To the Editor:
At the behest of its citizens, Alexandria decided to appoint an “Ad-Hoc Monitoring Group for Waterfront Construction.” However, the name of that committee has the term “monitoring” imbedded into its title. That in itself paints the process wrongly, as it infers that the real decisions have already been made, and the group merely keeps up with the daily status of construction projects. If this is the case, the group should be called “the Waterfront Construction implementation Task Force.” Regardless, some entity needs to adhere to a number of strict guidelines before any demolition or construction begins at any of the four development sites along the waterfront.
First of all, the developments should not be done simultaneously. A time sequenced waterfront development plan must be created for the next five plus years, otherwise, gridlock and chaos will ensue in the Old and Historic District. Businesses will undoubtedly suffer under these conditions.
Next, a necessary part of the demolition process is the removal of asbestos and contaminated soils from many of the old buildings. Barges should be used for this purpose, and for the removal of other rubbish from the demolished buildings. The use of barges would eliminate the need for a multitude of construction trucks hauling loads of debris from the Old and Historic District. Barges can also deliver construction materials to the various construction sites.
Thirdly, during the demolition and construction phase, workers must park their vehicles outside of the Old and Historic District, or take public transportation. If not, parking will be scarce for those who live, work or shop in Old Town.
Fourth, strict guidelines must be established so that only one development at a time will be allowed to pile drive. Seismic monitors need to be installed on all of the residential and commercial properties east of Fairfax Street during the entire waterfront construction process.
Lastly, addressing noise pollution will be paramount, as we don’t need to replicate the noise generated by the endless pounding of piles that we had during the Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction.
As evidenced by the topics referenced above, monitoring these developments is insufficient. Strict construction guidelines must be laid down by the group, and then overseen by the group for compliance. No demolition should begin until the group is completely assembled, and the guidelines for demolition and construction have been specifically delineated. Otherwise, chaos and cacophony will be sure to follow ....