Watkins Centre:
Today, June 29, 2007, will mark what will either be the beginning of one of the most effective and insightful mixed -use planning provisions in Chesterfield County history or merely just another planning effort that fell short of expectation.
Expectation. That is what should have truly been addressed and answered at meetings weeks ago. The following address such expectations:
Revenue expectation: to generate 11 million in tax revenues for the County
from Chesterfield County Public Relations: Watkins Centre will be a "major employment center for the county and the region"
from State Sen. John Watkins (R-Chesterfield) Watkins project will be "used to develop the newest gateway into Chesterfield County and the region"
Friends. These are some very high expectations. High indeed.
The project with components being developed by Zarimbe Metropolitan, Gray Land Development and Rebkee Company, involves land held by Gray Land Development (288 acres), Metropolitan(130 acres) Trammel (35 acres) and remaining land along the project held by Watkins Land .
All of these components are located around the Route 288/Route 60 interchange just west of the Village of Midlothian. There is also condirable land not zoned currently for the project held as well by participants in the Watkins Centre development that undoubtedly will be devloped later. These parcels back to Otterdale Road (175 acres)in one instance and also represent about 50 acres on the opposite side of Route 288.
The Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Quality have signed off on the project and Watkins Centre is moving forward with approved plans of development.
It is to have: a Village of Westchester on 280 acres with 1,600 home lots (Grey Land Development) a lifetsyle center devoloped by Zaremba and the Shoppes at Westchester developed by Rebkee.
The biggest hurdle that the proposers of the project had to face was the fact that most of the projects that have come in years prior have not lived up to expectations. The concern citizens have is how will this one be any different and what will it leave in its wake?
There is concern for Chesterfield Towne Centers future indeed, but many have forgotten what will be the impacts on The Boulders or Arbortitum in terms of leased office space. Will we be sitting years from now asking ourselves how we fix the problem of not only residential sprawl but also corporate/office sprawl as well. Now, I am not a believer in government involving itself in "free markets" by any means but if it does not consider the local and regional impacts of projects it supports and prepares for them than in the end the citizens of the county can count on larger fees for services and tax increases.
The fear may be one that Mr. Dan Gecker, currently Planning Commissioner for Midlothian addressed back in 2006 in the blogosphere concerning whether the results of projects like Watkins Centre should not merely be the shift of revenues from one part of the county to another. In the free market system that indeed may be the result but Mr. Gecker view hits the issue right on the head. There has to be a greater comphrehensive plan for Chesterfield where such negative impacts could be limited. I personally do not believe we should be giving Corporations in the private sector major concessions or developers zero proffers for any project in the County. The reason I base this on is private sector companies should have to compete on an equal playing field and pay their fair share at getting to the Chesterfield consumer. The only area I see where this may not be the case is one in which we seek to revitalize an area of the county.
Midlothian, an area with the largest household income numbers just under 100K per househould friends is not an area that needs revitalization and the private sector should have to and be willing to pay fair market conditions or like Short Pumps example a premium to get into such a market.
My concern though has to do with how many projects can be sold to us as "unique". Watkins Centre is to be "unique", and yet so is Magnolia Green and then so is Roseland. While I believe Watkins Centre is a project long overdue and managed correctly with the continual feedback and involvement of citizens may in fact succeed but meeting the "expectations" of those behind the project appears a little much.
One of the things I think would really help those of us who consider grwoth a really big issue is for one candidate to simply have a map of Chesterfield County looking out to 2014 drawn up demonstrating the impact of every approved planning case before the county right now and show what are County will look like once all come on board. I am talking housing density, population density, school density, commercial and light industrial, transportation use projections, etc...
Friends, I took a map a simply placed areas where we know development has already been approved and I can tell you that Matoaca, parts of near 360, Clover Hill and Midlothian look like an infrastructure nightmare. This coupled with the Upper Swift Creek Plan pending debate.
We will have to wait and see if Watkins indeed becomes a "gateway" or merely the continuation of the greater problems we face with the growth of our County.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
A Tale of Two Cities; Same Past
The say that timing is everything. Well, after spending some time down in Charleston, SC where I happened to spend some years during my college days I returned and found the Sunday edition of the RTD and the article concerning Richmond's slave trail which tells the story of the African Slave Trade and the role of Richmond.
I have been living in the Richmond area virtually all my life and found that though I welcome the vision behind the project and that the story of the slave trade deserves and needs to be told, however, I ponder exactly why in todays times it seems to always come down to one side of the story or another.
What I mean is for years, seems like forever, we have had a City Council in Richmond who at every attempt distances itself from the City's history pre-1865. Those behind the scenes seem content on pushing the Museum of the Confederacy out of Richmond altogether even after demonstrating it was making money. The Council has always in its history refused to acknowledge those African -Amercians who played roles within the Confederate military or those slaves who fought to defend the lands in which they were raised. In the same light as casting every Virginian as a slaveowner are we saying that all African-Americans were slaves. I hope the trail will dismiss some tof the myths behind our own history. I hope that it portrays the truth and not a mere portrayal of how some would like it to have been because if that happens its not "historical" at all but merely a means to continue the divisiveness that always seems to follow any discussion regarding our history.
It saddens me as a father that in 2007 our children do not really get the opportunity to embrace our capital city's history, other than drive-by monuments and a few museums. I look at a city like Charleston, SC which has completely embraced its past, the good and the bad, and has moved in the direction of truly honoring that past by bringing in every aspect of its community's involvement. Charleston tells the story and I hope someday Richmond will follow. Charleston uderstands that its future is indeed its past. It is not today a haven for Fortune 500 companies or big business and is built an economy as a city on what amounts to a great tourist industry built on the backs of hardworking people proud of their history and who have realized the greater good in embracing it.
In Charleston you will find a city telling a rich tale of triumph against the odds. The seaport city has a merchantile history that even today shows its head in its ports of commerce, an architectural history that has defied hurricane after hurricane all along the Battery, an Amerciana history, an occupation history as it was held by the British during the Revolutionary War (think The Patriot starring Mel Gibson) its slave trade history and of course its Civil War era history. Each part of the history is expressed. You see it all has its place because as a people that is who the people of Charleston are. You will find different languages spoken throughout as you walk, dialects from the Carribean and African nations as descendants of slaves identify with both their natural and historical pasts with a low-country soul about it. In all it is quite charming.
This kind of charm I feel is why when travel studies or surveys are conducted Charleston rate so high and Richmond often never makes the list. You see people are not distuinghing our fine city from that of any other and in that lies the problem. The Capital of the Confederacy is a part of our rich history that many would rather have us forget. You see it is still too painful for some they tell us. For me though I think our history is used as a means to keep us divided, to keep us at odds, keep that feeling no matter how small of fear in each other that should one side or another have to fed it with a little political ferver they will from time to time to keep us heading down that same path we have been on since the 70's. What politcians and mouth-pieces of causes know and we often forget is that it is not the promise of the future that will heal this great city but the true honoring and reconciliation of our past that will. Only then will we really come together. Only then can we be one ship made right by truth and forgiveness. Only then will we be ready to show the world exactly who we really are as a people. This city establishment has failed to be the mentor in this respect.
I look at a city like Charleston, much smaller than Richmond, and yet a community that is using its rich history to benefit its future. Charleston has its share of issues; schools, poverty, jobs but it appears that together as a community they recognize that one of the biggest economical impacts they have is their city itself and all it represents. I ask myself exactly when will it come to pass Richmond has horse-drawn carriage tours taking people up and down Monument Avenue daily telling the story of Richmond's history pre and post Civil War all the while narrated by an African-American who is descended from the very people he his telling the story of. When that happens. When we can take pride in the fcat that we have embraced our past no matter how painful and a Virginian descended from slaves can where the uniform of a Confederate or drive a carriage that has the stars and bars emblem on it we will know that the powers that seek to culturely divide us have begun to lose their grip on our great City.
It is my hope that the Slave Trail and other historical endeavors in Richmond will be marketed effectively and that the counties in and around the city opt to make it a part of public school education. I will take my children but in the end my friends I will teach my children that it takes more than a statue placed within the confines of the city to bring "reconciliation", but a committment to dialogue with a foundation that we are ALL Richmonders and ALL Virginians and have much to be proud of together.
If there is doubt in anyone's minds what "real" reconciliation brings maybe we only have to look as far as Charleston, SC. Indeed its a tale of two cities with the same past.
I have been living in the Richmond area virtually all my life and found that though I welcome the vision behind the project and that the story of the slave trade deserves and needs to be told, however, I ponder exactly why in todays times it seems to always come down to one side of the story or another.
What I mean is for years, seems like forever, we have had a City Council in Richmond who at every attempt distances itself from the City's history pre-1865. Those behind the scenes seem content on pushing the Museum of the Confederacy out of Richmond altogether even after demonstrating it was making money. The Council has always in its history refused to acknowledge those African -Amercians who played roles within the Confederate military or those slaves who fought to defend the lands in which they were raised. In the same light as casting every Virginian as a slaveowner are we saying that all African-Americans were slaves. I hope the trail will dismiss some tof the myths behind our own history. I hope that it portrays the truth and not a mere portrayal of how some would like it to have been because if that happens its not "historical" at all but merely a means to continue the divisiveness that always seems to follow any discussion regarding our history.
It saddens me as a father that in 2007 our children do not really get the opportunity to embrace our capital city's history, other than drive-by monuments and a few museums. I look at a city like Charleston, SC which has completely embraced its past, the good and the bad, and has moved in the direction of truly honoring that past by bringing in every aspect of its community's involvement. Charleston tells the story and I hope someday Richmond will follow. Charleston uderstands that its future is indeed its past. It is not today a haven for Fortune 500 companies or big business and is built an economy as a city on what amounts to a great tourist industry built on the backs of hardworking people proud of their history and who have realized the greater good in embracing it.
In Charleston you will find a city telling a rich tale of triumph against the odds. The seaport city has a merchantile history that even today shows its head in its ports of commerce, an architectural history that has defied hurricane after hurricane all along the Battery, an Amerciana history, an occupation history as it was held by the British during the Revolutionary War (think The Patriot starring Mel Gibson) its slave trade history and of course its Civil War era history. Each part of the history is expressed. You see it all has its place because as a people that is who the people of Charleston are. You will find different languages spoken throughout as you walk, dialects from the Carribean and African nations as descendants of slaves identify with both their natural and historical pasts with a low-country soul about it. In all it is quite charming.
This kind of charm I feel is why when travel studies or surveys are conducted Charleston rate so high and Richmond often never makes the list. You see people are not distuinghing our fine city from that of any other and in that lies the problem. The Capital of the Confederacy is a part of our rich history that many would rather have us forget. You see it is still too painful for some they tell us. For me though I think our history is used as a means to keep us divided, to keep us at odds, keep that feeling no matter how small of fear in each other that should one side or another have to fed it with a little political ferver they will from time to time to keep us heading down that same path we have been on since the 70's. What politcians and mouth-pieces of causes know and we often forget is that it is not the promise of the future that will heal this great city but the true honoring and reconciliation of our past that will. Only then will we really come together. Only then can we be one ship made right by truth and forgiveness. Only then will we be ready to show the world exactly who we really are as a people. This city establishment has failed to be the mentor in this respect.
I look at a city like Charleston, much smaller than Richmond, and yet a community that is using its rich history to benefit its future. Charleston has its share of issues; schools, poverty, jobs but it appears that together as a community they recognize that one of the biggest economical impacts they have is their city itself and all it represents. I ask myself exactly when will it come to pass Richmond has horse-drawn carriage tours taking people up and down Monument Avenue daily telling the story of Richmond's history pre and post Civil War all the while narrated by an African-American who is descended from the very people he his telling the story of. When that happens. When we can take pride in the fcat that we have embraced our past no matter how painful and a Virginian descended from slaves can where the uniform of a Confederate or drive a carriage that has the stars and bars emblem on it we will know that the powers that seek to culturely divide us have begun to lose their grip on our great City.
It is my hope that the Slave Trail and other historical endeavors in Richmond will be marketed effectively and that the counties in and around the city opt to make it a part of public school education. I will take my children but in the end my friends I will teach my children that it takes more than a statue placed within the confines of the city to bring "reconciliation", but a committment to dialogue with a foundation that we are ALL Richmonders and ALL Virginians and have much to be proud of together.
If there is doubt in anyone's minds what "real" reconciliation brings maybe we only have to look as far as Charleston, SC. Indeed its a tale of two cities with the same past.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Wachovia to Outsource
Well we should have seen this coming to. Not the original announcement that Wachovia would be moving certain operations to St. Louis, but the fact that Wachovia will follow in the path of many Fortune 100/500 companies in its efforts to cut costs by moving portions of its operations out of the United States.
The trend of companies moving call centers and help desks by way of "outsourcing" continues well below the radar nowadays. It so common that it is almost not even news anymore. Thats sad.
It is a by-product of an inefficient corporate tax system that rewards companies for not employing Americans and hiring other nationalities on the cheap as cost cutting practices that benefit the bottom line in a competitive marketplace.
It is also the by-product of a global economy and trade policy that is completely unbalanced.
First Wachovia leaves Richmond, changes the big billboard and now evidently is taking its logo to the Phillipines as well. Surprised? The only surprise to me was it wasn't India.
The trend of companies moving call centers and help desks by way of "outsourcing" continues well below the radar nowadays. It so common that it is almost not even news anymore. Thats sad.
It is a by-product of an inefficient corporate tax system that rewards companies for not employing Americans and hiring other nationalities on the cheap as cost cutting practices that benefit the bottom line in a competitive marketplace.
It is also the by-product of a global economy and trade policy that is completely unbalanced.
First Wachovia leaves Richmond, changes the big billboard and now evidently is taking its logo to the Phillipines as well. Surprised? The only surprise to me was it wasn't India.
CCRC announces BBQ for Don Sowder
The Chesterfield County Republican Committee has announced on their respective website that there will be a BBQ event held for supporters of Supervisor Don Sowder of the Midlothian District who will be seeking re-election in the Fall after serving since the interim election of 2006.
Mr. Sowder will face the same opponent again this time around in Dan Gecker, Chairman of the Chesterfield Planning Commission.
The BBQ will be held this weekend. Visit the CCRC site for details. You can use the link on this site.
Former Virginia Senator George Allen is to be in attendance at the event.
Mr. Sowder will face the same opponent again this time around in Dan Gecker, Chairman of the Chesterfield Planning Commission.
The BBQ will be held this weekend. Visit the CCRC site for details. You can use the link on this site.
Former Virginia Senator George Allen is to be in attendance at the event.
Friday, June 15, 2007
So whats a House Race cost anyway?
A buddy of mine sent me over some information found on a great website which I have placed in the Daily Rant section. Click on the site for Virginia Election Resources.
So have you ever though about what it would cost to run for the House of Delegates?
These are some numbers from a few area races from 2005:
House District Votes Expense $$ Expense per Vote$
63 Dem 15,685 $121,097 7.72
65 Rep 24, 619 $ 43,496 1.77
66 Rep 21,890 $156,693 7.16
68 Ind 26,886 $639,188 23.77
69 Dem 14,527 $481,799 33.17
70 Dem 13,745 $37,863 2.75
I thought that this was some pretty neat info regarding what a campaign must deal with in terms of finances to simply stay in the hunt.
If anyone is unsure or unaware of which Virginia House District they may currently be residing in simply leave me a comment in the comment section below and I will get back with you on it ..Or you can use the link to House Boundaries in the Daily Rant section.
So have you ever though about what it would cost to run for the House of Delegates?
These are some numbers from a few area races from 2005:
House District Votes Expense $$ Expense per Vote$
63 Dem 15,685 $121,097 7.72
65 Rep 24, 619 $ 43,496 1.77
66 Rep 21,890 $156,693 7.16
68 Ind 26,886 $639,188 23.77
69 Dem 14,527 $481,799 33.17
70 Dem 13,745 $37,863 2.75
I thought that this was some pretty neat info regarding what a campaign must deal with in terms of finances to simply stay in the hunt.
If anyone is unsure or unaware of which Virginia House District they may currently be residing in simply leave me a comment in the comment section below and I will get back with you on it ..Or you can use the link to House Boundaries in the Daily Rant section.
The Road to November
With the Primaries in the rear view mirror for most of us, we now look to the Genral Election which comes in a mere four months in early November.
The last two days have been very active in the blogosphere as one would imagine. There's always some kind of drama in and around elections, even if they are primaries.
The most blogs seem to be centered around two Virginia Senate races in the Hanger v. Sayre and the Stosch v. Blackburn where the word is on the street Democratic participation in Republican primaries had an impact on the election result.
Most of that stems from the feeling that Sen. Hanger enlisted Democrats particpate in the primary in his district. From then on its down hill as the debate goes. Until election laws change, people can vote in these type of primary events regardless of political view and they are well within their right to do so I guess.
Locally I recall a piece in the Village News where residents of the Democratic camp were advised that their participation in the Republican primary in the Bermuda District of Chesterfield was welcome in determining the race between Dorothy Jaeckle and Jack Wilson. The implication was one in which Democrats should support Jaeckle in the primary over Wilson.
Jaeckle went on the defeat Wilson, though I have no way of knowing the true numbers of Democrats who may or may not have particpated but turnout was a little better than expected. Jaeckle will now face Democrat Ree Hart for the seat on the Board of Supervisors.
I know alot of people get pretty upset over that kind of stuff, but I do not subscribe to it. People as it stands have the right to do so I guess, I am not saying its ethical to support someone for the sole purpose of voting against them in four months, but its perfectly permitted under current state of things.
If enough people get fed up with that kind of stuff maybe thing will get changed but that will not be a very easy undertaking.
If these things really do occur it is saddening I must admit for those who are on the losing end. It doesn't seem fair, but well we all know about fairness is in line when talking about politics. Shouldn't be that way, but thats the reality.
I think fairness was one of the things we should have learned in kindergarten.
The good thing though we can now focus on is the road ahead and the actual General Election and have fun with the fair analysis of all the races. I for one a glad that The Road to November is upon us.
The last two days have been very active in the blogosphere as one would imagine. There's always some kind of drama in and around elections, even if they are primaries.
The most blogs seem to be centered around two Virginia Senate races in the Hanger v. Sayre and the Stosch v. Blackburn where the word is on the street Democratic participation in Republican primaries had an impact on the election result.
Most of that stems from the feeling that Sen. Hanger enlisted Democrats particpate in the primary in his district. From then on its down hill as the debate goes. Until election laws change, people can vote in these type of primary events regardless of political view and they are well within their right to do so I guess.
Locally I recall a piece in the Village News where residents of the Democratic camp were advised that their participation in the Republican primary in the Bermuda District of Chesterfield was welcome in determining the race between Dorothy Jaeckle and Jack Wilson. The implication was one in which Democrats should support Jaeckle in the primary over Wilson.
Jaeckle went on the defeat Wilson, though I have no way of knowing the true numbers of Democrats who may or may not have particpated but turnout was a little better than expected. Jaeckle will now face Democrat Ree Hart for the seat on the Board of Supervisors.
I know alot of people get pretty upset over that kind of stuff, but I do not subscribe to it. People as it stands have the right to do so I guess, I am not saying its ethical to support someone for the sole purpose of voting against them in four months, but its perfectly permitted under current state of things.
If enough people get fed up with that kind of stuff maybe thing will get changed but that will not be a very easy undertaking.
If these things really do occur it is saddening I must admit for those who are on the losing end. It doesn't seem fair, but well we all know about fairness is in line when talking about politics. Shouldn't be that way, but thats the reality.
I think fairness was one of the things we should have learned in kindergarten.
The good thing though we can now focus on is the road ahead and the actual General Election and have fun with the fair analysis of all the races. I for one a glad that The Road to November is upon us.
Dan Gecker to Run Independent
After the June 12, 2007 primaries across the County, www.chesterfield2007.com now has Dan Gecker, current Chairman of Chesterfield Planning Commission, listed as an Independent (I) candidate for the seat of Midlothian Board of Supervisor.
The current Supervisor serving Midlothian is Mr. Don Sowder (R) who defeated Dan Gecker, running as a Democrat last Fall to fill the seat left vacate by the departure of Ed Barber(D) who had served the Midlothian for quite some time.
I will attempt to contact Mr. Gecker and see about his platform for his candidacy.
As of yet no debates between the candidates as been announced.
The current Supervisor serving Midlothian is Mr. Don Sowder (R) who defeated Dan Gecker, running as a Democrat last Fall to fill the seat left vacate by the departure of Ed Barber(D) who had served the Midlothian for quite some time.
I will attempt to contact Mr. Gecker and see about his platform for his candidacy.
As of yet no debates between the candidates as been announced.
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