerman, Developers
Hello, Yupette,
I received Melissa Bondi's slick brochure in the mail the other day. I've been observing her for several years because I'm concerned about gentrification along the Pike. She's another of Zimmerman's pro-mega development ward heelers.
She's served on the Economic Development Commission and Housing Commission. Responsible for rubber stamping East Falls Church, Crystal City, and Columbia Pike mega-development. Responsible for rubber stamping mega-development close to her own neighborhood, Lyon Park. Endorsed by Inta Malis and James Lander. Need I say more?
I don't want another Zimmerman on the County Board. Only Democrat who is more under Zimmerman's control is Inta.
fed up Dem
I received Melissa Bondi's slick brochure in the mail the other day. I've been observing her for several years because I'm concerned about gentrification along the Pike. She's another of Zimmerman's pro-mega development ward heelers.
She's served on the Economic Development Commission and Housing Commission. Responsible for rubber stamping East Falls Church, Crystal City, and Columbia Pike mega-development. Responsible for rubber stamping mega-development close to her own neighborhood, Lyon Park. Endorsed by Inta Malis and James Lander. Need I say more?
I don't want another Zimmerman on the County Board. Only Democrat who is more under Zimmerman's control is Inta.
fed up Dem
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Citizens Share County Board's Skepticism About Artisphere's Finances
Hello Yupette,
I generally support the performing arts and I'm happy to see the County Manager's Office reorganized the Artisphere's management and implemented a new business plan. But I can't understand why the performing arts community can't make the Artisphere totally non-profit and self-sustaining. These are the same upscale people who raised $60,000 in one evening for dogs and cats.
It's my understanding that at least two more large live theater buildings will be constructed in North Arlington, one in the area near Courthouse Plaza and the other on the site where the Arlington Funeral home is presently located.
If the County Board is skeptical about the Artisphere's long-term viability why not ask the performing arts community to give the Artisphere the financial assistance it needs to succeed? That's only fair to the taxpayers who have endured several years of poor Artisphere planning and management.
Julie
I generally support the performing arts and I'm happy to see the County Manager's Office reorganized the Artisphere's management and implemented a new business plan. But I can't understand why the performing arts community can't make the Artisphere totally non-profit and self-sustaining. These are the same upscale people who raised $60,000 in one evening for dogs and cats.
It's my understanding that at least two more large live theater buildings will be constructed in North Arlington, one in the area near Courthouse Plaza and the other on the site where the Arlington Funeral home is presently located.
If the County Board is skeptical about the Artisphere's long-term viability why not ask the performing arts community to give the Artisphere the financial assistance it needs to succeed? That's only fair to the taxpayers who have endured several years of poor Artisphere planning and management.
Julie
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Zimmerman Mis-Characterizes Shirlington Re-Development
Hello,
I and other Fairlington residents were dismayed by County Board Chairman Zimmerman's mis-characterization of Shirlington redevelopment at the County Board's ceremony yesterday honoring Fairlington resident Nancy Hunt on her retirement from the Planning Commission. Ms. Hunt is also retiring from FDIC and moving from the cul de sac where she lives in Fairlington "to the country" near Charlottesville. Another prime mover in Shirlington redevelopment was former County Member Paul Ferguson, who moved on to become Clerk of the Arlington County Circuit Court. According to several Fairlington residents Mr. Ferguson "avoids visiting Shirlington".
Shirlington is a prime "dumb growth" example of how commercial areas should NOT be re-developed, according to many in the planning community, including several planning consultants who are responsible for "smarter growth" revitalization planning. There is no affordable housing in redeveloped Shirlington, there is massive parking, massive commuting by drivers of single-occupant vehicles (SOVs), no public sports, recreation, or community infrastructure, and "public space" consists of a public plaza next to restaurants and retail. The only "traffic mitigation" concomitant with Shirlington re-development was the installation of asphalt speed tables on South 31st Street between Shirlington and Fairlington, which are crumbling because of increased SOV traffic.
As has been mentioned before, in this blog and elsewhere, Chris Zimmerman is all for massive "dumb growth" redevelopment, as long as that doesn't include the wilderness area across the street from his home in Douglas Park.
Susan, Fairlington
I and other Fairlington residents were dismayed by County Board Chairman Zimmerman's mis-characterization of Shirlington redevelopment at the County Board's ceremony yesterday honoring Fairlington resident Nancy Hunt on her retirement from the Planning Commission. Ms. Hunt is also retiring from FDIC and moving from the cul de sac where she lives in Fairlington "to the country" near Charlottesville. Another prime mover in Shirlington redevelopment was former County Member Paul Ferguson, who moved on to become Clerk of the Arlington County Circuit Court. According to several Fairlington residents Mr. Ferguson "avoids visiting Shirlington".
Shirlington is a prime "dumb growth" example of how commercial areas should NOT be re-developed, according to many in the planning community, including several planning consultants who are responsible for "smarter growth" revitalization planning. There is no affordable housing in redeveloped Shirlington, there is massive parking, massive commuting by drivers of single-occupant vehicles (SOVs), no public sports, recreation, or community infrastructure, and "public space" consists of a public plaza next to restaurants and retail. The only "traffic mitigation" concomitant with Shirlington re-development was the installation of asphalt speed tables on South 31st Street between Shirlington and Fairlington, which are crumbling because of increased SOV traffic.
As has been mentioned before, in this blog and elsewhere, Chris Zimmerman is all for massive "dumb growth" redevelopment, as long as that doesn't include the wilderness area across the street from his home in Douglas Park.
Susan, Fairlington
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Homeless Facility to Be Included in County Board Mega-Deal for Courthouse Plaza
Hello Yupette,
So, people think County Board decided to build a year-around homelessness treatment and prevention facility in a building the County wants to acquire at 2020 North 14th Street?
Wrong. The County Board wants to make a new homelessness prevention and treatment facility a minor part of a mega-deal for the massive redevelopment of older buildings around Courthouse Plaza and the parking lot between Courthouse Plaza and Courthouse Road (which the County owns). Another Shirlington. Another live theater. Hundreds more units of unaffordable housing. Big underground garages. Cost to the taxpayers? At least $150 million.
Big beneficiary in the short term will be a foreign REIT, Brookfield Asset Management, which will reportedly sell 2020 North 14th Street to the County for close to $30 million. Building is worth maybe $17 million. County Board will also tear down the County-owned Court Square West office building on North Uhle Street and move County employees to a renovated 2020 N. 14th Street. Most of that building's current small business tenants will be forced to relocate. But, unlike working class minorities who live along the Pike, the County Board will give tenants of the North 14th Street building a generous relocation allowance.
As for the homeless, it will be years before they see any benefits from the County Board's wheeling and dealing. And, as usual, Barbara Donnellan and other non-residents in the County Manager's office were and are the key players in the corporate welfare deal making.
2100
So, people think County Board decided to build a year-around homelessness treatment and prevention facility in a building the County wants to acquire at 2020 North 14th Street?
Wrong. The County Board wants to make a new homelessness prevention and treatment facility a minor part of a mega-deal for the massive redevelopment of older buildings around Courthouse Plaza and the parking lot between Courthouse Plaza and Courthouse Road (which the County owns). Another Shirlington. Another live theater. Hundreds more units of unaffordable housing. Big underground garages. Cost to the taxpayers? At least $150 million.
Big beneficiary in the short term will be a foreign REIT, Brookfield Asset Management, which will reportedly sell 2020 North 14th Street to the County for close to $30 million. Building is worth maybe $17 million. County Board will also tear down the County-owned Court Square West office building on North Uhle Street and move County employees to a renovated 2020 N. 14th Street. Most of that building's current small business tenants will be forced to relocate. But, unlike working class minorities who live along the Pike, the County Board will give tenants of the North 14th Street building a generous relocation allowance.
As for the homeless, it will be years before they see any benefits from the County Board's wheeling and dealing. And, as usual, Barbara Donnellan and other non-residents in the County Manager's office were and are the key players in the corporate welfare deal making.
2100
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Euille, Wash Post Company, Chamber of Commerce, Local Media Push Alexandria Mega-Development
Hello, Yupette,
Latest news from Alexandria is the Mayor-Developer Bill Euille, the Washington Post Company, the local media (Alexandria Times, Gazette-Packet), and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce are pushing for massive redevelopment of Alexandria's waterfront over the increasingly vocal objections of the Citizens for An Alternative Alexandria (CAAW). Battle is between pro-megadevelopment corporations like the Post Company and citizens who are looking to keep Old Town Alexandria a liveable community (waterfront parks, museums, citizen access to the Po5omac River). The Post Company is pushing for megadevelopment to compensate for lagging revenue from its media operations. Local weekly newspapers, like the Times and Gazette-Packet, are recovering from years of depressed advertising revenues and concur with the Post. As usual, there is no philanthropy or any sense of noblesse oblige evidenced by any of the corporate waterfront property owners.
Alex.
Latest news from Alexandria is the Mayor-Developer Bill Euille, the Washington Post Company, the local media (Alexandria Times, Gazette-Packet), and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce are pushing for massive redevelopment of Alexandria's waterfront over the increasingly vocal objections of the Citizens for An Alternative Alexandria (CAAW). Battle is between pro-megadevelopment corporations like the Post Company and citizens who are looking to keep Old Town Alexandria a liveable community (waterfront parks, museums, citizen access to the Po5omac River). The Post Company is pushing for megadevelopment to compensate for lagging revenue from its media operations. Local weekly newspapers, like the Times and Gazette-Packet, are recovering from years of depressed advertising revenues and concur with the Post. As usual, there is no philanthropy or any sense of noblesse oblige evidenced by any of the corporate waterfront property owners.
Alex.
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