Scottsville ARB Talks Streetscape

Tonight I attended the monthly meeting of the Scottsville Architectural Review Board as a matter of routine. Despite several failed efforts many years ago to get a seat on this board, I still like to attend to stay abreast of any issues that may effect the historical integrity of the Scottsville Historic District. Of course, some of these issues have concerned my own projects and over the years the ARB has gotten some bad press, sometimes well deserved. To the credit of its members, I have seen the ARB evolve in an effort to bridge the gap between what the ARB is chartered to do and what an applicant wants. The results, I think, have resulted in a more positive experience.

Tonight they discussed some important Town issues. It was announced that the Farmer’s Market plans submitted last month for ARB review and approval were presented by the Town to an area contractor for a cost estimate. The Town Administrator stated the budget for the entire project is around $100,000, but the cost estimate came back at $200,000. The architect of the market building is now seeking a lower cost estimate, otherwise the entire project will have to go back to the Quality of Life’s drawing board in an attempt to lower the price. Hmm, sounds like the Streetscape part 2.

Speaking of Streetscape, there was some very honest discussion on the current state of the “enhancements” and what it has done to the character of the historic district. The Chair of the ARB reported that a delegation of ARB members had walked Valley Street to look at the work thus far performed and found many areas of concern. I applaud the ARB for doing this and speaking up and suggesting the Town needs to treat its own projects in the same manner that it does the plans of a private individual. During the entire project, the Town only asked the ARB to comment on the street light design.

The Mayor once said the current Streetscape efforts are the results of over seven years worth of planning. In year one, I suggested that the Quality of Life Committee, the main overseer of Streetscape, engage the services of its own ARB or that of someone who would be sympathetic to the character of the historic district. I said the same thing in years two and three and finally gave up. So many of the current issues about quality, aesthetics and appropriateness could have been dealt with before the fact rather than after had they heeded my advice and consulted with people who do know something about historic preservation. Positive suggestions have been offered over and again from several sources, but to my knowledge none were ever taken seriously enough to be included in the planning process except one – the need for storm drains. I reckon I am not one of the “key members of the community” the Quality of Life Committee likes to consult with.

The ARB and members of the attending audience put forth some positive ideas that will be summarized and relayed to the Scottsville Planning Commission and the Town Council. Hopefully, the Council will heed this input. I am personally appreciative to ARB for stepping up to the plate on its own accord and being proactive.

I walked home after the meeting sensing a slight ray of hope for the future of the historic district.

Deadlines

Have you ever set a deadline or goal for yourself? It can be a difficult endeavor, but can be a very worthwhile exercise. One of the biggest challenges for anyone doing so is being realistic and, by extension, being honest.

For all of 2007, deadlines have been issued from the upper story of Victory Theater almost as frequently as I get email. Many deadlines have been announced at council meetings, in newsletters, in letters from the Mayor, and in media stories. In case someone has been playing Rip Van Winkle, I am referring to deadlines for the so called Streetscape Enhancement Project or whatever the current official terminology for the great Hogan Debacle is now called. So many deadlines have been issued dealing with the same subject, that after a while they became one of the biggest jokes of the year in Scottsville, the greater Albemarle/Charlottesville community, area utility companies, and VDOT. In fact, by the time most became public, the deadline was past and new ones had to be set.

A new year is upon us and once again new deadlines will need to be set. Ironically, the only thing greater in number than the deadlines issued are the excuses issues to explain why they were not met. That my friends is about the only thing you can count on – the issuance of yet more excuses for 2008.

Want an example? Recently the local cable company was feeding their cables through the supplied and inspected conduits. At one business location they shoved the cable through their supplied junction box but never saw it emerge from the expected conduit at the building location. Instead they heard it hitting metal. Upon further investigation they found the cable emerging inside an electric meter base which was “hot”. It turns out someone got the conduits crossed up despite the presence of the “diligent project inspector” who was costing the Town $70 an hour.

To correct the problem, the sidewalk had to be cut open again severely impacting negatively the operation of the affected business. Ironically, it had been the last major section of sidewalk to be poured in Town. A Town official latter commented that the contractor reported that the problem was the result of vandalism ( I am not sure if a police report was ever filed). A town councilor indicated the problem was due to gravel blocking the conduit. Whom do you believe? I believe what I saw with my own eyes.

As par to course, the deadline for making all the new utility connections have come and gone. The contractor has generated their excuses and the town has done likewise. The deadlines have never been realistic with this project and the excuses have never been honest.

Recently, I heard tell that at a recent Town meeting I was being criticized for the appearance of my most current renovation project by a town councilor. I find this ironic in the face of the appearance of Streetscape, but I stand above this person in that I need not make any excuses for I have been realistic and honest in my efforts. I have set a goal, as I have with each and every project I have tackled in Scottsville and I am on track. The Town more issues of its own creation to contend with than worrying about me.

All who know me realize, my projects take time, but in the end they exceeded even my humble expectations. Sadly, the Town can not make that same claim for Streetscape. I must run as I think I hear another excuse coming.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year friends and visitors. My resolution for 2008 is to provide insight and truth about the happenings in Scottsville.

Too often the populace, friends and businesses of Scottsville get half truths or a dizzying spin on the truth. Time and again some members of the governing body of the Town of Scottsville tell the public that they have “had very positive feedback from key members of the community” or they have “heard from members of the community” when pushing their agenda. Never in all my years living here have I heard actual names. Who are the key members of the community I wonder? Am I not a key member? Are not you a key member? We only have 550 or so members in the actual Town community and I would have thought with such a small number each and every one of these 550 people should be thought of as “key members”.

What section of the local populace do these “key members” represent? No one has ever polled my opinion in an official capacity? Have you ever been polled? I do not know everyone in Town, but I know a fairshare and none have ever been asked their opinion. However, many have offered it and yet their comments never gain the accreditation that the “key members” receive.

I hope that through this forum some of you may become enlightened about the truth in this Town. I also hope that some of you may contribute to this effort. As I write this I can already hear the naysayers condemning my efforts as they have done for years. They are the same people who want all the world to think this is some sort of Utopia. I could even name these individuals, but I will defer in the event that they will see the truth for themselves.

The truth shall set us free.