The Observer Newspapers | Letter:Downtown Hotel Won't Benefit Community

April 3, 2008

Downtown Hotel Won't Benefit Community

Walking from my home, I wave to Mr. Roberts at his carpet shop and to the firefighters. I get a hug from Jimmy at his tavern. I chat with MainStreet bankers and their give poodle mascot a pat. I get my free slice of bread and say "hi" at Harvest Bread. Our dog is a patient at the animal hospital. I chat with friends at the Closet. I proudly keep my Tortilla Factory 10 percent card next to photos of my kids in my wallet É I could go on and on.

When our sons seek help for Boy Scout projects, our Herndon businesses trip over themselves to pitch in. Do you think the staff or guests of an extended-stay hotel will connect with our town the way our community businesses do?

Extended-stay hotels follow a pattern of not promoting from within, not promoting career-building, not volunteering in the community, not offering events space. Diamond Property's proposed extended-stay hotel specifically will not blend with historic Herndon's turn-of-the-century architecture. It will not cater to Herndon families' out-of-town funeral guest visiting for short terms (because it is extended-stay). It will likely not fill ground-level retail immediately upon opening. (There are currently many vacancies within walking distance.)

Planning theories recommend concentric zones from a core. In Herndon's case, that would be concentrically increasing density and height—and concentrically lessening vintage-look architecture the farther from historic old Town Hall.

We already have many extended-stays elsewhere in town. Yes, they generate much-appreciated revenue, at a cost. Extended-stays are similar to self-storage. They are sink-holes to community.

The professional Diamond team has devoted valuable resources, been caring in out-reach, and responsive to citizen input. I appreciate all their efforts on Herndon's behalf.

I encourage Diamond to pursue this project on an even bigger scale, outside Herndon Parkway, and I volunteer to make an outside-the-parkway extended-stay a success.

Ann V. Null

Herndon

Editor's note: Ms. Null is a former member of the Herndon Town Council.