News and notes from Reston (tm).

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Toll Road Hearing: A Pig in a Poke

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We could have gone to last night's awesome public hearing on the Dulles Toll Road toll hikes, but that sounded suspiciously like something an "experienced journalist" would do. So instead, please to be enjoying this novelty photo of an oversized pig trotted around by developers opponents of the toll hikes, who now have simplified their message to the short-sighted argument that the Metro Silver Line is worth killing to save us a few extra quarters $11 at the toll plaza. We may not agree with that, but we do think Porky has a future ahead of him in national politics!

If you're not all town hall'ed out at this point, you could always go to tonight's community meeting, held by Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, about the awesome proposed development at the Wiehle Avenue Metro station. You'll get to hear Comstock Reston Station Holdings' "vision" for the plan, which includes a 2,300-space parking garage, hotel, retail, office space and some bitchin' '80s art. The meeting's at 7pm at South Lakes High School, so don't forget to wear your sunglasses at night!

Update: Coverage of the meeting is here.

Posted by Restonian at 12:17 AM

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10 comments:

  1. man... some people have a lot of time on their hands...
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  2. It is amazing how we go full circle...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia_streetcars
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  3. South Lakes High gets all the big projects. I would not park that porker near Targetville. It wouldn't last a night.
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  5. Anon 11:05 --- you posted: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia_streetcars

    Streetcars... ??? what are streetcars ...??
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  6. Taxes from the Wiehle office-cum-kiss-and-ride are supposed to pay off the bonds for the 65 megabuck Taj-ma-rec center. Questions to ask at South Lakes tonight are what happens if the silver line is canceled or delayed?
    What happens if the Weihle complex goes broke, like so many commercial spaces are doing now?
    Who gets stuck paying off the Taj-ma-bonds if the Weihle takes don't happen?

    I know I have complained about folks using Restonian as a forum for serious discussion. By way of apology, here's a joke: What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insommniac do? Lies awake wondering of there really is a Dog.
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  7. Fairfax Co is now funding the parking garage. The developer has the right to develop the rest of the site. I believe that's all they have at this point.
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  8. The Silver Line is already under construction as you can see from Reston Parkway to I-66 (specifically a lot of activity near West Falls Church Metro station and future Wiehle Avenue station). The 1st phase is not going to be canceled.

    Further that park and ride lot is prime real estate, even more so when rail actually comes out. Its not a question of if the complex will be built, its about when the project will be built.

    Lastly, I'd like to know more about Fairfax County real estate taxes going to a RA/RCC project... Do you have an article or documents or anything?
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  9. All homeowners and businesses in Reston are part of Small Tax District 5. The Reston Community Center is funded by funds from STD5. It isn't a real estate tax, it's only to fund the Community Center and their projects. In the case of the indoor rec center, it would have funded that,too, but RA took the Brown's Chapel location off the table. For the moment anyway. If you pay real estate taxes, look at your tax bill and you will see the amount included for STD5.
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  10. The point I took away from the polite, well-mannered Taj-ma-Browns Chapel discussions is that if the tax revenue from Weihle doesn't materialize by the time the bonds come due, STD5 is left holding the 65 megabuck bag.
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