The Growler was pulled up short while perusing the affidavits filed in the American Legion preservation court case. One of the names seemed awfully familiar.
Sure enough, the Growler can confirm that one of the individuals who is claiming racism in the lawsuit played a key role in the sale of the property.
Joseph Jennings is the same person who along with Woodbridge resident Cardell Banks acquired the Virginia Commerce mortgage on the American Legion in 2003.
And it was their decision to foreclose on the Legion two years ago that precipitated the sale of the building at 224 N. Fayette Street to Nathan Carter's relative Christopher, with financing provided by developer James Turner to pay off the noteholders. After drawing cash from the property several times after acquisition, Mr. Carter flipped it to William Cromley.
Mr. Jennings, who resides not in this neigborhood but in the West End, makes no mention of these key facts in his affidavit. He does disclose however, that he formerly served as financial secretary of the American Legion's William Thomas Post 129, which has since relocated to a building owned by Nathan Carter on Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Mr. Jennings also stated that he opposed the sale of the Legion property.
86 comments:
The hypocrisy surprises you? Does Walker's so-called preservation group have a board of directors? If so they might inquire regarding d&o insurance. Really. What other than trouble do you expect from Hamer, OHA and Walker?
I still dont get what the preservationists want. They would rather have the building rot for years as their lawsuit winds through court? They want Cromley to sell it? Ok, to whom? The preservationists want the building preserved? Ok, for whom? And who do they expect to visit this historic site? And why is only this building considered historic?
In the absence of seem real hard facts, this move seems nothing more than certain folks being unhappy with gentrification.
If Parker Gray residents needed any more of an example of why nothing gets done around here, this is exhibit A.
When you have to worry about being sued for civil rights "violations" simply because you want to build something on land you own, you gain an understanding of why so many people resist any type of change in this neighborhood.
Question--who do the preservationists expect to pay for preservation? Taxpayers I am certain through some grant program funded by the city or that flows from federal and state aid, after being accused of racism, if past is prologue, I can see the flow of funds now from the council, should these jokers prevail. Gross. IMHO, of that whole block the only interesting building is the church/former theatre on the corner--I imagine the building served as location to many historic civic and cultural events--I can only imagine how lovely it would be restored. Can the Growler enlighten?
"Question--who do the preservationists expect to pay for preservation?"
YOU. Apparently if you dont pay you will be violating someone else's civil rights.
"this move seems nothing more than certain folks being unhappy with gentrification."
I don't think anyone including the preservationists would argue with you. Trying to preserve this building is based purely on emotion, trying to hang on to a past that no longer exists. No one is able to provide any answers about how to preserve it, what it will become and of course the issue of who will pay for it. But this building must be preserved because people have fond memories of it!! The icing of course is that so many of the people who don't want Parker Gray to change don't even live here anymore. All we need is the Englins to weigh in on this to fully round out the comedy.
In the end we are just bunch of racist, johnny come lately, gentrifiers who are trying to rob people of their heritage and who yell "crime" every time we see a group of real P-G citizens aka public housing residents congregating. Sorry if I sound bitter, but it's getting to be a bit much.
Maybe someone should propose we use the money the city is spending on Safe Haven to pay for fixing this place up.
I find the Bland redevelopment to be highly racist... the huge buildings will block the sun that reaches my back patio. That means my tomatoes wont grow and, as an American of Italian Heritage, I think we all know how important the tomato is to my cultural heritage.
Hey, its no more ridiculous than the court papers that were filed on the Legion.
Is Cromley being sued? I mean, I know he's being screwed by having to carry the mortgate while these idiots delay things, but I thought it was the City these idiots were going after.
If Cromley is being sued personally , will someone please let us know? If so, I would like to contribute to his legal fees. He seems to do good, thoughtful buildings and I'd like to see him continue, rather than leave the City out of sheer frustration.
It doesn't shock me that this occurred. Our City government outwardly promotes "victimology". I just never expected the screamers to resort to this low of a charge.
Civil rights leaders of the past would laugh at garbage like this. Its an abomination to all that those fine men and women fought for to charge someone with a civil rights violation for fixing up a property.
And if some people dont like the word "fix up", say ye: Do you wish for things to just stay the same in perpetuity? When is an acceptable moment in history when things might be allowed to transition to something else?
While I think every city goes through challenges like this, I think its strange how DC, Arlington, and other local jurisdictions handle the issue and concept of "gentrification" versus Alexandria.
Everywhere you look in DC and Arlington neighborhoods are being revitalized and setting a new course. Here, what do you see?
Nothing.
Its a sad indictment of our backwards policies. I understand the allure of "holding onto the past" and "caring" but events like this just show what happens when its taken to an extreme.
Bill Cromley is not being sued personally, although the complaint seems quite nasty personally towards him. Read the complaint (i.e. lawsuit) here:
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/11/25/Govt.pdf
I'm very curious who is paying for this. Williams and Connolly is a big blue chip firm and is NOT cheap. The complaint (quite offensively) claims that many longtime residents of Parker Gray, "particularly African American residents, have little wealth."
So, Growler, who is paying the expensive attorneys from W&C? Boyd Walker? Does he have something against Cromley personally?
Seriously, I wonder if he does. Otherwise, where in the hell was Boyd Walker when they were demolishing Bland? In fact, most of Bland is still standing, but he's not crying about the City granting that permit to demolish.
Seriously, I don't get it. Can you enlighten?
"That means my tomatoes wont grow and, as an American of Italian Heritage, I think we all know how important the tomato is to my cultural heritage."
Hey cooked tomatoes have lycopene and that's good for your health including cancer. Beats the health benefits associated with the drugs available in the open air markets. Oh, sorry, like the Legion building open air drug markets are heritage.
"I think its strange how DC, Arlington, and other local jurisdictions handle the issue and concept of "gentrification" versus Alexandria."
Its not really all that strange. Those governments support economic development. Our government actively works against it. They are masters at pulling defeat from the jaws of victory.
The Growler understands W&C is representing Boyd Walker on a pro bono basis.
The Growler also understands Mr. Cromley created some anger and embarassment among the preservationists in Old Town recently by proving from historical evidence that several National Register houses on Pitt Street that were attributed to Moses Hepburn were not built by him at all. The City is now de-registering these sites.
Mr. Cromley is not being sued but obviously he cannot proceed to demolition with these issues still undecided.
BTW, because the American Legion was a non-profit organization it wasn't required to pay property taxes for decades. With the sale to Nathan Carter and then to Mr. Cromley, the property is now bringing tax revenue into the City, with the potential for much greater return once it is fully developed.
One hopes the city will attempt to recover its attorneys fees for having to defend this frivolous case by plaintiffs who likely do not even have standing to sue.
W&C. That is very interesting to me. I'm not sure if it's more or less interesting that they're representing Walker on a pro bono basis, but it's interesting either way. In a town full of some of the highest priced law firms in the world W&C sits among the top few.
The pro bono angle is interesting. Preservationist cases don't seem to be a mainstay of W&C's significant pro bono practice. Likewise for cases in Virginia in general, they seem to focus on DC and Maryland. This is a weird case and one I don't think W&C would take purely on principle (in part because this isn't one of their principles), which would mean someone on the plaintiff's side has a connection there, or successfully made one some how. Generally speaking this is bad. I mean it's not like Brendan Sullivan is working the case, but it's W&C either way. I probably wouldn't have the balls to stand and fight them, or the money for that matter.
BTW - I love #13 from the complaint:
"13. The decision of the Council granting a permit to demolish 224 North Fayette
Street will cause substantial loss to petitioners, including aesthetic loss and emotional damage.
Petitioners deeply feel the loss of physical evidence of the heritage of African-Americans in the Parker-Gray District that has already occurred and that is further threatened by the actions of respondents complained of herein."
Two things about that:
1 - AESTHETIC LOSS?!? You have got to be kidding me. This decrepit thing has been looming outside my front window for four years now, and unless you consider the elimination of drug dealers hanging out on that thing's stoop an aesthetic loss (yes, they still do this, as of the last 24 hours), ANYTHING that is done with that site will be an aesthetic improvement.
2 - the part about the petitioners deeply feeling "the loss of physical evidence of the heritage of African-Americans in the Parker-Gray District that has already occurred and that is further threatened by the actions of respondents complained of herein." raises again the same old fallacy that Parker-Grey is a historically black community. Black people historically lived here. So did white people. So did others. This has been discussed ad nauseam on this blog so I won't go into it, but certain people obviously continue to bring it up because it is very easy to accuse anyone on the other side of being a racist, which is a good deterrent.
I agree there is cause for neighborhood anger against our City government, particularly the staff of P&Z and Council. But in this instance, THE CITY is being sued by a hypocrytical self-styled preservationist. Let's direct our anger at him, at least in this instance.
"The Growler also understands Mr. Cromley created some anger and embarassment among the preservationists in Old Town recently by proving from historical evidence that several National Register houses on Pitt Street that were attributed to Moses Hepburn were not built by him at all."
Nice. The City and its cronies who like to manufacture history to suit their own purposes turn on the person who shines the light on the truth.
In this internet age (with bloggers like Growler), here's hoping their gig is up.
"The Growler understands W&C is representing Boyd Walker on a pro bono basis."
But why? One can't simply walk into W&C and ask for free representation. Seems there is more to this story.
"But in this instance, THE CITY is being sued by a hypocrytical self-styled preservationist. Let's direct our anger at him, at least in this instance."
The city earned it in part. Hamer never should have elevated this issue to the hearing level she did and I have little faith the city will handle the matter well. Boyd Walker is a nut job who was heavily fined for his mishandling of the ice house.
John G. Kester, one of the W&C attorneys signing the legal documents, lives in the 300 block of N. St. Asaph Street. He's an Old Towner.
Oh, and here's this:
Mr. Kester is an officer of the Old Town Civic Association:
http://tinyurl.com/2ewa2qa
"will cause substantial loss to petitioners, including aesthetic loss and emotional damage. "
Does that give people who live near Adkins the right to sue ARHA and the City? My wife and I experience aesthetic loss and emotional damage every day.
But I guess since I am Hispanic and that doesnt count as a minority in Alexandria it doesnt matter.
I guess when your wife is harassed on the way to the Metro, people throw bottles at your house, and there is loud noise until 2 AM, these are all "heritage".
Dont these activists get it, how foolish they truly look in the eyes of most Parker Gray residents? Maybe they look great at parties and fundraisers, but not here.
All we need is the Englins to weigh in on this to fully round out the comedy.
--I have been anxiously awaiting Shayna Englin's tweeting on this, comparing the Legion building to chattel, claiming Council is screwing nutty fat white people, and cheering Delegate Englin on as he introduces legislation requiring Cromely to post 150 signs claiming this building has heritage.
All we need is Gail Donegan in her flip flops doing a hunger strike in front of the Legion and claiming the cops harassed her and the sage will be complete.
"Generally speaking this is bad. I mean it's not like Brendan Sullivan is working the case,"
The attorneys who signed the complaint have distinguished legal careers - including a Supreme Court clerkship. There is something else here. Somebody there must have a personal connection to Boyd Walker or his mommy and is using the considerable powers of W&C on his behalf. Either that, or they have something against Mr. Cromley. Something smells very fishy about this.
"All we need is Gail Donegan in her flip flops doing a hunger strike in front of the Legion and claiming the cops harassed her and the sage will be complete."
I think you mean "saga" but all I can say is so sad and so so so true
"Does Walker's so-called preservation group have a board of directors?"
What the heck does Boyd want? From the last article I read, he wants this building to be preserved so that visitors can stop by and visit it as a "historic" site.
Whats next, are we going to have visitors come to Madden Uptown to see Alexandria's innovative and creative approaches to public housing?
"Whats next, are we going to have visitors come to Madden Uptown to see Alexandria's innovative and creative approaches to public housing?"
Please don't give the preservationists any ideas. I am sure there are people who feel attached to the memory of having grown up in public housing during the 1970's (our Mayor for instance) and apparently that is all that is needed to stop progress in this city.
We get Civil Rights suits over a rotting building and a development plan that is rapidly becoming a running joke.
Arlington gets the new Northrup HQ
You tell me who is doing better.
"Everywhere you look in DC and Arlington neighborhoods are being revitalized and setting a new course."
Its because certain folks in Alexandria cannot accept the concept of change and improvement. They see use of the words "change", "improvement", or "progress" as insulting, as if everything is just peachy and any negatives are made up.
In Arlington these folks would be called "kooks" or "crazies"
In Alexandria these folks are task force members or "activists"
"including aesthetic loss and emotional damage. "
Thats a pretty broad brush to paint that puts a whole lot of stuff into question.
People could counter that they are suffering emotional damage due to a lot of what goes on in Parker Gray.
Where does it stop?
"IN A HEARING last week, Circuit Court Judge Lisa Kemler removed the civil rights part of the case. Acting on a motion from Assistant City Attorney Chris Sperra, Kemler eliminated claims pertaining to the Fourteenth Amendment and the Virginia Human Rights Act. But then she changed her mind over the weekend, issuing a letter on Monday reversing her ruling. Now, lawyers on both sides are preparing for a November trial date. Meanwhile, developer William Cromley’s property on Fayette Street sits abandoned while the court challenge moves forward."
It would be interesting to understand what made Judge Kemler change her mind. And from this it appears the City does not support this action so I don't understand the ranting against them.
I agree with the laughter though. This kind of claim is just flat out ridiculous.
"In a letter recommending that the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control revoke the American Legion’s liquor license, then-City Manager Phil Sunderland noted an Inner City Civic Association petition complaining about a number of problems at the site — excessive noise, alcohol abuse, littering, loitering, public drunkenness, public urination, damage to property and street violence. Sunderland also cited crime data from that era, including a homicide, a shooting, several fights and a probation violation."
This sounds like a typical red zone summer in Alexandria public housing now. Is this something the ICCA had to deal with a lot in the past as well? Was it worse back then?
From reading Sarah Becker's articles and old articles from the Gazette, it seems so, so I dont understand how someone could claim that none of this happened, as occurs in the affidavit.
It's shocking that Williams and Connolly is doing this pro bono. There are SO many good causes out there and people in need of legal representation. Why they are spending their time on this weird lawsuit is completely beyond me, unless they didn't really have an idea of what they were doing.
"Somebody there must have a personal connection to Boyd Walker or his mommy and is using the considerable powers of W&C on his behalf. Either that, or they have something against Mr. Cromley. Something smells very fishy about this."
Does a W&C partner not sit on the Historic Alexandria Foundation Board of Directors? Enter Moses Hepburn...
"Mr. Kester is an officer of the Old Town Civic Association:"
Son of a b.... Hertel's crew strikes again! Isn't he part of Boyd's bunch?
Bingo. W&C partner John G. Kester is on the board of the stuffy Historic Alexandria Foundation and part of the Trozzo crowd, who normally wouldn't dirty their hem by dealing with preservation issues in this neighborhood.
More and more it's looking like this is an Old Town vendetta.
"More and more it's looking like this is an Old Town vendetta."
I highly doubt Mr. Kester would be involved with this suit if he lived anywhere near the Legion building.
300 N St Asaph...ah, just a peachy quiet street.
I am sure Mr. Kester also filed a complaint when the Berg was being torn down. That had a lot of heritage as well.
Limousine Liberalism Strikes Again!
"More and more it's looking like this is an Old Town vendetta."
WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
What did you folks on Queen St do to them?
What did Cromley do? Did he pull a branch off a "historic" tree by accident?
"Bingo. W&C partner John G. Kester is on the board of the stuffy Historic Alexandria Foundation and part of the Trozzo crowd, who normally wouldn't dirty their hem by dealing with preservation issues in this neighborhood.
More and more it's looking like this is an Old Town vendetta."
Took you long enough Growler! Now connect this dot. Isn't Trozzo's wife Gail a preservation wonk in Prince George's county the same Prince George's county where Hamer was previously employed. Wanna bet they were acquainted? Rothrock's testimony was little more than a back scratching maneuver to help Hamer promote her seriously stupid Braddock Road Plan. What I don't get is how could the hearing have violated any rights when it the date was widely published and black complainants were no shows.
The business community must be just loving this. Now you can get sued for civil rights violations, emotional damage and aesthetic loss for owning a property and wanting to fix it up.
The original suit was filed in November of 2009. Certainly it was answered by the city. Does anyone have a link to the City Attorney's answer to all of this nonsense?
"the same Prince George's county where Hamer was previously employed. "
Hamer comes from Montgomery County
"What did Cromley do? Did he pull a branch off a "historic" tree by accident?"
Did he not prove Old Town's Moses Helpburn properties were not as OHA described, as historically significant? Unlisted from the National Directory or something? OHA, Old Town and HAF don't mad they get even.
I dont understand this comment from Mr. Jennings affidavit:
"Of course, the Queen
Street area has had its problems over the years with drugs and
violence. Whether those problems have been exaggerated can be
debated, but I can say, based on personal knowledge rather than
rumor and innuendo, that the American Legion was never the
source of those problems"
It seems to be stating that the City Manager and ICCA are liars. Oh, and the Gazette Packet too.
Whats also strange is Mr. Jennings and Mr. Carter both owned this building, as well as the Legion.
Yet they never applied for any historic designation, never did anything to specifically announce their desire to make it a historic site, never put any "money where their mouth is" to preserve the building.
And now someone comes along and wants to build something they dont like and all of a sudden its a racial issue?
Do all of the Legion members agree with this decision?
"If Parker Gray residents needed any more of an example of why nothing gets done around here, this is exhibit A."
We will add it to the burgeoning case file, which includes Fair Share, Braddock Road and Braddock East Plans, and the stacks of permits needed to change the awning in front of your house.
"Limousine Liberalism Strikes Again!"
Nope class-ism. Like Miller Ferdinand Day left the neighborhood years ago leaving equally wealthy, land holding blacks behind. They just need to believe theirs is the kind of fight that never ends a fight now justified on behalf of the black underclass. Wanna bet the records show the black military enlisted joined the Legion whereas black military officers joined the Departmental Progressive Club. Where is the DPC located? Old Town.
From the City of Alexandria press release announcing her appointment:
"Since December 2005, Ms. Hamer has been interim director of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Montgomery County Planning Department. Prior to that, from 1987 to 2005, she had been with M-NCPPC’s Prince George’s County Planning Department, serving as Chief of Development Review, supervisor of the Urban Design Section, and as a planner in the Urban Design Section."
"Yet they never applied for any historic designation, never did anything to specifically announce their desire to make it a historic site, never put any "money where their mouth is" to preserve the building."
They didn't need to do any of that stuff. Why spend money and give yourself tons of extra work?
Just sit back and wait until some gentrifying developer comes along and buys it. Then do what comes natural, call everyone a racist and watch them all back down. It's the "Parker Gray Way" of doing things and it always seems to work.
It's so so sad to see Mr. Cromley, a Parker Gray home owner and a professional developer, placed into the Abyss of stupidity which is known as The City of Alexandria Government.
"They just need to believe theirs is the kind of fight that never ends a fight now justified on behalf of the black underclass."
This is an interesting thought. In other words, you're saying that maybe that is what motivates them is a desire to be revered like the courageous civil rights leaders of the past?
Unfortunately, since equal rights have now been achieved legislatively, it is up to them to take advantage of the equality of opportunity, rather than blaming the failures of the black underclass' on racism. I believe Bill Cosby tried to deliver that message, but it was not well received. So it's easier to cry wolf.
just saw this: http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/04/voice-walks-out-on-arha-board/
Barbara Crowder, 9 year ARHA resident, seems to be very busy. Does this woman have a job? She appears to have marketable skills, why is she still in public housing after 9 years?
Bill Cosby's ideas with regard to lifting one's self up from the boot straps was not received well because many of the people discussed had been left without the necessary boot straps. His ideas put too much responsibility on the shoulders of many who legitimately need support. We all long for the day when we will all be allowed to play on a level playing field. When allowed that playing field, we see what is possible. The Williams sisters, Tiger Woods and the Obama's of the world emerge. We still have a long road to tow. Just look at housing patterns, achievement gaps, representation in the Senate and on the Supreme Court, etc. , etc. . Enough said.
Thank God for those who may have left the old neighborhood but never forgot from whence they came. They are the true heroes who stood up when molotov cocktails were still being thrown at certain homes and firecrackers were still thrown in the midst of innocent children and women right here in Alexandria.
There are some things you never forget and therefore someone has to be sure that those old demons never rear their ugly heads again. Yes , Alexandria does have a group of men and women who stood tall when things were really hard and never gave up the fight.....Thank God for their continuing vigilance.
" They are the true heroes who stood up when molotov cocktails were still being thrown"
And in their memory we should stop progress and keep an old decrepit building that no one is willing to maintain? A fine memorial indeed. If you really wish to honor these brave people than someone needs to create a plan to buy and maintain this building. Perhaps in addition to spending their $500.00 an hour time on this lawsuit Williams and Connolly attorneys could volunteer to come rebuild this building and contribute toward making it a museum?
Never fear, the Engilins will continue to spout off:
http://twitter.com/sbenglin/status/13070004937
City of Alexandria's dismal failure 2 treat public housing residents w/ basic decency continues. Where's City Council? http://bit.ly/d3Kagy
"Just look at housing patterns, achievement gaps, representation in the Senate and on the Supreme Court, etc. , etc. . Enough said."
We disagree on this. The African American community needs to take responsibility for itself. Its failures are not due solely to racism. The sooner we start admitting this to ourselves, the sooner we can solve these problems.
"We all long for the day when we will all be allowed to play on a level playing field. When allowed that playing field, we see what is possible. The Williams sisters, Tiger Woods and the Obama's of the world emerge."
I disagree with you. Thanks to the civil rights leaders of the past, the playing field IS now largely level. The problem is the failure of many to take advantage of it. What do Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters, and Obama have in common?? A strong parent who put an emphasis on education, very very hard work, and individual responsibility. This is the largely lacking in the culture of the underclass.
"Perhaps in addition to spending their $500.00 an hour time on this lawsuit Williams and Connolly attorneys"
Not sure I buy this as a pro bono case. Undoubtedly they will find a way to recover the fees. Pride does not goeth before the pocketbook.
"Thank God for those who may have left the old neighborhood but never forgot from whence they came. They are the true heroes"
That these "heroes" earned the legal and political right to eventually live elsewhere is admirable. However as their world changed so did the old neighborhood. I take issue with the old-timers notion of a contained Parker Gray. For them it has become an unspoken class issue. Colross (The Monarch) belonged to a former Alexandria Mayor a white man who lived in what was then described as a fashionable neighborhood. Yeah, he maybe had slaves but like everything else around here it was the way of the day.
"Perhaps in addition to spending their $500.00 an hour time on this lawsuit Williams and Connolly attorneys could volunteer to come rebuild this building and contribute toward making it a museum?"
Or maybe they could donate their fees to rebuilding an ARHA unit so a resident doesnt have to live in a decrepit building. And they could volunteer to build that unit somewhere in Old Town or Delray.
Wait, dont all jump up and raise your hands Old Towners. We wouldnt want that NIMBYISM and limousine liberal label to get dispelled that quickly.
"That these "heroes" earned the legal and political right to eventually live elsewhere is admirable. "
All I see "heroes" doing is fighting for buildings past and lashing out against anyone who dare speaketh the truth.
There is no rage against JH, against continued slum like conditions in housing projects, against the lack of economic development in Parker Gray that would provide jobs, no complaints that Delray has no public housing units.
How many letters to the editor or lawsuits do you see on that from the "heroes"? Where is the JH lawsuit? Where is the ARHA lawsuit?
The sad thing is these "activists" would get so much more support and sympathy if they weren't willing to just be silent while such hypocrisy swirls around Alexandria.
Oh, I did not know Hamer worked in PG. Not surprising that it was not advertised heavily. PG Planning has pretty much been a disaster.
Arlington gets the new Northrup HQ
Yeah, Alexandria blew it again:
http://alextimes.com/news/2010/apr/30/alexandrias-chances-slim-for-attracting/
"Arlington gets the new Northrup HQ"
Did you ever honestly believe that Alexandria had any chance to get Northrup?
We dont attract big time corporations or businesses.
Hopefully the events of the last few years illustrate why.
I sense another lawsuit coming, per the VOICE meeting with ARHA:
VOICE Walks Out On ARHA Board
The VOICE demands of ARHA:
• $4400-$11,000 in ARHA reimbursements for transferred residents at Old Dominion Boulevard (seven-18 residents)
• ARHA would rescind $2000 in moving fees for five transferred residents
• ARHA would relocate, at no cost, a James Bland resident suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease
• That ARHA inspect new properties with residents and that necessary repairs are completed within 30 days
• That ARHA provide VOICE with a copy of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development approved budget for the James Bland and Glebe Park projects
• That ARHA fix housing code violations for remaining James Bland residents
• That ARHA provide residents a specific address and move date at least 30 days before they are expected to move
• Residents are given options for units they can move into – and families with children get options in their current school zone
• After moving in, ARHA will inspect the new unit, take note of maintenance issues and fix them within 30 days of that inspection
• Bland residents receive the first right of refusal for housing in the newly developed property
ARHA was sensitive to the relocation of families, according to a memorandum given to Council in January. “Seventy-five percent of the households were relocated within the later phases of the James Bland redevelopment site of Chatham Square in order to minimize the movement of children from their current schools. Only five households [16%] elected to move to the West side and 50% of the children in those households attend T. C. Williams,” the memorandum said. “All of the relocated households were entitled to payments for moving and utilities calculated on the number of rooms. The households could select to self-move or have a company move them. Ninety-five percent of the households received funds to move themselves. All of the households have received full payment of their relocation benefits.”
Derek Hyra is a member of the ARHA Board. “We can only commit that we will improve the relocations. This is not the forum for us to make decisions,” he said.
Ring said that HUD regulations force ARHA to give residents 90 days notice. “I think what you are asking is 30 additional days,” he said.
Korol said that was not the case.
“I think we will strive mightily to ensure that happens in the next phase,” Ring said.
VOICE member Reverend Scott Davis of Trinity Baptist Church wanted concrete answers. “This community is outraged. We want yes or no answers to these demands,” he told the Board.
Ring responded: “I don’t think you’re going to get that.”
Davis: “The time for the deliberation process is over. As a resident of the City, I’m appalled these things are happening. We’re tired of more and more meetings and more and more process. We want some action.”
Ring: “There are a lot of policies that are in place that must be checked because of our compliance with HUD regulations.”
Davis: “We thank you for the roundtable. I think we’ll wait for a week. Then we may have to consider other measures.”
OTHER MEASURES? Oh joy, its Chatham Square 2!
"Of course, the Queen
Street area has had its problems over the years with drugs and
violence. Whether those problems have been exaggerated can be
debated, but I can say, based on personal knowledge rather than
rumor and innuendo, that the American Legion was never the
source of those problems"
Pure BS. The Queen Street problem was known in the 1960s probably earlier. Certainly the Alexandria Gazette Packet has published stories acknowledging the Legion's crime problem. How dumb does this guy think the public really is?
Jennings served as financial secretary and he teams with the guy who was fined for his alleged restoration of the ice house. It's not harrassment it's pathetic!
This is off topic, but I just had to post becasue I am so stunned. According to an article in alexandrianews.org, the City spends $25 million annually on Youth programs, NOT COUNTING what we spend on schools.
According to the Census data, Alexandria has approximately 30,000residents under the age of 18, which means we spend $833 per child, not counting the thousands we spend annually on each child's schooling. This is OUTRAGEOUS, considering that our household income is more than $82,000! Really?? Enough with hemorrhaging money for social services. Enough with their feel good/do little PC children-are-our-future ridiculousness. This is just one example of the City Council's madness. Seriously, I wouldn't mind paying taxes if it wasn't abundantly clear that you were wasting what I give you already. Grrr..
"According to the Census data, Alexandria has approximately 30,000residents under the age of 18, which means we spend $833 per child, not counting the thousands we spend annually on each child's schooling."
That is actually a little misleading because the money is concentrated on only certain groups of children.
Basically, at-risk and low-income youth receive the preponderance of that money.
Whats more upsetting is what exactly is the goal of spending all that money....what is the expected outcome?
just saw this: http://www.alexandrianews.org/2010/04/voice-walks-out-on-arha-board/
Barbara Crowder, 9 year ARHA resident, seems to be very busy. Does this woman have a job? She appears to have marketable skills, why is she still in public housing after 9 years?
I have asked ARHA staff about this. Apparently, once a prospective tenant signs the lease, they can stay in ARHA housing indefinitely. The trouble with this is that there is a dis-incentive to get a real job or stop having more kids, because of HUD income rules. If you make too much money, you can't stay in the housing, but add another kid and you can stay.
As for the Legion building, it should go. It represents no real historic significance. It is interesting that the folks bringing the civil case are claiming emotional damage. I wonder what would happen if every homeowner living near public housing participated in a civil case against ARHA claiming emotional damage and loss of value of their home due to the state of their neighborhood? They would all be declared racist.
The sad reality is that certain members of the city government would rather see the city struggle to maintain services for a policy-created underclass than to allow a natural progression of economic development. Until this changes, Alexandria will never attract enough folks to make city maintenance less of a burden to all.
"Until this changes, Alexandria will never attract enough folks to make city maintenance less of a burden to all."
Nor will they ever attract the businesses needed to populate areas like Carlyle, Potomac Yard, or the new Landmark area.
To have to sit and listen to residents who dont pay any taxes and their enablers making demands of the City that are totally out of line with what others may demand is ludicrous.
I would love to have the City pay my moving expenses to move out of here to Arlington but they would never do that.
Public housing is not a "home" its a rental. 9 years is just embarrassing. It doesnt show any initiative to try to better oneself and their family.
And the concentration of public housing kills off any hope of economic development or educational improvement needed to better the lives of children who live in these areas, by providing them with jobs and a good education.
But now back to our activist approved diversion, saving the Legion building.
"Whats more upsetting is what exactly is the goal of spending all that money....what is the expected outcome?"
You will get a variety of answers for that. Most at-risk youth programs are designed to keep children off the street and out of trouble, although some will argue that its designed to make up for bad parenting and is just a glorified form of "babysitting"
Other programs are remedial and help kids catch up with others in their classes in areas like English and Math. Results on these programs vary widely as it also requires forceful parenting skills to keep kids focused.
I am not sure the City really has an expected "outcome" so much as these programs, once created, are almost impossible to defund or eliminate.
As long as we are talking about fairness and compassion and economic development, consider these facts I just saw in a Times article:
The old adage "to those to whom much has been given, much is expected" certainly holds true in our era of affluence. In Alexandria, many are lucky to possess great wealth. Our estimated per capita personal income for 2007 was $70,632 according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, which puts Alexandria 12th nationally (and first in the Washington region).
Fortunately, Alexandrians also hold up the giving back part of the proverb. The generosity of those living in our municipality is enormous and can be measured in numerous ways. For instance, Alexandria ranked first nationwide in 2009 for online charitable giving, according to a report by the nonprofit consultant firm Convio.
We have the highest per capita income in the region and the highest rate of charitable giving.
Yet do you feel like our City reflects in any way that level of wealth, when it comes to economic growth, amenities, and things like retail and commercial development.
And we give more to charitable causes than anyone else in America, yet still, constantly, the screamers and the bleeding hearts demand more.
WHY is there such a dichotomy?
I have lived here 13 years and I cant figure it out.
"We have the highest per capita income in the region and the highest rate of charitable giving."
And we maintain a huge underclass, relative to our population at which we throw huge amounts of our dollars. I, for one, am tired of pouring money down this black hole. The City Council constantly says we need to spend money on schools, programs for children and the "underserved."
I just read a feel good article in the Alexandria Times about a convicted murderer (recently sentenced to 45 years in prison) who planned to attend landscape design school from prison. Seriously? Am I paying for this? What about the victim's children? Do they get taxpayer funded college? I highly doubt it.
Bottom line - our priorities in this city are so screwed. Is all this money thrown at social problems doing any good, empirically speaking? Can they prove it's helping, or do they just think it based on anecdotes? Personally, I'd like to know we're seeing results for all the money we are throwing at these social problems. They sure don't seem to be getting any better, depsite the fact we are spending ever increasing amounts of money on them.
"Yet do you feel like our City reflects in any way that level of wealth, when it comes to economic growth, amenities, and things like retail and commercial development."
It doesnt come close to feeling that way. I am amazed that many times I have to travel to Arlington or DC to do many things that I should be able to do right here in Alexandria.
"It doesnt come close to feeling that way. I am amazed that many times I have to travel to Arlington or DC to do many things that I should be able to do right here in Alexandria."
I think the city sucks given its overall treatment of the neighborhood. And don't misunderstand my intent the Legion building should come down. But why all the references to Arlington? The Examiner recently reported that Arlington's taxes were going sky high too. 58% increase or something in only a few years. I don't think Arlington's Council works more effectively but for starters they have staggered terms.
The crux here is our dismal school system, which discourages families from moving to Alexandria and discourages companies from locating here. We will never have a truly healthy, vibrant, caring community (to quote our dimwitted Mayor) until our schools are not dismal.
But, this will never happen as long as the City insists on its idiotic, expensive and ineffective concentrated brick and mortar public housing policy.
"The Examiner recently reported that Arlington's taxes were going sky high too. 58% increase or something in only a few years. "
The difference is they actually get something for their taxes. They have a semi-functional school system and a fairly vibrant retail and commercial scene.
Whatever happened to the Queen St Corridor revitalization and the money associated with improving the retail scene on Queen St? Wouldnt the rebuilding of the Legion building logically fit into that?
"But why all the references to Arlington?"
The question often comes up on a lot of Alexandria issues:
WHAT WOULD ARLINGTON DO?
"Wouldnt the rebuilding of the Legion building logically fit into that?"
No Hamer and Ross talk a good game but are stuck in yesterday. Let the booze flow, indulge black pride so long as the drunk and disorderly conduct is contained here. Look, the city could solve the Esmeralda problem. But Les Gals are on a short term kick to prove business co-equal. Kinda like Alito's argument regarding campaign spending, the role of corporations in political campaigns. At some point, a tipping point, the public good exceeds the private. So far only citizens have demonstrated a balanced approach to Queen Street.
"Look, the city could solve the Esmeralda problem."
And 24 Hour Express
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Drugs
200 Block of North Patrick Street, 4:57 a.m.
Drug/Narcotic Offenses: Arrest
Safe Haven opened when?
Missing Person
1100 Block of Oronoco Street, 10:00 a.m.
All Other Offenses: Open
And Council said massive development, vibrancy would solve such problems.
"Look, the city could solve the Esmeralda problem."
They could solve a lot of problems. Look at the chronology of the Braddock Road Metro Plan:
Monarch - nice retail - NOT
Madison - maybe someone will build something in 2030
Erkiletian - every month its supposed to get started and every month it goes nowhere
Post Office - Good luck building a park there, especially when you arent even talking to the Postal Service
Adkins - 10 to 15 more years before you can even touch it, by then Hamer will be off to her next gig and we will be on our 3rd planning process
Bland - what are the odds for the 1st lawsuit from VOICE?
Queen St - about the only beacon of hope for anything around here
Braddock Place - is that still standing?
When you look at Esmeraldas in light of everything else, you realize its not an isolated problem, its just part of the larger problem - our City politicians and staff have no clue about what economic development is or how to build communities.
I am absolutely stunned that our Mayor didnt offer up Braddock Place to Northrup. Metro accessible, great surrounding neighborhood, vibrant retail and commercial scene.
Cmon Mr. Mayor, arent you proud of all that office space?
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