To the Editor:
From the beginning, residents of Old Town have only wanted the very best for the Old and Historic District, starting with the group of women who spearheaded the drive that made us the third nationally designated Historic District in the country. They were motivated by the extraordinary role this “small town” had played in founding our country … and the critical need to protect it from those stimulated solely by economics. As it turns out their fears were well founded.
When public servants insist that “value” is only measured by money, you can be assured that they are violating a fundamental tenet of their oath of office. When someone whose primary responsibility is to the public, defines “value” as wholly financial, he belongs in the private sector. And unless our current public officials are strict libertarians, their seeming belief that money is the only measure of a city official’s performance is an abdication of progressive leadership and civic responsibility.
The City of Alexandria is now coming up short in continuing to use this “dollars for density” approach to running a city. The mayor, council, and former Vice Mayor Kerry Donley are responsible for pushing projects that tradeoff residents’ long term well-being for a few dollars — none of which have managed to either flat line taxes or repair damaged infrastructure.
In the case of the Old and Historic District, any initiative that lacks the “value” propositions of high esteem and respect for a powerful emblem of the City of Alexandria and our country, and the fundamental shared understanding that it is an anchor for civic pride, and a rallying point for visitors around the globe ... sadly misses the mark.
As for the waterfront, residents have been articulate, responsible, and consistent, with well-documented and solid arguments for appropriate development of what they’ve always known is an unsightly (and toxic) river’s edge. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service expressed serious doubts about the city’s preferred, massive, large-scale buildings.
Residents have used legal tools, including the favorable ruling of the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, the city’s own Protest Petition, and the courts to shift the character of the wall of building on the historic waterfront. They have probably logged in far in excess of the city’s handy little rubric of “over 100 community meetings” (where’s the hard data).
The city understands and plays the game of development as one where all city points are non-negotiable. However, civic engagement implies negotiation as a process of tradeoffs where both, not one, party gives in order to gain … and the tradeoff being meaningful in order to be equitable. Today, the city has gained almost everything, and residents have gained very little, and even stand to lose (parking and quality of life).
Let’s help the mayor, council, and Mr. Donley lose their notion that the “value” of our city can only be measured in monetary terms. Vote for Vice Mayor Allison Silberberg for mayor. Her record of listening keenly and standing with citizens to preserve neighborhood integrity and citizens’ well being is a powerful statement of her commitment to reasoned governance.
Kathryn Papp
Alexandria