The Vienna Inn Stirs the Passions

This post on the Vienna Inn brought forward this feedback:

"I find it hard to believe the Town would demolish that area. Do you have some substantial proof that the Town has actually discussed that possibility, and how would they acquire the land?"

And this:

"This seems to be a big smoke screen - no way the Inn is going anywhere. It would be political suicide. No matter what you think of it the place is a landmark in this community and has just too deep of a following."

Some facts for those skeptical of Jane Seeman and Maud Robinson's true development intentions:

1. The Town organized a committee that studied all of Maple Avenue for redevelopment for 3 years.
2. The Town received that committee's report and promptly disbanded it. Report here.
3. The Town ignored their own committee and hired a consultant to study from only Lawyers Road to Beulah Road.
4. The Town received that study and promptly reduced the scope of redevelopment even further to between Lawyers Road and Park Street where there are almost no tear down structures.
5. The intent of all of these studies is to redevelop Maple Avenue from the current average height of 3 stories to 4-6 stories and to fix assorted zoning anomalies.

See where this is going?

All Town Council members want to concentrate new Vienna redevelopment at or around the new Town Green. Whether or not there are any decent pieces of land there for anything substantive is not something they apparently consider. The Council has clearly ruled out redevelopment on larger lots ready for redevelopment such as the Marco Polo lot, Wolf Trap motel lot or the Tara Thai building lot as those parcels are not within the randomly decided boundary between Lawyers and Park.

The Vienna Inn is a target for redevelopment - their political suicide or not. Vienna Town Council members know that the Vienna Inn business owner does not own the land on which the Inn sits. The Abraham family (prior owner of the Vienna Inn) owns the land still. The Council seems to have had discussions with the Abraham family. If you were the Abraham family what would you do? If the Vienna Town Council offers the Abraham family a much higher density for their property do you really think they will keep a lease with the Vienna Inn?