Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Developers can't wait to slap up buildings and retail over in Arlington, yet it's been 10 yrs and the City can't get a developer to actually do anything with Landmark Mall. They like to pretend it has something to do with different landlords but the reality is the developer doesn't want to pour money into something that will just lose money. Landmark is completely car dependent, the surrounding neighborhoods can not support upscale retail and dining, and they can't offer anything unique enough to convince people to drive to come to the area.

You are aware that there are several new, market rate, developments on South Pickett and on Van Dorn. At least one has a new brewpub? There is an upscale Indian restaurant in Cameron Station? In fact despite the delays to Landmark, more is happening in the West End (and of course there are new developments coming elsewhere in West Alex - at least two new projects on Beauregard, for example.

That development was supposed to go up many years ago - it's amazing that they even started on it. It was actually slated to be more ambitious.

Cameron Station has never been able to fill their retail spaces. There is churn of the smaller business. the childcare center has certainly been a constant though.

Which does your first paragraph refer to? South Pickett, or Beauregard?

My point about Cameron Station was simply that the area CAN support some quality dining. I think London Curry House has been there for some time. Not sure how well Portner's Brewpub is doing. Of course some of the ethnic restaurants on Van Dorn are actually pretty good, even if not quite as attractive looking. But yeah, the Landmark area is not the most upscale in the City. I don't expect every single block to be gentrified.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Developers can't wait to slap up buildings and retail over in Arlington, yet it's been 10 yrs and the City can't get a developer to actually do anything with Landmark Mall. They like to pretend it has something to do with different landlords but the reality is the developer doesn't want to pour money into something that will just lose money. Landmark is completely car dependent, the surrounding neighborhoods can not support upscale retail and dining, and they can't offer anything unique enough to convince people to drive to come to the area.

You are aware that there are several new, market rate, developments on South Pickett and on Van Dorn. At least one has a new brewpub? There is an upscale Indian restaurant in Cameron Station? In fact despite the delays to Landmark, more is happening in the West End (and of course there are new developments coming elsewhere in West Alex - at least two new projects on Beauregard, for example.

That development was supposed to go up many years ago - it's amazing that they even started on it. It was actually slated to be more ambitious.

Cameron Station has never been able to fill their retail spaces. There is churn of the smaller business. the childcare center has certainly been a constant though.

Anonymous wrote:Well - I read the article and that mayor sounds wackadoodle. The town I live in has its own share of issues so it was nice to read that maybe other areas around here have their own nutty local governance problems too.

+1, I live in City of Fairfax and our mayor was arrested for swapping meth or sex but Alexandria’s mayor just sound like a space cadet who has no idea what she is doing.

Anonymous wrote:
Developers can't wait to slap up buildings and retail over in Arlington, yet it's been 10 yrs and the City can't get a developer to actually do anything with Landmark Mall. They like to pretend it has something to do with different landlords but the reality is the developer doesn't want to pour money into something that will just lose money. Landmark is completely car dependent, the surrounding neighborhoods can not support upscale retail and dining, and they can't offer anything unique enough to convince people to drive to come to the area.

You are aware that there are several new, market rate, developments on South Pickett and on Van Dorn. At least one has a new brewpub? There is an upscale Indian restaurant in Cameron Station? In fact despite the delays to Landmark, more is happening in the West End (and of course there are new developments coming elsewhere in West Alex - at least two new projects on Beauregard, for example.

Anonymous wrote:I hope I don't have to vote for either of them. He has the vision of an ant in a tunnel, and she is completely daft and is entirely too dependent on that sycophant who hangs around her.

This city is definitely going in the wrong direction if these two are the best we can get to run.

Our family priorities are solutions to the horrible traffic problems. I would like to be able to get from one side of the city to another in 20 minutes or less. That is completely impossible these days.

I think Justin definitely has a vision for the City.

I can get from NW Alexandria to Old Town in about 30 minutes on my bike. You are going in one of the most crowded corridors at peak? Welcome to living in a city. The solutions are going to be better transit - west Alex BRT on the way, for example - nothing will make driving easier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to know where the heck good bagels exist in Alexandria??? Author is full of it

+1 as

Bagel truthers are on to his lies.

I bet he was talking about bagel uprising:
http://bageluprising.com

They are pretty good, though I think Brooklyn bagels in Clarendon is the best in the region.

Also good bagels at the weekend Farmers market. Lots of restaurants closing in Alexandria. And wtf is up with the waterfront / marina. What a waste of space

Anonymous wrote:

There’s a part of Fairfax that just calls itself Alexandria, and nobody can do anything about it.

I’m 40 and until 4 years ago I lived in the City of Alexandria. I attended Mt. Vernon elem, GW middle, and TCW. I’ve worked in the City and enjoyed traditions such as the Scottish Walk, ghost tours, etc.

4 years ago moved to the Fairfax Alexandria area and I love how the author captured the sentiment - it confuses so many people to have this area called Alexandria and yet have nothing to do with the City. Yet the name remains.

I agree that the City is in need of massive infrastructure improvements; schools need to improve, and the East/West divide only continues. I don’t think either Silberburg or Wilson is the answer but I don’t get a vote

Anonymous wrote:Well - I read the article and that mayor sounds wackadoodle. The town I live in has its own share of issues so it was nice to read that maybe other areas around here have their own nutty local governance problems too.

Ha, that's too funny! I read the article and thought they made her sound reasonably sane and logical. Of course the other front-runner isn't too hot, either. So maybe we should do some horse-trading. Surely it can't get any worse for us!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I want to know where the heck good bagels exist in Alexandria??? Author is full of it

+1

Bagel truthers are on to his lies.

I bet he was talking about bagel uprising:
http://bageluprising.com

They are pretty good, though I think Brooklyn bagels in Clarendon is the best in the region.

Well - I read the article and that mayor sounds wackadoodle. The town I live in has its own share of issues so it was nice to read that maybe other areas around here have their own nutty local governance problems too.

Anonymous wrote:Well as a resident of West Alexandria, I can rest assured that neither gives a single polished turd about my neighborhood so none of it matters. They’ll just stay focused on Old Town and Del Ray.

Haha. True though!

Anonymous wrote:I want to know where the heck good bagels exist in Alexandria??? Author is full of it

+1

Bagel truthers are on to his lies.

No, just no. I can't vote for either of them. Come election time for the first time in many years, I just won't vote.

The only candidate I would be willing to vote for would be the one who would end the City's Affordable Housing program and turn it over to a private entity. It does not make economic sense for a tiny City to be paying to house people when there are so many other pressing infrastructure needs.

Developers can't wait to slap up buildings and retail over in Arlington, yet it's been 10 yrs and the City can't get a developer to actually do anything with Landmark Mall. They like to pretend it has something to do with different landlords but the reality is the developer doesn't want to pour money into something that will just lose money. Landmark is completely car dependent, the surrounding neighborhoods can not support upscale retail and dining, and they can't offer anything unique enough to convince people to drive to come to the area.

The schools are pretty much a lost cause at this point. Speaking of Landmark, the City should get the developer to sell it back to them in a fire sale and the City can turn it into a massive secondary school with all the amenities students could possibly want or need. At least it would be of some good use instead of sitting vacant.

Oh yeah, and then there is the ill fated Victory Center building over on Eisenhower. Built something like 10 years ago, never occupied by a single tenant and apparently now needs to be renovated. Crazy they couldn't attract a single tenant to an office building that was in walking distance to a metro.

I want to know where the heck good bagels exist in Alexandria??? Author is full of it

Anonymous wrote:Well as a resident of West Alexandria, I can rest assured that neither gives a single polished turd about my neighborhood so none of it matters. They’ll just stay focused on Old Town and Del Ray.

+1 And even then it is just one little central area.