tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post6564790125286960689..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Board of Supervisors approves Bailey's Crossroads redevelopment planAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-28833632875505646152015-01-26T18:57:10.018-05:002015-01-26T18:57:10.018-05:00Well now, I would respond to these lazy overblown ...Well now, I would respond to these lazy overblown allegations of corruption in the same way our President did when asked in last year's pre-Super Bowl interview whether there was any corruption involved in the IRS's targeting of Tea Party Organizations (and pro-Israel organizations) applications for tax exempt status for "special" review in the run up to Obama's 2012 election.<br /><br />The President stated there was no corruption, not even a "smidgen" see this article by "the Hill."<br /><br />http://thehill.com/policy/finance/197224-obama-not-a-smidgen-of-corruption-behind-irs-targeting<br /><br />The ludicrousness and hypocrisy of some individuals in this Fed-dominated area crying "corruption" when a local government decision doesn't go the way they want while many millions of Americans increasingly can't stand the Federal Government's increasingly arbitrary and abusive use of its power is astounding.<br /><br />"Oh yes, Penny put people she trusted to do what she wanted on a public committee and she talked to them in private and they made decisions I don't like. That's corruption. Whaaa.... I want my mommy..... Whaaa....Not the Pacifier....Nooo"<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-25111107873289674032015-01-26T10:28:52.667-05:002015-01-26T10:28:52.667-05:00Corrupt. That's the right word and the correct...Corrupt. That's the right word and the correct word: corrupt. Used in a sentence - The corrupt partners used stealth, speed and the charade of charrettes with handpicked, propagandized ‘citizen groups’ to cover their manipulation of the public approval process. CorruptAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-34342274984597961462015-01-21T23:25:06.974-05:002015-01-21T23:25:06.974-05:00Yea, corrupt seem like the right word. Yea, corrupt seem like the right word. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-39605793206895146352015-01-21T23:03:18.685-05:002015-01-21T23:03:18.685-05:00Ive know Supervisor Gross for 20 years and having ...Ive know Supervisor Gross for 20 years and having her facts straight was never her strong point. She told us that the original Residential Studio Unit proposal specifically prohibited Residential Studio Units in residential areas, and she was serious. No confusion, no misunderstanding just a straight up lie, one of many over the years. <br />She and her colleagues often counter by accusing their opponents of "so much misinformation". It doesn't mean anything, it is just what they do when they are wrong. <br />Another of their zoning argument techniques is to insist that clearly linked properties be considered in isolation when that favors her position and then switches to emphasizing the importance of planning comprehensively when that works better for her arguments. <br />From the citizens point of view it is entirely appropriate to look not only at the Columbia Pike site and the Willston site as linked from a zoning point of view but also Lower Bailey's and Upper Bailey's as well. If building of the Willston site had started 3 or 4 years ago as it should have, we wouldn't be talking about building even more 'urban' schools in a suburb. The $20 million spent on Upper Bailey's could have used to rebuild the Willston site and the social services departments would not have had to move to Annandale. No information on how much that cost taxpayers. -Tom also. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-56683427030709906792015-01-19T18:39:31.921-05:002015-01-19T18:39:31.921-05:00we'll have to disagree about the definition of...we'll have to disagree about the definition of corruption. <br /><br />appointing thillman to lead a "community" development task force is beyond shady.He had clear conflict of interest with his atlantic properties financial interests. read the foia'd emails and tell me he and penny weren't in cahoots from the beginning. <br /><br />i guess we'll have to see what the voters think about the process. <br /><br />penny's palace might be her legacy -- though not the one she intended. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-47016443658487321652015-01-19T14:05:48.808-05:002015-01-19T14:05:48.808-05:00To 1/19/15 7:17 AM
What "corrupt process&quo...To 1/19/15 7:17 AM<br /><br />What "corrupt process" are you referring to?<br /><br />The unanimous bipartisan vote by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in favor of the redevelopment plan?<br /><br />Or are you referring to the planning of the East County Government Building, which has not yet been voted on by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; or any other Fairfax County Board, Committee, or Commission to the best of my knowledge?<br /><br />What is "corrupt" are the baseless charges you made against democratically elected representatives in Fairfax County.<br /><br />Simply because one or more elected officials or county employees work on a project you do not agree with; or an elected official votes in a way you do not agree with; does not make them "corrupt."<br /><br />For you too make these charges with no factual justification demonstrates the emptiness and shallowness of your position.<br /><br />Especially in the case of a Fairfax County property owner willing to invest millions of dollars to develop a site that is currently a source of crime and an eyesore, and is in addition willing to profer $10 million; you have nothing at all similar to the Arlington County streetcar issue.<br /><br />Go take your baseless "corruption" charges someplace else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-29333168439415332152015-01-19T07:17:16.223-05:002015-01-19T07:17:16.223-05:00Penny seems intent on railroading this through. H...Penny seems intent on railroading this through. Her fluster and bluster at the BOS meeting suggests she knows she's really been outed this time. Perhaps there is an opportunity to legally challenge the corrupt process. Anything to stop, or even slow, the construction of her palace while we try to vote her -- and maybe Bulova -- out.<br /><br />The streetcar debacle provides a blueprint. The salary hike vote adds to the fire. VA Del Kory could indeed be a strong, viable candidate. But even a potted plant would be better than Super Gross considering the damage she wreaking in Mason District on behalf of real estate developers. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-62272741413580644352015-01-18T19:57:38.533-05:002015-01-18T19:57:38.533-05:00I see this phenomenon periodically. It's the s...I see this phenomenon periodically. It's the signature trait of the terminally indignant; i.e. frustrated individuals who lack the requisite wit and insight to respond meaningfully. Hence, the pointless grammar lesson. How sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-92187083146707971722015-01-18T14:01:42.982-05:002015-01-18T14:01:42.982-05:00To 1/15/15 @ 7:10 pm
Put away the thesaurus and br...To 1/15/15 @ 7:10 pm<br />Put away the thesaurus and bring out the dictionary...."facts have already be(en) massively obfuscated" ? Also, is there such a condition as slightly obfuscated - is that similar to semi pregnant?<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-30981854660658570102015-01-17T18:42:15.112-05:002015-01-17T18:42:15.112-05:00Poor Penny.
It was she who ambushed the communi...Poor Penny. <br /><br />It was she who ambushed the community; the community is responding. Perhaps you try your own petition to rally support to Gross. I doubt many taxpaying residents would be convinced by your analysis. 10mm is a pittance weighed against the services that will be required to support the residential density the developers are demanding.<br /><br />The hundreds of "self-appointed" community members who signed "return Willston" petition within 48 hours are justifiably pissed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-70247635183883490342015-01-16T19:10:27.346-05:002015-01-16T19:10:27.346-05:00"There have been requests to Supervisor Gross..."There have been requests to Supervisor Gross for the return of Willston School for years upon years..."<br /><br />You're just parroting the comments already made about that issue. I have yet to see one formal request from the FCPS Board predating the current controversy requesting anything like that. There's apparently been some discussion about it, but that's meaningless without concerted action. As Penny Gross has stated, the BOS has approved the funding of three schools for Mason in the past half dozen years. That's concrete enough for me. Karen Garza comes from Texas where schools can raise their own taxes. That's certainly not the case in Fairfax. It follows that pulling these grandstand stunts certainly won't benefit her cause.<br /><br /> I've said before that there is no evidence that the FCPS Board ever made a concerted effort to acquire the Willston property. If they had, this discussion would have been held long ago. So, suddenly linking Willston to the Moncure property certainly is an ambush. I'm adamantly opposed to jeopardizing over $10 MM is proffers on the latter site merely because Karen Garza wants to play games.<br /><br />There was an article in the Post the other day reporting that Kaye Kory has joined with Evans in supporting construction of a school on the Willston site. Kory's intrusion merely threatens to politicize a situation in which the facts have already be massively obfuscated. It also confirms how thoroughly Sandy Evans is still dominated by her. Kory's actions are also predicable because Kory and Gross are political adversaries. As much as it galls me, I hope the BOS promptly steps in to resolve this matter because I don't believe Penny Gross has the ability to fend off the political wags and self-important self-designated community leaders who are criticizing her. - TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-72307184871211017032015-01-16T18:01:25.730-05:002015-01-16T18:01:25.730-05:00According to School Board Rep Sandy Evans, there h...According to School Board Rep Sandy Evans, there have been requests to Supervisor Gross for the return of Willston School for years upon years that met deaf ears. Nothing sudden about the Dec. 8 letter with yet another request. <br /><br />Dr. Garza was sworn in as Superintendent in July, 2013. http://www.fcps.edu/supt/<br /><br />To insist that she has a political machine capable of a political ambush is ludicrous. She hasn't been around that long. What Dr. Garza has on her side is an outraged responsible citizenship that craves a return to common sense and sound management of taxpayers' dollars.<br /><br /><br />As for attacking Dr. Garza and <br /><br />Concernedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12360899016672072883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-85448464379501587092015-01-16T17:41:41.286-05:002015-01-16T17:41:41.286-05:00You nailed it "Anonymous 1/16/15 2:44 PM"...You nailed it "Anonymous 1/16/15 2:44 PM" The self-righteous school supporters want what they want and everyone not on their side are heartless, soulless, enemies of the children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-87418119999302457602015-01-16T14:44:15.050-05:002015-01-16T14:44:15.050-05:00This is the most biased headline - not ALL residen...This is the most biased headline - not ALL residents disagree with this, and not ALL residents are against Penny Gross so please do not characterize it as such. Also I don't see Penny Gross as being the cause of the problem - its the FCPS and Karen Garza who were asleep at the wheel and then suddenly decided that they wanted the Wilston site back. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-33243280668725729782015-01-16T12:36:10.544-05:002015-01-16T12:36:10.544-05:00As promised, here is the FOIA (Freedom of Informat...As promised, here is the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) obtained County document with lots of facts.. Had to have it converted from PDF to Word so it is a bit rough. No date on it. By inference it appears to be late 2011 or early 2012.<br /><br />Fairfax County Willston Multicultural Center<br />6131 Willston Drive Falls Church, Virginia 22030<br /><br />RENOVATE VERSE RAISE<br />The estimated envelope replacement cost for the Willston Center based on order of magnitude<br />.is $12,000,000.<br /><br />Renovation is required when a building appears on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and/or the National Trust for Historic Preservation)-the Willston Center is not on either preservation Hst.<br /><br />With.any renovation there will be surprises. The existing Willston Center drawings are limited and do not show past renovations and additions and deviations during the construction process were not recorded. Not knowing how a structure was built, what is above the ceiling or behind the walls, or what the foundation is really like maks it difficult to assess renovation costs and determine a reliable, detailed scope of work.<br /><br />Renovating and incorporating ADA requirements and renewal needs into the existing space will further impede on and limit program space. If there is no reasonable design options to adequately reconfigure space and expand so as to fit even .the most fundamentalgoals and objectiv:es of the operations and programs then new construction is likely the better option.<br /><br />A new building offers many benefits such as by definition it's healthier since it is presumed that a new building will have no issues with mold, asbestos, etc. A new building may permit the consolidation of offices/tasks currently spread across multiple locations possibly achieving significant savings in equipment, personnel, security and overall operational efficiency. A new building can easily incorporate cutting-edge technology; better adopt flexible, open layouts, and it can easily enhance productivity and programs. Equally important a new building can often<br />revit"alize and anchor a community and Green elements and innumerable energy-management efficiencies are easier to integrate into a new building.<br /><br />RECOMMENDATION<br />It is the recommendation of the Facilities Management Department that the Willston Center building be raised.<br /><br />The Willston Center must be brought up to present-day health, safety and access building codes and standards. The historical integrity issues associated with the existing building's envelope,its roof and windows may be so daunting that .the effort and cost to upgrade the structure to meet current building codes and program requirements is not practical. It is envisioned that due to the need to meet 2010 ADA requirements there will be resulting significant reconfiguration of walls so it is likely that the cost to renovate will radically jump, especially if the plan involves modifying or removing load-bearing concrete or masonry walls (elevator).Components of the existing structure -- ranging from HVAC to electrical systems to eleyator-- will need to .be replaced/installed.<br /><br />.The Facilities Management Department identified several lease sites where staff could be relocated (Attachment C) during construction. The Fairfax County School Board plans to relocate the Adult and Community Education Program at the site to the Graham Road Elementary School. Staff at Graham Road will be moving to" the newly renovated Devonshire facility at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.<br />Concernedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12360899016672072883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-40323481051410504992015-01-16T09:40:54.961-05:002015-01-16T09:40:54.961-05:00I didn't miss your earlier point because I was...I didn't miss your earlier point because I was already aware of that and so are most people who have been following this issue for years. Most likely a building will have to be razed wherever a school is built in Mason District. There simply aren’t that many vacant lots in our area. This isn't new information although I am interested to hear more about this $12m renovation cost that someone mentions below in a comment below. Personally, I would like to see the building renovated if possible. <br /><br />As far as a formal proposal, a formal proposal was made for the library next to Bailey's. That didn't sway the BOS. As Dean Tistadt said two years ago in a Washington Post article:<br /><br />“Tistadt said he offered Gross multiple options to alleviate the crowding at Bailey’s, including a plan to renovate a nearby county library into a state-of-the-art education facility using schools money. Tistadt said none of the options were taken seriously.<br /><br />‘They give one excuse after the other,’ Tistadt said.”<br /><br />The impression I have is that a formal proposal was not made because the BOS has made it clear that they will reject the proposal. In other words—don’t waste your time. (This is just my opinion.) <br /><br />The Bailey’s retrofit was the first part of the solution to alleviate crowding in Mason District. The second part was to build a new school. The request for Willston may not have been made formally, but the BOS was well aware that FCPS wanted the site.<br /><br />But back to my original point, to say “that was the first time we heard about the request to look at the Willston site and return it to the schools” is simply not true.<br /><br />Instead, of feigning surprise, I think it would help if the BOS would explain why the ECOB HAS to be at the Willston location. There is no question that a school is needed in the Seven Corners area and many constituents and FCPS think this be an ideal location. Now let’s hear why this site is better suited for the ECOB. Let’s just have an honest discussion about it and debate the pros and cons of each instead of talking over one another. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-37368053500310828092015-01-16T00:15:38.116-05:002015-01-16T00:15:38.116-05:00In case you missed my earlier point, Sharon Bulova...In case you missed my earlier point, Sharon Bulova confirmed that the Willston property must be razed before anything can be built on that site. So, there's more to this than simply passing title. Moreover, a request to simply hand over the property isn't a proposal. What you're referring to seems like an informal request the BOS probably tabled pending the resolution of more pressing business. If you'll remember, the BOS appropriated millions for Upper Bailey's around that time, so building yet another school at nearby Willston wasn't exactly a pressing matter. Furthermore, there's no indication that the BOS would have considered the FCPS proposal for Willston once the prospect of building a school at Moncure arose. And, btw, I still haven't heard any mention of where the human services office slated for Willston are to be housed if that site is developed for a school. - TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-39766551869102333502015-01-16T00:09:48.211-05:002015-01-16T00:09:48.211-05:00I will try to figure out how to post FOIA document...I will try to figure out how to post FOIA documents. It is a PDF analyzing the costs of a new school. It also noted that the Justice Department ordered ADA upgrades for the Multicultural Center that would cost $1.5M. That was a 2012 budget item. The $12M estimate was for building a new school at Willston. Demolition wasn't mentioned in the document. Palatial is an apt description for ECGC. 700 car parking garage and a turf rooftop athletic field is big. Concernedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12360899016672072883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-11115045867542193402015-01-15T23:44:47.604-05:002015-01-15T23:44:47.604-05:00Anonymous1/15/15, 8:32 PM:
Your statement echos ...Anonymous1/15/15, 8:32 PM: <br /><br />Your statement echos what Penny Gross is quoted as saying in this article ; i.e. "There is so much misinformation here, I don’t know where to begin.” I'm not a Gross supporter, but I have to admit that she's correctly stated the pertinent facts, if somewhat clumsily. As I stated previously, this is a political ambush engineered by by Karen Garza. However, other than demanding the Willston property, Garza has yet to provide a single detail as to how the project will be funded. Gross has stated that there are currently no funds budgeted for the ECOB on the site, so it follows that Garza is writing a virtual check she expects the already cash strapped County to cash.<br /><br />Moreover, those venerable community leaders who are linking Willston to Moncure are making an equally ill informed judgment. As Gross pointed out, Moncure has finally attracted a developer after languishing for years. Accordingly, there's no valid reason not to seize the opportunity to develop the site. The availability of proffers to help finance the adjacent elementary school is a welcome collateral benefit. Since there has never been a concrete proposal put forth by the FCPS to build a school at Willston, it would be foolish to wait an indeterminate amount of additional time instead of promptly building a school at Moncure. <br /><br />Hopefully, Penny Gross will seize the opportunity to confront the likes of Molly Loeffler et al. about their inability to grasp the pertinent facts. However, I'm not optimistic that the latter have the inclination to listen. - TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-8290174282237484722015-01-15T20:32:37.968-05:002015-01-15T20:32:37.968-05:00Directed to "Concerned" 1:30. You prov...Directed to "Concerned" 1:30. You provide no factual support for your claim it would cost $12M to build a school on the site you prefer except that you "read" it "recently."<br /><br />Until you or someone else provides a document that demeenstrates this is a realistic estimate it is a fictional nonsense number you could have just as easily made up.<br /><br />If you are truly concerned do the research rather than attack with factually unsupported arguments.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-90516205711819849392015-01-15T20:17:45.213-05:002015-01-15T20:17:45.213-05:00I'm not sure how asking for the site back is f...I'm not sure how asking for the site back is facetious or deceptive on Sandy Evans part. What I believe is facetious and deceptive is saying this "was the first time we heard about the request to look at the Willston site and return it to the schools."<br /><br />Anyone who has been following this issue knows that this property has been earmarked by Supervisor Gross for the ECOB. That doesn't mean it's the right thing or it's what the majority of constituents of Mason District actually want. <br /><br />I would like to see a school built at Willston and revitalization in Seven Corners. I don't think they are mutually exclusive.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-68652010047074736832015-01-15T16:59:27.351-05:002015-01-15T16:59:27.351-05:00Do you want to see it because you suspect that the...Do you want to see it because you suspect that the cost of the school demolition will exceed $123 million?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-15710269334929541302015-01-15T16:54:20.776-05:002015-01-15T16:54:20.776-05:00Lovely comment, threatening Karen Garza, but the ...Lovely comment, threatening Karen Garza, but the voice behind it defines the character and tactics of "One Cent Gross", A lowly traitor to the office she undeservedly holds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-61230481676298659652015-01-15T16:49:18.533-05:002015-01-15T16:49:18.533-05:00"I'm not sure what a "formal" r..."I'm not sure what a "formal" request is..." <br /><br />That would be a request to the BOS for a formal study of the budgetary, commercial and environmental impact of returning the Willston site to the FCPS for the construction of a school. Such studies have already been done for the East County Office Building and the Moncure site. I believe an expedited one was also performed for Upper Bailey's, but I'm not sure. <br /><br />Upper Bailey's was relatively straightforward because it was a retrofit. In contrast, the Willston Center would have to be razed and a new structure built to replace it. <br /><br />I have to hand it to Sandy Evans for once again demonstrating her ineptitude in misleading her constituents. It's common knowledge that the Willston site was earmarked for the ECOB. So, merely asking the BOS to return the site to the FCPS was not only facetious, it was absolutely deceptive. - Tom <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-1621418875051640162015-01-15T16:01:32.073-05:002015-01-15T16:01:32.073-05:00Excellent points.Excellent points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com