Holiday Book Sale at Gordon Ave. Library (1500 Gordon Ave, Cville]
Oct. 28 9 AM-5 PM; Oct. 29 10 AM- 4PM.
Proceeds to Benefit the New Crozet Library. Sponsored by Friends of JMRL.
Help design Crozet Station
From the Crozet Community Association listserv:
Bill Atwood, Architect for Crozet Station, the proposed redesigned, remodeled, and rebuilt commercial area stretching from the corner of 240 & 810 to Crozet Great Valu, came to the Crozet Community Advisory Committee last week, and presented his ideas for the new project. He would like to include Crozet people in the design phase of Crozet Station. Here is what he wrote:
I am looking for 14-16 people to work with me in the field towards creating a Crozet Architectural Language. I would like to start this process on or about 1 Nov 06 & conclude on or about 15 Jan 07. We will be establishing 6 – 8 Iconic architectural pieces in Crozet. We will be meeting regularly, at an agreed time. Bill
If you are interested, email David – dfwayl AT earthlink DOT net
Readers’ Forum 10-26-2006 – Crozet Library
Library meeting: Real chance to be heard, or PR obfuscation?
Can our voices make a difference, or has the County already decided where to put the library? Is the listening sincere or just a calculated strategy, in reaction to Crozetians’ anger over Old Trail and the way those plans changed?
All that cynicism aside, here is my main question after the library meeting: why do none of the proposed buildings (never mind the sites) have the 22,500 square feet they’d like without future additions? Why are we already planning a building that is too small? And if it’s true that Mountainside is planning to move, and who knows when the new Main Street will be built, and maybe they’ll build a new elementary school . . . how can you choose a site for a community centerpiece when the things you’re using to decide seem to be shifting under your feet? I’ve never made a $5 million choice, so I worry about making the right one. But maybe the goal is to make the choice right, rather than make the right choice?
Crozet Library meeting tonight
This evening at Western Albemarle High School, architects will present the two site options – one Downtown and one at the “Old School Location.” Both have their merits, and both would benefit from community input. Hope to see you there at 7!
In the meantime, consider this recent article from the WSJ about modern collegiate libraries.
Pumpkin Carvin’ in Crozet
Are you handy with a scoop and carving knife? Do you have hidden vegetable carving talents? If so (or if not), enter the carved pumpkin contest this October. Simply drop off your carved pumpkin on Friday, October 27 or Saturday, October 28 during regular library hours. After dark on Monday October 30, drop by to see the illuminated pumpkins. Entries will be judged by the library patrons Monday night with winners announced on Tuesday. Then bring your artistic pumpkin home with you, just in time for Halloween! Crozet Library. Directions: 5791 Three Notch’d Road, Crozet, VA 22932-0430. For more info call: 823-4050.
Note: Click on the address link above. It links to a new “Community Map” I am working on as a feature addition to the site. As the name suggests, it is for the community to participate.
Overcrowding in Crozet schools?
The DP has this story this morning about the overcrowding in Crozet schools. If your children (like mine) have been faced with this overcrowding and have to ride three-to-a-seat on the bus, let them know.
The Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee will present its proposal to the School Board at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the County Office Building on McIntire Road.
Update 10/23/06: cvillenews has a good discussion on this topic.
Crozet news
If you hadn’t noticed, US Joiner has opened on 240, next to the Great Valu. This is another step into Crozet’s evolution to becoming a self-sufficient destination, rather than a bedroom community for Charlottesville or Waynesboro.
Learn more about TDR’s (Transfer of Development Rights) and how they will impact Crozet.
Jonathan notes the changing of the seasons.
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Which theme is better?
I have made some significant changes to this blog over the past two days. Many hours of tweaking, testing, etc. later and I think I have it where I want it (for the next few days/weeks, at least). After trying several other themes, I came back to the one I use on realcentralva – tiga.
I have added the following:
– Recent comments (to the right, to help track discussions)
– A “submit a story” page (pretty self-explanatory)
– Perhaps most different is the “Announcements” section to the right – If you have an event you would like to announce, visit the handy-dandy submit a story page and – voilà– it will be added as soon as I get to it.
What do you think? Is the old theme better?
I think the new theme is more functional than the last and I’m thinking about keeping it …
Sudan Songfest
Crozet United Methodist Church is hosting a “Sudan Songfest” to raise money for people affected by the genocide in Sudan. This will be a night of live
music on October 21 at 6:30 p.m.
More information can be found here (PDF)
Peace,
Doug Forrester
Pastor
Crozet UMC
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realcrozetva Readers’ Forum – 10-11-2006
I am extremely saddened by the proposed redevelopment of our beloved Crozet town center. Crozet Station (the name for the new buildings) is an effort to make Crozet “upscale”, which can be translated as “more expensive”.
These buildings have been acceptable for years. 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.
Crozet is being surrounded and overrun by huge developments. 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. As Commissioner Bill Edgerton said, “There’s lots of charm in those buildings.” Charm is a meaningful quality that is quickly being lost in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area.
I hope the owners of this property will reconsider this project. Life is not simply about possessing more money; a happy life is interconnected with the quality of one’s surroundings.
Crozet is special in that it has the feel of a simpler time. 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, Speaker
Crozet, VA 22932-2204
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editor’s note:This 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. The new development will certainly be different, but it doesn’t have to be worse than what we currently have. Charm is a subjective thing; done properly I expect that the new buildings could have their charm charm, yet still pay a certain homage to the previous buildings.
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