Donald Trump Has More Taste Than Arlington County Government?

Comments on impending demolition of historic Wilson School at Arlington County Board Meeting on February 25, 2017.

I think it’s safe to say that President Trump is not popular in Arlington right now, given the lopsided vote the County delivered to his opponent last November—76 percent to be precise. Contributing to Trump’s lack of popularity in liberal circles is the widespread perception that he epitomizes tasteless wealth, i.e. the nouveau riche.

Yet on my way to a Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protest last December, I passed the Old Post Office Pavilion, newly renovated by Trump into a luxury hotel. I observed that no pains were spared to restore the exterior of the Post Office Pavilion to its original grandeur. Continue reading ›

No Cost Benefit Analysis For WRAPS Plan

Comments on the West Rosslyn Area Plan Study (WRAPS) at Arlington County Board Meeting on February 25, 2017.

The WRAPS project is promoted by County staff as a great deal for Rosslyn. With developer Penzance underwriting the cost of a new fire station, a new cross street, a new park and a ground lease on County property worth millions of dollars, what’s not to like about it?

Well, for one thing the park to be constructed occupies only a portion of the original Rosslyn-Highlands Park, and this space will be shared by at least 1,000 additional residents in two high rises to be constructed on the site. The fire station will share a building with residents of 330 apartments in one of the towers. Residents here and the 560 units in the apartment building next door will compete with 775 students of the adjacent new Wilson School for short term parking, recreational facilities, pedestrian access and public transit. Continue reading ›

PRESS RELEASE: Nestle USA’s Relocation to Arlington Not So Sweet

Arlington County Board Candidate Audrey Clement welcomed the news that 1812 N. Moore Street, Arlington’s tallest office building–which has been vacant since construction in 2013–will soon have a new tenant.

“Finding a tenant was a major coup for the owner, Monday Properties, and for the County itself, which is struggling with a 20% office vacancy rate,” said Clement. “But the choice of tenant–Nestle USA–leaves a lot to be desired.”

With a market capitalization of $235 billion and $9.4 billion in annual profits, Nestle is the world’s largest food corporation. But there is a dark side to Nestle – and it’s not chocolate. Continue reading ›