Crozet Station (the name for the new buildings) is an effort to make Crozet “upscale”, which can be translated as “more expensive”…. Why must the old buildings now be replaced with new, characterless buildings that will cause the owners of the property to increase rents? Without a doubt, we will lose our wonderful small businesses, such as Maupin’s Video, that will probably not be able to afford the higher rents that must come following new construction, new (read higher) assessments,and higher tax bills…. But that does not mean that the very heart of Crozet has to lose its identity. I hope that long-time and even new residents who appreciate the old-time feel of our Crozet center will speak out against this redevelopment plan…. Let’s not reduce it to another carbon copy of modern development with only some murals in a parking lot to remind us of what once was.Marlene A. Condon (Author, The Nature-friendly Garden, Stackpole Books, 2006)Nature Writer, Photographer, SpeakerCrozet, VA 22932-2204This redevelopment was noted here on 31 May of this year. As much as I like the small-town aspect of these buildings, if they are not structurally sound and not economically feasible to shore up for the future, perhaps it is time to address their deficiencies.
Crozet Library update
Wednesday, October 25, 7:00pm, Western Albemarle High School: Community Feedback Time!Albemarle County Representatives and Grimm and Parker architects will solicit community feedback regarding the library and its potential sites. Community feedback from this meeting will be reported to the Board of Supervisors.If you can, come to this meeting. A vibrant, dynamic, interesting and functional library can shape and enhance a community in a way unlike any other development.Sign up for Albemarle County’s excellent, informative and timely! A-Mail (or continue to visit realcrozetva and/or subscribe to the realcrozetva calendar!)From A-Mail:Officials from Albemarle County and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library are inviting Crozet area residents to attend a public meeting on Wednesday, October 25, from 7:00 pm until 9:30 pm at Western Albemarle High School. The purpose of the meeting is to update the community on the status of the project, introduce the project consultant, and get public feedback on two location options for the new library to share with the Board of Supervisors prior to their final site selection decision.The consultant team is led by Grimm & Parker Architects, a firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia with a 30-year history of successful library and other public architecture projects. The Grimm & Parker team was selected based on their overall public library expertise, experience with downtown and town center libraries, and their successful track record of integrating public comment and input into library design and programming decisions, among other criteria. The meeting will include an introductory overview of the library project, a brief discussion of library design possibilities, and then a detailed site analysis of the two locations under consideration conducted by the consultant team. The consultant will then lead participants through a facilitated feedback session to generate input that will be passed on to the Board of Supervisors.
Bring on the Chains!
Chain retailers, that is. Thanks to Jonathan:Harris Teeter will soon be coming to Crozet. At least they’ll have a comprehensive wine selection, something that Great Valu has rapidly been expanding recently. Will people come from Waynesboro? As of the 2000 Census, 5,229 people lived in the 22932 zip code. People are continuing to move into Crozet, though.Heck, I’ve heard rumors about a CVS …
Civilization comes to Crozet
Some would say …Â Right across the street from Blue Ridge Builders’ Supply.Personally, my money will stay with Sal’s and Crozet Pizza, but that’s just me.
Crozet Library news
Wednesday, September 20, 7:00pm, in the Crozet Library: Architect Meet and Greet with the Crozet Library Building Advisory Committee Ms. Melanie Hennigan, of Grimm and Parker Architects, will be available to answer questions and hear comments regarding the new Crozet Library. Grimm and Parker has been hired as the firm who will be aiding in the selection of a library site and, ultimately, designing our new Crozet Library. Thursday, September 21, 7:00pm, at the Meadows (unless location is changed due to turnout), Ms. Hennigan will hold a Meet and Greet with members of the CCAC, which is also open to the public. Wednesday, October 25, 7:00pm, Western Albemarle High School: Community Feedback Time! Albemarle County Representatives and Grimm and Parker architects will solicit community feedback regarding the library and its potential sites. Community feedback from this meeting will be reported to the Board of Supervisors.
Petition to save Downtown Crozet
76 People signed. If Crozetians want to “save” Downtown Crozet, they will need to aim higher – think over one thousand people, and even then there is little assurance that the BoS will listen. More interesting to me is how these residents distributed this petition. If they distributed it “offline,” they hurt themselves. If they did it online, it seems it didn’t get much support. How better could one market such a (or any other) petition?Last month’s Crozet Gazette (PDF) has a nice editorial about Downtown Zoning.
Crozet’s reach is growing
Today’s August Free Press has an interesting story about the expansion of Crozet’s spending power, further highlighting the redefinition of “regionalism.”
Morning reading for Crozetians
Excellent story in today’s Daily Progress:A lack of supporting infrastructure and a major dispute over population figures has put Crozet at the center of controversy, with residents making sharp accusations that county leaders have misled them, misrepresented them or simply let them down.
Recent Crozet news
Vito Cetta talks about affordable housing and CrozetThe 250/240 intersection is potentially dangerous and definitely inefficient. Per usual, “spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation … says he’s not sure when decisions for 240/250 will be made, but says it’s a three-way decision-making process among developers, County planners and traffic officials…” Don’t hold your breath.
Last night’s Crozet Communication Association meeting
A roundup of last night’s CCA meeting is coming, but I wanted to briefly note a couple of things:1) The attendance by the County was fantastic – Lee Caitlin, Rebecca Ragsdale, Tom Foley and Susan Stimart. David Wyant was absent. Thank you.2) About 35 -40 residents turned out – a relatively large number for a summer meeting.3) The Crozet Library project may have some interesting developments coming down the pike. With a bit more investigation, I will write more.4) In discussing the perceived poor implementation of the Western Connector and the lack of bike lanes, it was said that – wait for it – “The sidewalks ARE the bike lanes.” Crozet Master Plan is here.