| Downtown
Project Hits Snag |
By Erin E. Fogg 
Observer Staff Writer |
| High hopes of a comprehensive downtown redevelopment project
incorporating a cultural arts center, public parking, retail
and residential space are quickly fizzling after months of
unsuccessful negotiations with a critical property owner. |
| Mayor Michael O'Reilly announced at the Feb. 14 Town Council
public hearing that the town is facing a "log jam" in its
discussions with the owner of property at the corner of Center
and Elden Streets, which comprises a major chunk of land included
in two development proposals. |
| Last July the town received an unsolicited proposal from
Clark Ventures under Virginia's Public-Private Education Facilities
and Infrastructure Act of 2002. By the end of September, the
town had received a second proposal from Herndon Station LLC.
Both plans included a unique mix of retail and residential
components, as well as an area for a farmer's market, cultural
arts center and public parking. |
| After accepting and reviewing the proposals, town staff
recommended the council to move them both forward to the detailed
review phase in order to learn more specifics about financing
and other issues. But a resolution approving such a decision
has been deferred every month since November while closed
meetings on the necessary land assemblage have not worked
out well. |
| O'Reilly said the current impasse does not mean a downtown
project is hopeless. Rather, it likely means the development
will be scaled back from original concepts to take out the
property in question. The Town Council unanimously voted to
defer the resolution to its Feb. 28 meeting to discuss with
consultants what options are available. O'Reilly said the
town must ensure that requesting the two development groups
to submit new concept drawings would not violate any regulations
in the PPEA process. |
| Representatives from both groups addressed the town council
at the meeting, asking that the proposals not be rejected. |
| Mike Scott of Herndon Station LLC said his team was disappointed
the town might scrap all the preliminary work they completed
so far, which represents an investment of $250,000. Scott
said several team members attended the meeting in a "show
of solidarity" for supporting an alternative solution and
requested the council defer an action for six months. |
| "For us this is not just about the financial investment,"
he said. "It is the dream of creating a project that we can
be proud of 50 years down the road." |
| Scott said Herndon Station is prepared to phase in development
so that the first portion of the project could construct the
cultural arts center on town-owned land, leaving time for
advancing negotiations for the remaining property. |
| Bill Sawicki of Clark Ventures said that if the council
decides to move forward to the detailed stage of proposals
without the full assemblage of land it could result in a less
efficient development with less of an impact on downtown vitality.
However, delaying the project will only increase its cost. |
| Sawicki recommended the council move forward only one of
the proposals because it would provide a distinct partner
in the project and enhance the negotiating strategy with the
landowner. |
| Councilwoman Carol Bruce moved to defer the resolution until
the next public hearing in order to digest the information
presented by the development groups. |
| O'Reilly said he did not foresee delaying a decision for
six months having an effect on the land assemblage given the
"difficult" negotiation meetings, however "pleasant and forthright"
they were. He said he expects there to be much discussion
leading up to the work session on Feb. 21, at which time he
will provide an update on any developments. The public hearing
on this resolution is scheduled for Feb. 28. |
