Mad Maud Part 2: Laurie Cole Waxing Poetic About Strip Malls
From the September Newsletter:
Asking the Right Question
By Laurie Genevro Cole
Vienna Town Councilwoman
It may seem obvious that how we frame a question can influence the answer we get. But recently I saw an article that brought this point home for me in a very important context for Vienna's future - how we go about planning development.
A Portland, Oregon, magazine posed the question: "With about a million more people arriving in the Portland metro area by 2030, what is the most important thing for the city to preserve?" This simple question turns upside down the approach to planning we've been dealing with in our area, where the object of planning typically is to identify what changes we want new development to bring.
Putting the emphasis on what we have now that we consider worth preserving seems a natural for our Town. It's perhaps just another way of saying that we want to keep Vienna's "small town feel." I'd like to see us make it an explicit planning principle as we move forward on planning Vienna's, and the region's, future.
For Maple Avenue, what would we like to preserve? I would like to preserve the opportunity for small, independent businesses and shops to locate there. These businesses serve the community not just by the items they sell or the services they provide, but also by providing places where we meet each other and share a "hello." This is a vital part of our community life that I value.
As a Town government, we can set policies to make our commercial districts attractive and desirable, to encourage businesses to locate here. We recognize that we can't compete with Tysons Corner and the retail stores that will choose to locate there. But we can provide an attractive alternative for business that serve our residents and support our economic base.
For the greater Tysons area, and the planning discussions that continue about its future, is there anything we can say we would like to preserve? I would like to preserve the boundaries separating Tysons development from the surrounding communities of Vienna, McLean and Falls Church, to protect our neighborhoods from encroachments of traffic and visual blight. I would also like to preserve our ability to move to and through Tysons, so we can share in the benefits of a more functional Tysons and so that we can maintain contact with our County neighbors in McLean, Falls Church and the rest of the area.
What would you like to preserve about Vienna? And because it is still a valid question, just not the only question what would you like to see changed? I hope all our citizens will join in these discussions as we plan our community's future.
Comments
What would you like to preserve about Vienna? And because it is still a valid question, just not the only question what would you like to see changed?
Sorry, Laurie, you cannot make the question only what you want it to be. The one valid question is "What would you like to change about Vienna."
You all in Town Hall are a lazy lot and it is much easier to create a short list of a few "keepers" than to address the big, scary [dying] elephant sitting in the room.
Posted by: Change is the Question, Answer, & Solution | September 1, 2008 09:47 AM
For Maple Avenue, what would we like to preserve? I would like to preserve the opportunity for small, independent businesses and shops to locate there.
Translation:
I love strip malls because Mother Maud told me I should. We could not have so many lovely mattress stores if we did not have a bunch of crumbling strip malls.
Long live, Mattress Row!
Posted by: The Decoder | September 1, 2008 09:54 AM
How about the new Sleepy's?!
Now, that is change for the 21st century!
Posted by: Fan of Mattress Row | September 1, 2008 09:56 AM
After careful study of Vienna I have concluded that there is nothing that we should preserve. Is Cole the same person who was against the rehabilitation of the Park St roadway twenty years ago? Perhaps she would like to restore the ditches and remove the sidewalks. If this is the same Cole she is a person who wanted to save the trees but then went home and cut down the only tree on her property.
Posted by: Wyltn | September 1, 2008 03:11 PM
Laurie Cole is an absolute political fool, but she butters my bread, and I butter her back.
Posted by: Laine | September 1, 2008 05:24 PM
\"If this is the same Cole she is a person who wanted to save the trees but then went home and cut down the only tree on her property.\"
Really? When? Where?
Posted by: The Internet | September 1, 2008 08:33 PM
The Internet: Really. Are you suggesting the information is wrong because their was a second tree on her property. In any case, to answer your other questions, ask Cole. (Don't forget to let us know the answers you get.)
Posted by: Wyltn | September 2, 2008 09:39 AM
Laurie Cole has used her positions in Vienna Town government to make money. She hires builders to do work for her then she turns around and votes for their building approvals. Wonder if she got the same rate as everyone else?
Posted by: Cole's Purse | September 2, 2008 01:56 PM
What would we like to preserve on Maple Ave?
Well perhaps saving the Maple trees that lined it originally would have been something to save. Now? Absolutely nothing. In addition I am so sick of our money being spent on fixing these inferior brick sidewalks just so we can have some sort of delusion of a small town feel.
Tear it down and start over!
Posted by: SOS | September 3, 2008 11:49 AM
Of course preserving part of the town is important, but just as important is what needs to be changed. If she's interested, I'm all for emailing the town my comments or discussing them, but they haven't asked for this formally yet and don't seem to have any plans to do so. If they're really interested in citizen input they should open up a dialog somewhere on their website and let us all know so we can offer comments.
Posted by: Smart Growth Advocate | September 3, 2008 05:34 PM
Smart Growth Advocate, Don't hold your breath waiting for the TC to seriously request citizen input on what to preserve in Vienna at least with regard to the Maple Ave commercial corridor. If the "consideration" and treatment of the citizen's Vision Committee Report to the TC is any indication (it was briefly discussed and buried), nothing of consequence will change.
Posted by: HISTORIC LIES | September 9, 2008 11:40 AM