Crozet's community blog
Mike Marshall of the Crozet Gazette wrote one side of the Barnes Lumber future and Frank Stoner with Milestone Partners, prospective developer of Barnes Lumber, responded. In internet-speak, the opinions are long, but spend a few minutes reading. You’ll be more aware when you’re finished reading.
Regardless of which side you find yourself on, take some time and get educated about what’s happening and what might happen in Downtown Crozet.
And then ask questions.
received these outstanding questions via email –
I would love for you to query Crozet residents on what kinds of businesses they think would:
1. Be sources of livable wage employment in Crozet
2. Act as a magnet for other businesses to locate nearby
3. Or might develop a niche or theme (“X”) to attract similar businesses and customers and bring people to downtown Crozet because it is known for X.
I am looking for serious suggestions that consider the financial viability of those businesses being able to succeed and thrive and grow here.
Let’s think about these questions, and think about the actual viability of the businesses. I’d also suggest that we be open to larger employers, and understand that good growth is going to come to someone’s backyard. If you really don’t want it in your backyard, buy said yard. We do live in a growth area.
Update: good comments on the accompanying Facebook post. On a personal note, I’d say that anything we can do to dissuade homogenous chains (by encouraging locally owned small businesses) would be a million times better than the alternative.
We’ve had similar conversations before, but never been prodded to think about financial viability. Please do consider that whatever business you want needs to make a profit. These three posts have a lot of background and useful comments.
– What does Crozet need? (2007)
– What businesses does Crozet need? (2011)
– What do we want Crozet to be? (2013)
While I don’t particularly like Facebook, but I recognize its value to the community and sometimes a quick post on Facebook is better than a quick blog post so as not to flood everyone’s inboxes. I’m going to do this type of summary post more often – what do you think?
May 27 – I posted a link to this – Are Fearful, Lurking Parents a Reason for Uninspired Transportation Choice? – something to think about when thinking about getting around Crozet.
May 28 – I asked for help from WordPress people in the re-making RealCrozetVA.
May 31 – Someone asked for yoga instructors/studios in Crozet; members of the community answered.
June 6 – I saw a question “what are some fun things to do with kids in Crozet?” – and y’all gave some great advice. (I’m going to make this a full post on the blog soon)
June 6 – I posted this picture I took when I was out for a bike ride.
“Took the opportunity for an early evening ride. Many of the things I love about where I live: being able to ride my bicycle for five minutes and hear running water, smell cow manure & see tight bales of hay.”
Traffic stuff coming up next week on Tabor and Crozet Ave. (bolding mine)
They’re hoping to have it finished by November. 2014.
via email –
Via email. If anyone is able to live tweet this meeting that would be tremendous. I know that I will not be able to attend.
CROZET COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF SPECIAL AND REGULAR JUNE MEETINGS
SPECIAL MEETING: The Crozet Community Advisory Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 9, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Albemarle County Office Building, in Room 246, located at 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902. The purpose of the meeting is to meet with Albemarle County Planning Department staff to discuss the proposed redevelopment of the Barnes Lumber property in Crozet.
REGULAR MEETING (NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE): The Crozet Community Advisory Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on MONDAY, June 16, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at The Meadows conference room, at 5735 Meadows Drive, Crozet, Virginia 22932. Please note the change of date for this meeting. The CCAC will not meet on June 19.
via email.
The two-week look-ahead for progress on the Crozet Streetscape project is: Continue reading “Crozet Streetscape Update – 27 May 2014”
K Burnell Evans at the Daily Progress reports:
Plans are taking shape for one of the few new initiatives to escape the chopping block this spring when Albemarle County school officials slashed $3.9 million from the fiscal plan for the coming school year.
Students have been selected and a curriculum drawn up for freshmen entering the Environmental Studies Academy at Western Albemarle High School this fall. A group of 16 male and nine female students will form the academy’s entering class, said Adam Mulcahy, a biology and ecology teacher at Western who will lead the program.
And. Wow.
In an informal survey of his students, Mulcahy (a biology and ecology teacher at Western who will lead the program) told the School Board last week, about 80 percent of respondents had never planted something with their own hands.