Wednesday, April 18, 2007
BV Decisions Deferred; Police Note
Short Post Today
I’m happy to report that I’ve won my sabbatical for the upcoming school year. May can’t get here quick enough, I’ll tell you that. The blog and column that I write will get more attention (I have a story or two lurking that just need to have time with me before they can be released).
But until then, I have to get through finals, and for English professors (I teach journalism and composition at Montgomery College in Rockville) that means major projects and final exams. On top of that, I have senioritis something fierce, so it takes me about 30 percent longer to grade a batch of papers than it should! Soon, it will be over, and I’ll be able to focus on this writing more.
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Buckingham Decisions to be Deferred
A vote set for this Saturday’s county board meeting making the Buckingham Villages “Scenario 8” redevelopment a reality will be postponed until the June 9 board meeting, according to a three-page recommendation by Ron Carlee, the county manager. Carlee writes that the county and the developer, Paradigm Development Companies, have agreed to the delay.
The vote should have ratified the final draft of the agreement between Paradigm and Arlington County.
The main points of the plan would have Paradigm sell Buckingham Village 3, on the northeast corner of N. George Mason and N. Pershing drives, through the county to an affordable housing developer which would renovate and resell the units in a condominium-type arrangement to moderate-income buyers.
Village 1, west of N. George Mason, would be razed and replaced with townhouses and two four-story apartment complexes.
A total of 766 apartments and townhouses, including 300 at affordable rates, would be created or renovated under the plan.
Both N. 3rd and 4th streets would be extended. A park on N. George Mason at 4th Street would be built. Other details involving sewage and the environment would have to be worked out.
Mr. Carlee writes that much of the work has been done, but “the sale of Village 3 and the streets and park space, conducting normal due diligence necessary for land acquisition and undertaking normal environmental investigations” still must be undertaken.
“These contracts are complicated and will take additional time. While the details of the site plan, affordable housing commitments and funding, the Master Transportation amendments and other items have been reviewed by the community and are ready to be approved, these other items are extremely important to the overall package,” he writes.
This is the second time the vote was delayed.
The original goal was to vote on the plan before March 1, the deadline set in last July’s Memorandum of Understanding between the county and Paradigm; the MOU laid out the broad vision of the negotiations. Both sides agreed in February to delay.
At last month’s board meeting, the county agreed to much of the plan, but left details of the Village 3 sale out of that vote, with a plan to vote this month.
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Police Note for Buckingham:
April 15: Robbery by Force, 400 block of N. Thomas Street.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., a woman walking down the street was pushed from behind by a man and fell to the ground. The man took the woman’s purse and fled on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown race male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, thin, wearing a large black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, and black stocking material covering his face.
I’m happy to report that I’ve won my sabbatical for the upcoming school year. May can’t get here quick enough, I’ll tell you that. The blog and column that I write will get more attention (I have a story or two lurking that just need to have time with me before they can be released).
But until then, I have to get through finals, and for English professors (I teach journalism and composition at Montgomery College in Rockville) that means major projects and final exams. On top of that, I have senioritis something fierce, so it takes me about 30 percent longer to grade a batch of papers than it should! Soon, it will be over, and I’ll be able to focus on this writing more.
++++++++++
Buckingham Decisions to be Deferred
A vote set for this Saturday’s county board meeting making the Buckingham Villages “Scenario 8” redevelopment a reality will be postponed until the June 9 board meeting, according to a three-page recommendation by Ron Carlee, the county manager. Carlee writes that the county and the developer, Paradigm Development Companies, have agreed to the delay.
The vote should have ratified the final draft of the agreement between Paradigm and Arlington County.
The main points of the plan would have Paradigm sell Buckingham Village 3, on the northeast corner of N. George Mason and N. Pershing drives, through the county to an affordable housing developer which would renovate and resell the units in a condominium-type arrangement to moderate-income buyers.
Village 1, west of N. George Mason, would be razed and replaced with townhouses and two four-story apartment complexes.
A total of 766 apartments and townhouses, including 300 at affordable rates, would be created or renovated under the plan.
Both N. 3rd and 4th streets would be extended. A park on N. George Mason at 4th Street would be built. Other details involving sewage and the environment would have to be worked out.
Mr. Carlee writes that much of the work has been done, but “the sale of Village 3 and the streets and park space, conducting normal due diligence necessary for land acquisition and undertaking normal environmental investigations” still must be undertaken.
“These contracts are complicated and will take additional time. While the details of the site plan, affordable housing commitments and funding, the Master Transportation amendments and other items have been reviewed by the community and are ready to be approved, these other items are extremely important to the overall package,” he writes.
This is the second time the vote was delayed.
The original goal was to vote on the plan before March 1, the deadline set in last July’s Memorandum of Understanding between the county and Paradigm; the MOU laid out the broad vision of the negotiations. Both sides agreed in February to delay.
At last month’s board meeting, the county agreed to much of the plan, but left details of the Village 3 sale out of that vote, with a plan to vote this month.
++++++++++
Police Note for Buckingham:
April 15: Robbery by Force, 400 block of N. Thomas Street.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., a woman walking down the street was pushed from behind by a man and fell to the ground. The man took the woman’s purse and fled on foot. The suspect is described as an unknown race male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, thin, wearing a large black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, and black stocking material covering his face.
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