The Letter Jane Seeman Did NOT Want Vienna Citizens to Read

Very interesting letter. It has some excellent suggestions for land use. Why not try it? Underground parking is important for all new development. Look how the town is struggling for parking at the Noodles/Shopping Lot. The town approved the development knowing that parking would be a problem. It is. Nothing has changed. Poor Safeway gets hit with the overfill. All because our Town Officials did approve what shouldn't have been approved. I believe the Planning Commission voted against this development and one reason --- no parking. How many citizens curse trying to utilize this shopping strip? Is it fair to the shops? Is it fair to the citizens?

So the choice is clear. Lawsuits cost money, and take too much damned time. Folks, if you want to see Vienna enter the 2000's with all the fanfare and revelry it deserves, the choice is clear. Vote the lot out, and support people who are right for Vienna!

We need to stop supporting the old cronies who are letting Vienna die on the vine!

As short as 10 years ago, Maud would have strong-armed the group represented in the letter into building a strip mall. Now, even Maud's machine cannot force this action since the land is far too valuable. Money may actually be more powerful than Maud and this may be the end for her control.

The men who wrote that letter (I'm guessing) ultimately knew it would end up on this site.

I'm taking a stab in the dark but, if someone wants to get something done, getting space on HistoricVienna.com, is better than trying to work with the Town, eh?!

This Dear Jane letter/proposal puts much on the table to discuss. Vienna needs to decide what it wants to be when it grows up. Given its sleepy residential character and that it is a necessary haven for family living in our area that is surrounded by big-time development... the Beltway, Metro, Tysons Corner, Reston, Dulles corridor, and now Merrifield... and that is land-locked and inundated by surrounding development pressures such as traffic, I suggest that Vienna should strive to remain the residential community that is needed here to preserve a certain quality of life... and our property values.

To this end, the Town's commercial corridor redevelopment should be PLANNED and SCALED to fit the available space and its residential community aspirations. A low-rise village appeals to me... 7-story buildings do not. Redevelopment respective of land value alone would not be sufficient. The Town should adopt a comprehensive plan that achieves the desired scale. Much of Maple Ave. is ready to be razed... like both sides of the Magruders block. How should that look when it is rebuilt?

Underground garages might sound clever, but don't forget that those cars must come and go on the few arteries that serve Vienna. We've seen new developments in Town that try to maximize the land value... witness the parking dilemmas at Vienna Presbyterian Church, Noodles etc, Brazins etc, Bukont's pipestem driveway on Locust, and soon the expanded Park St. strip mall. The Town needs a plan... what should it be? Should it be left to the retiring dynasty that may be tempted to cash out? Or should the next generation take an active interest... get involved... find out Council candidate views and VOTE in Vienna's elections?

One item stood out in the Dear Jane letter... "In summary, we agree that a five story height limit as outlined above is appropriate for our project." Who's agreeing?

Town Green...The "who's agreeing" referred to in the letter is apparently the Maple Avenue Vision Committee - now disbanded. Their report is here (PDF).

Thanks, I should read that report to see if it agrees... 5 stories plus another story for Victorian ornamentation and mechanical rooms... 6 stories.

The height of any building in Vienna is ultimately relative. The tallest building in Vienna now also sits at the highest point in Vienna.

Too bad for new member of the Windover Heights Historic District Board of Review member Chuck Anderson whose home abuts this new development. On one hand his house will now become unharmonious and garish to it's new surroundings. Probably have to be taken out of the historic district....again. OR will Chuck fight the development of this adjacent property that abuts his property while his wife campaigns to increase the size of Green Hedges? What a freak'in nightmare for the ANDERSONS!!!!!!

NOT!!!! What comes around finally goes around!

Now it is clear why Anderson was appointed to the WHBR. Maud and Jane knew about the proposal from the Marco Polo in advance and felt Chuckie could help derail it. The three are morons.

One word:
VOTE!

Did you read the insanity in this article? Soooo, let's hurry up and rebuild Maple Ave. with 6 story office buildings and underground parking garages. It's time to retire, cash out, and get the hell out of here! Or, we could hold on to what we've got... a low-rise pedestrian village center offering basic everyday goods and services to support our established residential community. Work and play at Tysons; LIVE in Vienna! I say Vienna should finish building and preserve its family-oriented pedestrian residential and parkland community. How can this future NOT appeal to the 35,000 residents who live here? Get to know your Town Council candidates and VOTE!

Your reference to 35000 who live here does not only reflect the 14500 residents of Vienna proper but the residents of the surrounding area. However, according to Money Magazine Vienna's 4th status was based on a population of over 61000. Historical statement: "Just because I live across the street from the Vienna line they won't let me vote in Vienna elections".