Comments on Restonian: News blog from Reston, Virginia, the mauve-colored New Town (tm): Reston Association Headquarters: Like a Nike Facto...

Lake Anne was where Reston was dedicated in 1966, ...

2009-07-08T12:50:27.146-04:00

Lake Anne was where Reston was dedicated in 1966, as a new concept -- a village of villages. RA used to use Lake Anne, as its primary advertising piece until the "new Bethesda" came in with its fountain square.

Smyers needs to read Simon's plan -- at least once -- and understand the value of bringing an HQ buildings, a smaller rec center, more businesses, new homes, more density at Lake Anne – which desperately needs it and would flourish once again.

The County started the Lake Anne Revitalization effort -- they need to finish it with RA and RCC leading the charge.

May be two cents, but I think it's priceless advic...

2009-07-08T11:55:32.591-04:00

May be two cents, but I think it's priceless advice. Well put and on the agenda...

Lake Anne is an abyss -- Millennium Bank is now abandoning it and will move to Sterling -- what's left of Lake Anne is sinking into the cesspool of the "charrettes."

The county has spent millions on it; the RCC subsidizes half (or more) of it on whatever that space is supposed to be; the condo fees are in the thousands each month and the place is a dump.

Less talk and more action -- and NOT the county buying cheap ugly apartments for "workforce" housing that NO cop or teacher lives in -- not ONE!

Hey, Anonymous (July 3, 2009 11:54 AM) ... When y...

2009-07-06T09:21:04.899-04:00

Hey, Anonymous (July 3, 2009 11:54 AM) ...

When you file your complaint, perhaps you could also stress the point -- if we are going to convince the County to spend $50-60 Million on a rec center, and god knows how much RA is going to spend on new spaces – perhaps we could instead take those funds and allocate them to:

The Police Department for more cops, and resources to patrol our neighborhoods...

And, focus the funds on redevelopment efforts the County initiated like the Lake Anne Revitalization Area -- which would create permanent jobs, more and more revenue for the County in the long run...

Just my 2 cents...

Beamer is a Kool-Aid drinker and is the queen mum ...

2009-07-03T11:54:16.734-04:00

Beamer is a Kool-Aid drinker and is the queen mum of the RA Board of Idiots.

Leighton is the only one with a brain and Chew is not 1/2 bad. The rest of them think smyers is their boss and she thinks that matthews is her boss. Talk about the tail wagging the dog -- and they are abusing the brand-new law by denying Restonians, including an RA director, access to any RA documents.

I will be filing a complaint with the CIC Board next week...against the not-so-bright-and-definitely-not-esteemed Russian republic of Reston's board of idiots.

BTW--those tunnels are crime magnets. Several years ago, a woman was attacked, and I believe, raped on one of the tunnels not two blocks from the police station.

Cops should be required to get out of their cruisers and WALK their beats -- we citizens pay for their uniforms, boots and sneakers anyway, so let's get some mileage out of them!

Slightly off-topic, BUT, related to the ill-concei...

2009-07-02T12:46:45.144-04:00

Slightly off-topic, BUT, related to the ill-conceived priorities of our RA/RCC/ and Fairfax County leadership... I just walked through the pedestrian tunnel displaying the Lake Anne Elementary School Mural... it’s now significantly damaged by graffiti and tagging... very, very sad. Here is a great story on the Mural: http://www.fcps.edu/DIT/streaming/ss14_restonart.asx

It's apparent there are more closed door meetings ...

2009-07-02T12:35:09.614-04:00

It's apparent there are more closed door meetings than open at RA recently -- I suspect fear and defensiveness is driving it.

We need to remember, at its core, RA is a homeowner's association. These people seem to believe they are running the City of Chicago... my only comment there, at least the crooks in Chicago do it well. Our folks, can't even spell homeowner.

Yes, while politics should not be prevalent at the homeowners association level, I will definitely be voting for background, experience, and competency on the next go-round...

Our Blogger friend "Restonian" should run a quick survey of attiudes... we nned to start showing our leadership the Reston "daily tracking polls"... :-)

So who is manipulating Ms Beamer? In my short con...

2009-07-02T11:59:52.008-04:00

So who is manipulating Ms Beamer? In my short conversation with her, she didn't seem bright enough/devious enough to pull off a take-over like that; she must be in cahoots with someone. Why are the other(present at the executive session) board members letting her do this? By doing so, they're all guilty. After all, they were discussing an issue that affects all of Reston and all of the the board membership. Is this even legal under the by-laws?

Why does Hudgins run unopposed? If she had an oppo...

2009-07-02T11:53:25.219-04:00

Why does Hudgins run unopposed? If she had an opponent, even (gag, cough) a Republican he'd get my vote and my donation.

Fairfax County a city -- interesting idea ... I'...

2009-07-02T09:17:33.678-04:00

Fairfax County a city -- interesting idea ...

I'm not sure I see any benfit -- in my oinion, the County is the culprit that took Mr. Simon's best laid plan and sold it to developers...

Ms. Hudgins needs to go -- she is our County representative and has basically rubber stamped everything... she's easily manipulated.

Yesterday's Washington Post said Fairfax County go...

2009-07-02T06:57:48.760-04:00

Yesterday's Washington Post said Fairfax County government is wondering aloud whether it is time to become a "city". Does this leave Reston better or worse off?

So I open today's issue of the Fairfax County Time...

2009-07-01T18:35:00.309-04:00

So I open today's issue of the Fairfax County Times and see the headline:

"County Tightens Purse Strings to Breaking Point".

Apparently the County is facing an additional $315 million in deficits. They will either need to go through further cuts or raise taxes or both.

All the while our "esteemed" RA "leadership" recommends $50-60 million in further debt for a rec center and goes on a new headquarters building binge...

Tell me where this makes sense...

I would suggest we reach out to those actively inv...

2009-07-01T14:49:00.647-04:00

I would suggest we reach out to those actively involved on these issues, including: former Board Members, former RA Presidents, ARCH, Mr. Simon, Cluster Presidents, etc...

V.4 Removal. Any Director may be removed for cause...

2009-07-01T14:35:21.713-04:00

V.4 Removal. Any Director may be removed for cause pursuant to Deed Section III.5(d)(1).

(d) Director Removal, Resignation, and Vacancies.
(1) Removal. Any Director may be removed only for cause through a referendum by
a majority vote of the Members entitled to elect such Director and a successor may then and
there be elected to fill the vacancy thus created. For the purposes of this Section only, a
referendum to remove a Director for cause may be called by a petition which is signed by at
least ten percent of the Member Category entitled to elect such Director. Any person whose
removal has been proposed by the Board of Directors or the Members shall be given at least
seven days notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting and shall be given an
opportunity to be heard at a public hearing.

Lets get the recall going

2009-07-01T14:04:25.091-04:00

Lets get the recall going

So---what and how do we get started on a recall? I...

2009-07-01T13:30:12.045-04:00

So---what and how do we get started on a recall? I woll devote a great deal of time to this effort if there is supporrt.

I do feel that time is of the essence!

PS--don't forget that today HB 2305 (access to salary information) be made public, so we can, finally, see how much milton is (over)paid.

Anonymous 10:10 AM I absolutely agree, the proce...

2009-07-01T10:30:06.680-04:00

Anonymous 10:10 AM

I absolutely agree, the process is there ... the willingness of the many is what's needed.

If Milton is telling Robin what to do, then she sh...

2009-07-01T10:10:20.715-04:00

If Milton is telling Robin what to do, then she should be recalled for incompetence. Then he should be terminated. If Robin is telling Milton what to do, she should be recalled, and then he should be terminated for participating in activities contrary to the interests of the homeowners.

Then there are the other RA Board members who view Robin as "their boss" who they have to obey. These people have no idea of their duty as representatives of the home owners, not of Robin. They also need to be recalled. This is not hard to do. It takes a 10% agreement of the homeowners in their individual districts. Then there is a new election. But for this to work, you have to have found a candidate who won't be either corrupt or a wimp. Its too late to look after the recall.

So, if we assume the buildout is representative of...

2009-06-30T23:10:49.107-04:00

So, if we assume the buildout is representative of the offices at 12005 Sunrise Valley Drive -- the spaces are going for @ $31/SqFt.

At nearly 35,000 SqFt, that's over $1M year before utilites, maintenance, etc... what other costs should be factored in...

My favorite part of the revised space plan? The lo...

2009-06-30T22:56:45.902-04:00

My favorite part of the revised space plan? The long lines that will form for those two restrooms immediately outside the conference rooms capable of holding 200+ people.

(Yes, I saw the other restrooms through the doors and across the entrance hall, but we all know how people are...)

either way - they have got to go...

2009-06-30T22:33:01.213-04:00

either way - they have got to go...

"this is not Robin..." Give me a break. Robin is...

2009-06-30T19:10:51.869-04:00

"this is not Robin..."

Give me a break. Robin is Milton's boss. Milton is the hired man.

So -- back to the Rec Center for a minute-- why is...

2009-06-30T13:47:56.898-04:00

So -- back to the Rec Center for a minute-- why is FFX County, RA, and RCC so interested in a complex in the heart of Reston... when thy are considering this effort down in the Lorton area....

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/laurelhillpark.htm

suedenim -- I absolutely agree... .. and this is ...

2009-06-30T12:13:01.751-04:00

suedenim -- I absolutely agree... .. and this is not Robin... this is definitely Milton's effort...

My understanding is that Cresa is a pretty ludicro...

2009-06-30T11:57:15.775-04:00

My understanding is that Cresa is a pretty ludicrous choice for this sort of thing. Check out their client list:

http://www.cresapartners.com/casestudies.asp

This doesn't seem like the obvious choice for advice on where an association with fewer than 50 people should find office space to hand out pool passes.

Mr. Simon needs to rally the troops... RA shoul...

2009-06-30T11:46:29.559-04:00

Mr. Simon needs to rally the troops...

RA should stay where it is; extending the existing lease. They should commit to being the cornerstone to new Lake Anne Revitalization -- where it all started.