Comments on Restonian: News blog from Reston, Virginia, the mauve-colored New Town (tm): Soapstone May Not Be Ready for that New-Fangled "S...

I have a question for anonymous, i have read your ...

2010-07-12T10:32:29.032-04:00

I have a question for anonymous, i have read your old post about wanting to see your condo at shadowood because of section 8 holders in the area how the association has had an iron fist dealing with it. If you dont mind me asking what do you mean by that?

Elperuno: BOTH! When you're as lonesome as I a...

2009-11-25T10:34:08.441-05:00

Elperuno: BOTH! When you're as lonesome as I am anything with a set of lungs starts looking mighty fine! Bow-chick-a-wow-wow! :-)

Having driven down that stretch of Soapstone by th...

2009-11-24T16:09:49.788-05:00

Having driven down that stretch of Soapstone by the 7-11 this morning, let me say that the "crosswalk" is virtually invisible. In fact, if I hadn't been reading these posts, I don't think I'd even have noticed it at all. It consists of two very faded white lines, with no zebra stripes in between them and no "pedestrian crossing" signs that I can recall. After the restriping of Lawyers Road, maybe there's a quart of white paint left over to make a real crosswalk there on Soapstone?

scubadiver The folks on Sweetbay and Catalpa give...

2009-11-24T12:35:29.299-05:00

scubadiver

The folks on Sweetbay and Catalpa give Hudgins more money!!

There used to be a regular speed trap at the 7-11 ...

2009-11-23T21:20:02.478-05:00

There used to be a regular speed trap at the 7-11 on Soapstone. Haven't seen it there in several years. I make at least one speed trap daily on my 6-mile Reston-Herndon commute, so it's not that I'm unobservant.

I've never seen a speed trap on the west half of Glade through Siren City. East half has plenty. I specially liked the trooper who parked his cruiser on the bike trail through the soccer field near the Vernon Walker unnatural center.

Soapstone between Glade and Personal Injury Lawyer's Road is Death Valley. Redoubled fines because of the trail crossing. They set up in either of the two cul-de-sacs, or have an unmarked silver Chrysler right at the trail crossing.

So I wonder why the 7-11 is no longer a happy hunting ground?

Methinks thou doth denieth too much, prunie boy.

2009-11-23T18:10:18.284-05:00

Methinks thou doth denieth too much, prunie boy.

Hey BiCO, is that guys or girls? Convict, Shadow...

2009-11-23T15:19:38.864-05:00

Hey BiCO, is that guys or girls?

Convict,

Shadowood only sells stress. If you want the really good purple kush, you have to go around (the) Dulles town center. They get shipments of the really goods stuff from California.

Again, I do not do drugs.

Speaking of North Point Shopping Center, what'...

2009-11-23T14:12:21.318-05:00

Speaking of North Point Shopping Center, what's with all of the hotties that shop there? Bow-chick-a-wow-wow! :-)

Crack is the drug of choice in the Gulag. If you ...

2009-11-23T13:26:16.716-05:00

Crack is the drug of choice in the Gulag. If you want pot, check out the tables between Baskin-Robbins and the Giants at North Point shopping center.

The ones that defend Shadowood existence ask yours...

2009-11-23T12:16:51.968-05:00

The ones that defend Shadowood existence ask yourself this, Where do people go to buy their marijuana?

I don’t do drugs.

Bico said: "P.S. To those with the "newb...

2009-11-23T11:48:31.107-05:00

Bico said:
"P.S. To those with the "newbies should be seen and not heard" mindset may I remind you that some of us only want what will ultimately be best for the next generation of Restonians? The prior generation didn't care about my current generation when they let a pre-schooler design Tyson's Corner a few decades ago, and now it is a festering armpit that will take billions to rectify. Do we really want to sit here now and make selfish decisions like the prior generation did that will hurt the next generation in Reston?"

Fair enough BiCO.
But I still think that you should not give the paths such short shrift.

HCKD

For the record in regards to the on-street parking...

2009-11-23T08:24:19.636-05:00

For the record in regards to the on-street parking issue being one of "class" the stretch of North Shore Drive between my complex, Archstone Charter Oak, and our neighbors, The Sycamores, is also frequently lined with vehicles because of a parking shortage at Charter Oak (and potentially at the other complex as well). We're not "low life Section 8'ers." We're generally speaking middle-class hard-working people. I've instructed my guests to park on North Shore Drive while I am entertaining because the number of non-reserved spaces in Charter Oak is insufficient, especially when most of my neighbors take up TWO spaces with their two vehicles.

Also, in regards to urban planning why do so many Restonians think adding more lanes to a road is always the answer? It has been proven that traffic generally travels more quickly the wider a road is because drivers tend to have a sense that they are in areas exclusively tailored just for them and are lulled into a false sense of security. If we want to encourage Reston to someday become a haven for walkability, as it was originally designed, then more "road diets" are needed, not the opposite. I hold my breath whenever I cross the busy intersection of Reston Parkway @ Temporary/New Dominion in hopes that someone making a right-hand-on-red will yield to me in the crosswalk (I've had close calls). Like it or not Reston DOES need more bike lanes, well-marked crosswalks, street lighting, sidewalks, narrower roads, etc. if it ever hopes to realize its fullest potential as a community where everyone doesn't need their SUVs chained to their hips. L.A. has some of the widest freeways in the nation AND the worst traffic congestion.

Also, I agree with those who are ashamed at the elitists who continuously put down our community's socioeconomically disadvantaged. Reston was originally intended to be a haven for people from all races, income levels, and life stages to seek safe refuge. As average rents continue to rise here we're noticing the community tilting more towards the upper-middle-class, but that's no reason to act scornfully towards those who have less. I'm technically "poor" by Reston standards, and yet I try to do my best to be a model citizen. Not all of us are the scum of the earth, contrary to popular belief, and I personally enjoy living in an apartment complex with a high proportion of both Lexus SUVs and Audi sedans as well as K-Cars and Dodge Shadows.

P.S. To those with the "newbies should be seen and not heard" mindset may I remind you that some of us only want what will ultimately be best for the next generation of Restonians? The prior generation didn't care about my current generation when they let a pre-schooler design Tyson's Corner a few decades ago, and now it is a festering armpit that will take billions to rectify. Do we really want to sit here now and make selfish decisions like the prior generation did that will hurt the next generation in Reston?

When we were out in Western MD last winter we came...

2009-11-22T20:31:37.506-05:00

When we were out in Western MD last winter we came across a slightly raised (not quite speed bump) cross walk that had blinking lights in the incline part (think long sides of the crosswalk). I'm pretty sure it was powered by solar capture from the day. It was foggy and this was ski country, so it was important to be able to see -- and this thing was darn visible. It wasn't so steep on the incline that it would tear your car up if you didn't see it in time (as IF!) We looked at each other then and said "Soapstone!" I'm not a traffic engineer so despite my numerous efforts I haven't been able to come up with the right combination of terms for Google so I could show people. But obviously there are people out there thinking these things through and developing good ways to satisfy a need.

I can't believe the cops say it's too dangerous to enforce speed laws through there. Hello, cameras? I think they enforce on Southlakes because that's where they can prove a point to a LOT of teen drivers (think the commercial with the googly eyes on the money).

I wonder if it says something about DOT's appreciation of the issue (or the residents) that they've let even the basic paint fade away to almost non-visible on that crosswalk. Are they waiting until a decision is made on sidewalks? I know the cops are not waiting on ticketing commercial vehicles parked there -- I see that all the time.

The more I think about it, the more I agree with those who say it should never have been a 4 lane, but I'm not sure whether the Lawyers Rd solution is what works best here.

As for parking overflow, I don't think there was any snobbery in citing all of the developments that line Soapstone -- just recognition that parking is really cramped in most neighborhoods once everyone is home at night. Whether the houses are attached, detached, condos, or multi-family, our society likes a nearly 1:1 ratio for drivers to cars and they gotta park somewhere.

People who live in cities often don't have cars -- but they also have everything they need within walking distance. That is *almost* the case in Reston...but even most people who say they need a car in Reston could probably get along with just one per household. I include our household in that supposition. It is more convenient to have 2, but with some creativity, we could certainly make a change. Perhaps if they give people a tax incentive for giving up cars, instead of purchasing them -- or a tax incentive for using public transportation instead of continuing to make it more expensive and less convenient...

Convict: If Shadowood were to disappear and no hou...

2009-11-22T17:56:52.050-05:00

Convict:
If Shadowood were to disappear and no housing takes their place then probably yes the parking problem would diminish. But that is a 'modest proposal' for sure.

However, if rents increased it might have an inverse effect with more people having to apartment share in order to make rent. more people = more cars.

Bloviation, as best I recall from my US History cl...

2009-11-22T17:47:30.603-05:00

Bloviation, as best I recall from my US History class is characterized by talking a lot but not saying much. It's generally used when talking about political speech.

Now, I may write a lot but I'm hardly saying nothing. Sure, I could probably be less expansive in my writing. Agree with me or not, it's not as if my speech says nothing.

So, Anon, your accusation of "bloviation" is baseless and, I suspect, founded in your disagreement with my position. Instead of arguing the point, you seek to dismiss me simply as bloviating. Good for you.

Nonetheless, I stand by the premise of statement, that if Shadoweed were to go away, most of those cars along Soapstone between South Lakes and Glade would disappear in short order. Furthermore, if the rents in that complex were to go up, I would suspect that a great many of those vehicles would disappear as well.

Anecdotally, I have never seen anyone from the east side of Soapstone either enter or leave a car on the west side. All of the people that I have seen using cars on the west side of Soapstone have come out of Shadowood.

As I said, Soapstone needs the Lawyers Road solution more so than Lawyers Road does.

I stand corrected on Shadowood -- sorry. If speed...

2009-11-22T17:18:54.833-05:00

I stand corrected on Shadowood -- sorry.

If speeding is a problem on Soapstone between Glade and South Lakes, I wonder why the police are not in fact out there with radar guns. They are frequently staked out on the stretch of Soapstone between Glade and Lawyers, where there is virtually no pedestrian traffic save for the occasional biker or walker crossing the Glade nature trail. When I once asked them why they weren't on Lawyers (before it was re-striped)catching speeders doing 55 in a 35 mph zone, the reply was "It's too dangerous to do it there." I assume that would not be an issue on Soapstone between Glade and South Lakes.

Native: Right On!

2009-11-22T16:58:07.486-05:00

Native:

Right On!

P.S. Any of you who are speaking ill of Shadowood...

2009-11-22T14:49:42.353-05:00

P.S. Any of you who are speaking ill of Shadowood bring me shame. This town was built on the premise of all people, of all races, income levels, etc. living together. It's not perfect, but it has value. People like you are what ruin it.

I grew up in the neighborhood west of this stretch...

2009-11-22T14:47:17.618-05:00

I grew up in the neighborhood west of this stretch of Soapstone (Old Trail Dr.). There are paths that run parallel to this road on BOTH sides, and a tunnel crossing under the road. That should take care of those of you who are passing through.

The people you see crossing the street are coming off of one of those trails to go to the 7-11, or the dry cleaners, or to get to/from the day care center (read: SMALL CHILDREN). The people you see walking up and down the side of the street are going to/from their cars.

There is a crosswalk to protect the crossers. The reason they are not safe is that people speed. There is NO EXCUSE to see so many apartments and so many cars on the side of the road and be ACCELERATING downhill from either of the intersections on the other end. Possible solution: speed trap.

The people walking to and from their cars are, in fact, out of parking spaces. Most of us (because sometimes I put my car there too) use public transit as well. But you gotta have a car in Fairfax. Possible solution: STOP BITCHING ABOUT STREET PARKING. The ENTIRE REST OF THE WORLD does this everywhere, everyday. They have just learned how to deal with it.
A sidewalk would make life easier as you come to/from your car, yes...but the real problem is the drivers passing by.

Anonymous 10:45 - PREACH

2009-11-22T14:39:41.777-05:00

Anonymous 10:45 - PREACH

Anon: 10:45, Right on! Anon 8:38 blo·vi·ate (blv...

2009-11-21T09:35:57.908-05:00

Anon: 10:45,
Right on!

Anon 8:38
blo·vi·ate (blv-t)
intr.v. blo·vi·at·ed, blo·vi·at·ing, blo·vi·ates Slang
To discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner:

They hide information like that on the interwebz.

HCKD

You lost me at bloviating. Seriously. Bloviat...

2009-11-21T08:38:34.949-05:00

You lost me at bloviating.

Seriously. Bloviating?

Convict Don't let facts get the way of your b...

2009-11-20T22:45:29.986-05:00

Convict

Don't let facts get the way of your bloviating.

Shadowood is a condominium in which a small fraction of the units may be rented to families with Section 8 certificates. It is, therefore, market rate housing. A surprising number of condo units are rented to college students attending American, GW and GMU. Each occupant has their own car, thus generating 3 cars per condo in a project design for mom, dad and 1-2 kids and not every family had two cars. Over the 30 years since Shadowoods was built as market rate, for sale multifamily condominiums, the demographics of the area changed to more young adults sharing each condo. Thus the overflow parking need, not only for Shadowoods but for Ivy Bush, Underoak (which are single family attached housing, Anon 1:43, not multi-family, snob sister).

Peasant - how 'bout we flatten your house, er pup tent, and the South Lakes Starbuck's where you hangout in your bunny slippers all day.

Anon 3:07 - and the 35 cars currently parked on the east side north of the 7-11 go where exactly? They are not going to vanish into thin air. They most likely just move further down the west side of Soapstone toward Glade, where there still will be no sidewalk.

BICO - as sidewalks are in VDOT controlled right of way, their existence, or lack of same, have little or nothing to do with your RA assessment. But rant on!

Folks have been trying to get sidewalks on Soapstone for more than 20 years. Why a 4 lane road was built with gravel shoulders in a city projected for a population of 65,000 is an excellent question for Bob Simon and Martha Pennino.

At least 4 people have died in the last few years trying to cross between Shadowood and the 7-11 and many more have been injured. So the snark ought to be modulated a little, maybe?

Drivers, including some of you ne'er do wells, speeding on Soapstone, some travelling at 65 mph and more, have a great deal to do with the problem. There has been little or no speed enforcement on Soapstone, ever, the cops are too tied up on that little section of Steeplechase between Lawyers and Fox Mill where they camp out almost daily. Have those folks paid the cops a bribe to be there so often?

BiCO Sorry to get all old-skool on you but you ar...

2009-11-20T16:46:30.009-05:00

BiCO
Sorry to get all old-skool on you but you are admitedly a new-comer to Reston. It was made how it is deliberately.

The pathways were meant to be used by people to walk from A to B and to get exercise and enjoy the out doors and mostly for teen agers to smoke pot and skate board.

So when you come along and say 'why isn't Reston like X?" It makes me go: "Then just move to X!"

Have you jogged the path around Lake Anne? It is beautiful and safe.

-HCKD

(You are not my or I hope any one's enemy!)

I live in South Reston and the trails are still aw...

2009-11-20T13:23:14.490-05:00

I live in South Reston and the trails are still awesome. Most of the crimes along the South Reston trails are not random, they are gang related. I avoid trails with gang tagging. Plain and simple.