Comments on Restonian: News blog from Reston, Virginia, the mauve-colored New Town (tm): So Much for Getting a Sandwich and a Stamp With Yo...

Kelly, FYI, there's an old-fashioned hardware ...

2010-02-16T13:12:06.025-05:00

Kelly, FYI, there's an old-fashioned hardware store in Vienna called Stalcup Hardware right next to Jammin Java. It's nice but extremely pricey. As much as I wanted to support a local business I could only afford to buy so much from them...

I like Lake Anne, it's too bad they can't ...

2010-02-16T12:06:02.624-05:00

I like Lake Anne, it's too bad they can't make up their minds and fix what needs to be fixed. The atmosphere there is certainly better than RTC. (in my opinion) It's sad that the pharmacy is going, I've never had the chance to go there and it sounds like a nice place. Too bad we can't have an old fashioned hardware store at Lake Anne. The only one I know of is Fischer's in Springfield and to get there you have to deal with the whole Mixing Bowl mess. I'm probably in the minority here, but I'd rather go to old fashioned hardware store's instead of Home Depot. Though a bakery and good coffee shop would be nice too! :)

don't they have someone living on site???

2010-01-21T18:02:03.574-05:00

don't they have someone living on site???

lets not get too harsh with the condo ass.....it m...

2010-01-21T17:59:29.921-05:00

lets not get too harsh with the condo ass.....it must be awfully hard to upkeep 4 businesses!!especially when the ass. has only 5 days a week to get stuff done!!

great! another cheap spanish shop!is lake anne tur...

2010-01-21T17:54:58.201-05:00

great! another cheap spanish shop!is lake anne turning into el salvador??whats next?? a day laborer site!those were christmas lights??!!how can lake anne pass DRB's approval??by the way, I read in the connection,an article saying that it is "right on track" on track for what??failure!!and the grafitti stains are still there!!who writes this stuff??

Yes, Body by Geoff is gone, but don't worry an...

2010-01-21T00:28:20.591-05:00

Yes, Body by Geoff is gone, but don't worry another spanish market is opening next to Jasmine. The condo ass. ignores the concerns of the businesses, slacks on overall maintenance, and spends the majority of their time changing the flags on the lamp posts and worrying about the christmas lights on the fountain.

body by geoff is gone too!!!whats going on there!!...

2010-01-19T08:33:09.759-05:00

body by geoff is gone too!!!whats going on there!!!!do people who live there care??i was there on monday,very sad to see the plaza empty....aren't there any associations at lake anne?ie..condo assoc. or merchants assoc.??if so, what do they do??

yes,polar plunge is still set for feb 6th i think....

2010-01-06T09:12:31.535-05:00

yes,polar plunge is still set for feb 6th i think...I love anonymous' idea!lake anne does need major work!I love the idea of movies, decent coffee shop,cupcake etc..you should be on the board!!kudos!! If only the powers that be were reading this!!!=)

Does anyone know if the Polar Plunge will still ha...

2010-01-05T19:42:18.901-05:00

Does anyone know if the Polar Plunge will still happen since Body By Geoff is gone, I know they had a major role in that event.

To December 31, 2009 12:45 PM ... I'm Anon 55...

2010-01-04T12:37:24.362-05:00

To December 31, 2009 12:45 PM ...

I'm Anon 554, and I actually agree with you. I don't think my prior message was bigoted nor ignorant. I welcome redevelopment and more density... I (like the many commentors here) wait and wait and wait for something to happen. I agree with Anon January 3, 2010 9:16 PM above... I have enjoyed living here at Lake Anne, and want it to survive and thrive -- vs. being passed by.

Your anger certainly gets out in front of you --telling me my home is a dump, my way of lfe is detrimental to the good of the many... and we haven't even met.

Good luck to you...

Lake Anne was once a jewel, and now it is falling ...

2010-01-03T21:16:36.440-05:00

Lake Anne was once a jewel, and now it is falling apart. They've been jawing about revitalization for at least five years, while no action whatsoever has been taken, most of the businesses have failed, and the smell of mold has become pervasive in the remaining businesses. It will take a huge cash infusion and a developer willing to work with the community to preserve the original plaza and expand on it to make it viable and buy out most or all of the owners of the retail spaces to make Lake Anne a jewel again. The retail areas all need to be gutted and have new plumbing, new walls, and new ceilings, or they will never be viable because they're too far gone. You could preserve the architecture on the lake and put in a Landmark cinema, brewpub with performance space, knitting shop, wine store, Great Harvest bakery, cupcake place, a coffeeshop with decent food and coffee, and additional good small eateries, which would need some subsidization by the owner. Restaurants need to be open when the farmer's market is going on, instead of inexplicably shuttered during a peak business time. Build a parking deck at the corner of North Village and North Shore, the kind with plants on the outside so it blends in better. I will be very sad when the pharmacy goes, because that will further reduce foot traffic and likely serve as the death knell for still more businesses at the plaza. We moved here in part because we loved Lake Anne Village Center and being able to walk there, but it's pretty sad to go there these days.

HCKD You have just proven the point. You use of ...

2010-01-03T12:50:27.046-05:00

HCKD

You have just proven the point.

You use of such foul language demonstrates only your ignorance, intolerance and utter foolishness.

You are pathetic and you are dismissed!

Anon 12:45 You are 22, just moved here, and your ...

2009-12-31T17:43:12.643-05:00

Anon 12:45

You are 22, just moved here, and your outsider opinion is to tear down Lake Anne Plaza?

Knock down the award-winning housing and shopping center to build what? Another fucking RTC?

I'll pull my head out of the sand when you pull you head out of your ass.

Like I said, go eat a bowl of never ending macaroni and choke on it.

HCKD and anon 554 It's blind ignorant bigots ...

2009-12-31T12:45:44.974-05:00

HCKD and anon 554

It's blind ignorant bigots like you who have your heads in the sand. It's your intolerant arrogance to anyone who has a difference in opinion as to what Lake Anne is or isn't that has stopped everything, any form of progress, from, well progressing.

Lake Anne MAY have been the center of the universe at one time, but nothing stays the same forever and that's why Lake Anne is as it is.

Either open your eyes and realize that your Utopian non- "village" is a flop or shut up and listen to others, outsiders, who may have some new and fresh ideas to help you.

I am 22 years old and recently moved here thinking it was a tolerant welcoming place. How wrong I was!

I have seen places in the deepest South that are light years ahead of you and your closed minds.

I keep reading the Lake Anne Revitaliztion Plan an...

2009-12-31T11:35:49.801-05:00

I keep reading the Lake Anne Revitaliztion Plan and say -- please bring it on.

congratulations to the lake anne condo association...

2009-12-31T08:24:32.147-05:00

congratulations to the lake anne condo association!!Their "tireless" efforts show howmuch they have accomplshed!Every business will soon be vacating because the association is run by idiots.The problems are too expensive to fix because of continued lack of action.Get used to more latino shops with loiters hanging around!!

Why does everyone think "no chains are allowe...

2009-12-30T18:32:31.839-05:00

Why does everyone think "no chains are allowed" at Lake Anne? The spaces there are owned by a variety of individual landlords who can rent to anyone they wish (as is obvious in many cases). Having individual owners is part of the problems that exist.

I live in the Heron House... while it has had its ...

2009-12-30T14:58:40.889-05:00

I live in the Heron House... while it has had its issues, I would NOT be placing the "condemned for occupation" sign on the front door.

Lake Anne Plaza needs a rework of all the homeowner and business associations as well as a major say in the Redevelopment discussions – if they ever turn those conversations on again.

Please do not convey the message of desperation in these threads – Lake Anne is a beautiful place to live.

Yes, it needs attention – conversations focused on solutions versus what’s bad will be far more productive and helpful in the long run.

And, I might add, while tearing down is an option, I prefer to see the Historic area saved, and new development around it to keep it replenished with density and dollars.

I love my home...

I lived briefly in Heron House and have often wond...

2009-12-30T14:15:57.511-05:00

I lived briefly in Heron House and have often wondered if the buildings in the rest of the plaza are in as bad shape. The building is so badly insulated that in the winter we couldn't get our apartment above 55 degrees during the day- it was ridiculous. We had water leaking in from the ceiling and sewage backing up into our bathtub. I know they've done some renovations since then (this was 6 years ago), but I can't believe how badly they let that place deteriorate over the years. I was told by my landlord that the condo fees were so high (I think $700 a month?? I don't recall exactly, since I wasn't paying them) because the management had neglected basic building maintenence for so many years that it was essentially falling apart.

I work at an establishment at Lake Anne that will ...

2009-12-30T09:28:38.078-05:00

I work at an establishment at Lake Anne that will soon be vacating too. The buildings have had little maintenance over the 40 years which has lead to water leaks and flooding in many units. We have a serious MOLD problem and electrical problems that could lead to a fire at any moment. The plaza would have been great had it been taken care of. At this point no businesses will want to come to a plaza that should be condemned. The property management is a joke and do not seem to care if the entire plaza fell apart, but it does make you wonder where all that condo fee $ goes. I predict in one years time all the shops will be gone except one or two of the little latino markets.

I'm going to have to jump on anon 5:37 as well...

2009-12-28T17:54:23.413-05:00

I'm going to have to jump on anon 5:37 as well... AND I WANT TO SEE REDEVELOPMENT... !!!

Lake Anne is a jewel, and its heritage and legacy need to be preserved forever -- this village center was the center of the universe -- from its inception in the early 60's, to now. Yes, it needs help and more density is the obvious answer. I believe one can have both.

But, for someone to tell me my home is a dump and an embarrassment is a an immature statement – we love Lake Anne and know it needs help. So either join us in making things happen for this village or shut your filthy mouth... you sound like you’re Milton Matthews’ surrogate.

I noticed that two more commercial establishments ...

2009-12-27T19:12:14.968-05:00

I noticed that two more commercial establishments on the Plaza had put up vacancy signs.

Anon 5:37 What lake in Reston is pristine? Maybe ...

2009-12-27T17:49:30.791-05:00

Anon 5:37

What lake in Reston is pristine? Maybe you think Lake New Port is? Newport feeds Lake Anne.

The condo fees are expensive but the upkeep of the buildings is expensive.

I don't think a registered historic district is an embarrassment to Reston. Plaza America, Lake Newport Shopping Center, or Spectrum Center are more of an embarrassment. The abortion that idiots like you perpetrated on Hunters Woods is an embarrassment.

I have RELAC in my home and it works fine. It wont chill my home to 65 degrees while it is 100+ outside, but that is a small price to pay to not hear the cacophony of ac units in a town home development in every other part of Reston.

Haters like you are an embarrassment.

Lake Anne is special and unique. If dopes like you ran the show everything would be an ugly shithole like other shopping centers or a soulless corporate pile of crap like RTC.

Stay out of Lake Anne, we don't want or need you. Go grab an all you can eat spaghetti bowl at Macaroni Grill and stuff you self with it.

HCKD

Lake Anne is an abysmal failure! Condo fees are o...

2009-12-27T17:37:15.225-05:00

Lake Anne is an abysmal failure!

Condo fees are outrageous; the water is polluted, The A/C system is something that even the Soviets would laugh at.

Fairfax County spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to burnish the place and, still, it's a dump and an embarrassment to Reston!

Get rid of it, tear it down, develop it in a way that is sensible and reflects successful development practices.

Jees---we've been "studying" and "charetteing" it for decades and still it's an eyesore and a dump -- Is this not the definition of insanity?

It's too bad that Bob Simon has a huge financial interest in the status quo and earns rents PAID BY TAXPAYERS for the underutilized "community" center annex and on several other units --- Lake Anne is a demonstrated failure and it's time to move on!

The pharmacy will sorely be missed. Lake Anne pla...

2009-12-25T16:22:24.999-05:00

The pharmacy will sorely be missed.
Lake Anne plaza is a condo-assn. It is their covenants which don't allow chain stores. Also each space is individually owned. So it isn't about making a place offer cheaper rents.