Hello, Yupette,
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays.
Consensus opinion around 2100 Clarendon Blvd. is that good old American cash (gently used $20 bills are the favorite denomination) has surpassed gift cards as the favorite Holiday gift to Arlington County's Corporate Crony 'Decision Makers' whether they be County Board members, County staff, Advisory Committee members, or members of the local Media.
Turns out that gift cards are too hard to use when they're traveling to visit Sister Cities, for their kids away from home in college, when they're shopping at an outlet mall in Delaware, or when they're dining at a favorite local restaurant in beautiful Clarendon.
Thanks for your blog. Happy New Year.
2100
Monday, December 26, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Alexandria Smart Growth Elitists Export Middle Class to Dumb Growth Outer Suburbs
Hey Yupette,
As you may have seen, Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 last Saturday to gentrify the middle class and working class out of Arlandria (older neighborhood just across Four Mile Run from Arlington). Older apartments will be replaced by 478 units of upscale housing with 28 units being set aside as 'affordable' (rents ranging form $1100 to $1450 per month). So look for the middle class who work and live in Arlandria to move to Spotsylvania and commute back and forth one to a vehicle. Who said that only the Arlington County Board is in the pockets of developers?
Alex.
As you may have seen, Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 last Saturday to gentrify the middle class and working class out of Arlandria (older neighborhood just across Four Mile Run from Arlington). Older apartments will be replaced by 478 units of upscale housing with 28 units being set aside as 'affordable' (rents ranging form $1100 to $1450 per month). So look for the middle class who work and live in Arlandria to move to Spotsylvania and commute back and forth one to a vehicle. Who said that only the Arlington County Board is in the pockets of developers?
Alex.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Proposed Homeless Shelter - More Bad Planning by County Staff
Hello Yupette,
I had the opportunity to view public comment and discussion of Item 35 at the last County Board meeting - purchase of the building at 2020 N. 14th Street for a year-around homelessness mitigation program and for County office space. More bad planning and poor management by the County Manager's Office. The building is likely to cost $30 million to purchase and another $10-15 million to renovate. For $40-$45 million we could have gotten a brand new homelessness treatment facility and a brand new County Office Building custom-built on industrial property the County owns in Shirlington. The building at 2020 N 14th Street currently serves as a small-business incubator and generates $155,000 in real estate tax revenue. The purchase only makes 'sense' in the megalomaniacal world of Chris Zimmerman and County Manager Donnellan, who shares his 'vision' of totally urbanizing Arlington. Of course, Barbara Donnellan lives in Clifton, and most her staff are not disposed to live in the 'urban village' (an oxymoron concocted by Donnellan's PR / propaganda team who also choose not to live in Arlington). Then there are the ward heelers Zimmerman appoints to the Economic Development, Planning, Transportation, etc., advisory commissions who rubber stamp whatever 'smart growth' in-fill project is placed in front of them. When it comes time for THEM to retire they're outta here to live in a good old fashioned dumb growth community far away from Arlington.
Tom 22201
I had the opportunity to view public comment and discussion of Item 35 at the last County Board meeting - purchase of the building at 2020 N. 14th Street for a year-around homelessness mitigation program and for County office space. More bad planning and poor management by the County Manager's Office. The building is likely to cost $30 million to purchase and another $10-15 million to renovate. For $40-$45 million we could have gotten a brand new homelessness treatment facility and a brand new County Office Building custom-built on industrial property the County owns in Shirlington. The building at 2020 N 14th Street currently serves as a small-business incubator and generates $155,000 in real estate tax revenue. The purchase only makes 'sense' in the megalomaniacal world of Chris Zimmerman and County Manager Donnellan, who shares his 'vision' of totally urbanizing Arlington. Of course, Barbara Donnellan lives in Clifton, and most her staff are not disposed to live in the 'urban village' (an oxymoron concocted by Donnellan's PR / propaganda team who also choose not to live in Arlington). Then there are the ward heelers Zimmerman appoints to the Economic Development, Planning, Transportation, etc., advisory commissions who rubber stamp whatever 'smart growth' in-fill project is placed in front of them. When it comes time for THEM to retire they're outta here to live in a good old fashioned dumb growth community far away from Arlington.
Tom 22201
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Longbridge Sports-Recreation Complex May Cost $165 Million
Hello Yupette,
I want to give you a heads up on Longbridge Park. What you heard at Saturday's County Board meeting was finally an admission that the County Board promised the soccer interests an indoor soccer arena, something that was denied by county staff until after the elections.
So, about $35 million has been spent on what exists at Longbridge Park now, another $50 million will be spent on the aquatics center. The indoor soccer arena, field house, and mixed-use recreation facility (which will include every imaginable sports and recreation activity) will cost another $80 million. So all that adds up to $165 million.
The insiders all knew about this deal months ago, but it was kept quiet because Audrey Clement raised fiscal responsibility as a campaign issue when she ran for County Board.
Longbridge Park will be discussed at the continued County Board meeting Tuesday night (agenda item 21) so maybe we'll hear more about how massive, and expensive, the arena will be. Stay tuned.
Peter
I want to give you a heads up on Longbridge Park. What you heard at Saturday's County Board meeting was finally an admission that the County Board promised the soccer interests an indoor soccer arena, something that was denied by county staff until after the elections.
So, about $35 million has been spent on what exists at Longbridge Park now, another $50 million will be spent on the aquatics center. The indoor soccer arena, field house, and mixed-use recreation facility (which will include every imaginable sports and recreation activity) will cost another $80 million. So all that adds up to $165 million.
The insiders all knew about this deal months ago, but it was kept quiet because Audrey Clement raised fiscal responsibility as a campaign issue when she ran for County Board.
Longbridge Park will be discussed at the continued County Board meeting Tuesday night (agenda item 21) so maybe we'll hear more about how massive, and expensive, the arena will be. Stay tuned.
Peter
Friday, December 9, 2011
Arlington's Most Influential NIMBYs - Non-Residents
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
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
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
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