Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Drafthouse Bankrupt?
Someone posted this yesterday...thought everyone would want to know. Thanks Poster.
The Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse has filed for bankruptcy reorganization, seven months after pulling the plug on an expansion.
Arlington Cinema Inc. listed assets of less than $100,000 and debt between $1 million and $10 million, according to a voluntary Chapter 11 filing. The filing says it has fewer than 50 creditors. Its biggest debt, listed as disputed, is $5 million owed to Wheaton Plaza and Westfield LLC, its landlord at its failed second location in Wheaton.
Arlington Cinema opened Montgomery Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse in October 2008. It closed the theater and restaurant in mid-December, citing excessive costs and the time-consuming county permitting process. It also said Westfield would not pay the remaining balance on the project’s construction allowance.
Owner Greg Godbout bought the original Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse on Columbia Pike in 2005.
It has expanded from second-run movies and beer, adding a restaurant as well as live music and entertainment. It opened in 1985 in the former Arlington Theater.
The Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse has filed for bankruptcy reorganization, seven months after pulling the plug on an expansion.
Arlington Cinema Inc. listed assets of less than $100,000 and debt between $1 million and $10 million, according to a voluntary Chapter 11 filing. The filing says it has fewer than 50 creditors. Its biggest debt, listed as disputed, is $5 million owed to Wheaton Plaza and Westfield LLC, its landlord at its failed second location in Wheaton.
Arlington Cinema opened Montgomery Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse in October 2008. It closed the theater and restaurant in mid-December, citing excessive costs and the time-consuming county permitting process. It also said Westfield would not pay the remaining balance on the project’s construction allowance.
Owner Greg Godbout bought the original Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse on Columbia Pike in 2005.
It has expanded from second-run movies and beer, adding a restaurant as well as live music and entertainment. It opened in 1985 in the former Arlington Theater.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Have you heard this about ownership of Columbia Pike?
Arlington County Board Seeks Control of Columbia Pike
Move meant to facilitate revitalization, street car program
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board, citing the need to advance its redevelopment plans of a key east-west corridor, today adopted a resolution seeking control of a 3.5 mile stretch of Columbia Pike now owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Should the Commonwealth Transportation Board agree to the request, the County would assume full control of the right-of-way from the Arlington-Fairfax County Line to Joyce Street. The County would then be responsible for additional maintenance and operating expenses estimated to cost $180,000 to $450,000. Arlington already maintains all of the traffic signals, streetscape, and bus stops in the corridor and pays for virtually all street improvements.
“Everyone in Arlington has a stake in the successful revitalization of the Columbia Pike corridor,” said County Board Chairman Barbara Favola. “Owning the road and associated right-of-way will make it easier for Arlington to ensure the transformation of Columbia Pike from a suburban highway to an urban, pedestrian focused and transit-oriented main street.”
VDOT ownership slows revitalization
Columbia Pike’s current classification as a primary road under VDOT ownership means that the County must go through an extensive review process with VDOT for even locally funded construction projects. Many of those projects – including a proposed plan to build a streetcar system along the Pike – are not typical of VDOT plans. Often, the County must go through a time-consuming, costly process to obtain design exceptions to implement its plans, leading to project delays. The County expects substantial savings from the avoidance of delays, especially when the streetcar system is built.
Transferring ownership of Columbia Pike to the County would eliminate or reduce VDOT’s involvement in road-related projects along the corridor.
Background
County government, residents and the business community have worked for more than 15 years to create a plan for an urban, pedestrian focused and transit-oriented main street along Columbia Pike. In March 2002, the Board adopted a revitalization plan, the Columbia Pike Initiative, based on extensive community involvement. More than one million square feet of development based on that plan is now being built in the corridor. One major mixed-use development, the Halstead, is completed.
In the past 10 years, the County has spent about $12 million on capital projects along the Pike – all of which required design approval and permits from VDOT. The County has allocated another $9.5 million for planned streetscape and utility undergrounding improvements for the Pike.
A streetcar system has been identified as a solution to address the increasing transit demand along the Pike. The system will ease traffic congestion, improve commutes and encourage land owners and developers to continue to make improvements to and investment in the planned development along Columbia Pike.
Move meant to facilitate revitalization, street car program
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board, citing the need to advance its redevelopment plans of a key east-west corridor, today adopted a resolution seeking control of a 3.5 mile stretch of Columbia Pike now owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Should the Commonwealth Transportation Board agree to the request, the County would assume full control of the right-of-way from the Arlington-Fairfax County Line to Joyce Street. The County would then be responsible for additional maintenance and operating expenses estimated to cost $180,000 to $450,000. Arlington already maintains all of the traffic signals, streetscape, and bus stops in the corridor and pays for virtually all street improvements.
“Everyone in Arlington has a stake in the successful revitalization of the Columbia Pike corridor,” said County Board Chairman Barbara Favola. “Owning the road and associated right-of-way will make it easier for Arlington to ensure the transformation of Columbia Pike from a suburban highway to an urban, pedestrian focused and transit-oriented main street.”
VDOT ownership slows revitalization
Columbia Pike’s current classification as a primary road under VDOT ownership means that the County must go through an extensive review process with VDOT for even locally funded construction projects. Many of those projects – including a proposed plan to build a streetcar system along the Pike – are not typical of VDOT plans. Often, the County must go through a time-consuming, costly process to obtain design exceptions to implement its plans, leading to project delays. The County expects substantial savings from the avoidance of delays, especially when the streetcar system is built.
Transferring ownership of Columbia Pike to the County would eliminate or reduce VDOT’s involvement in road-related projects along the corridor.
Background
County government, residents and the business community have worked for more than 15 years to create a plan for an urban, pedestrian focused and transit-oriented main street along Columbia Pike. In March 2002, the Board adopted a revitalization plan, the Columbia Pike Initiative, based on extensive community involvement. More than one million square feet of development based on that plan is now being built in the corridor. One major mixed-use development, the Halstead, is completed.
In the past 10 years, the County has spent about $12 million on capital projects along the Pike – all of which required design approval and permits from VDOT. The County has allocated another $9.5 million for planned streetscape and utility undergrounding improvements for the Pike.
A streetcar system has been identified as a solution to address the increasing transit demand along the Pike. The system will ease traffic congestion, improve commutes and encourage land owners and developers to continue to make improvements to and investment in the planned development along Columbia Pike.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Security Committee Pool Party
Mark your calendars...it's time for a pool party on Saturday. It's going to be from 6 to 8 PM. I was waiting to see if the Crier was going to give more details but alas we have not gotten it yet.
Don't you think the July Crier should be out before the 15th of the month? Perhaps even list the event on the website if you can't get the Crier out in a timely manner? I know this is a topic every month...but the Crier used to come out a lot earlier in past years. Why does it take so much longer now?
Don't you think the July Crier should be out before the 15th of the month? Perhaps even list the event on the website if you can't get the Crier out in a timely manner? I know this is a topic every month...but the Crier used to come out a lot earlier in past years. Why does it take so much longer now?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Do You Pick Up After Your Dog? (or cat)
I see this topic in the Crier all the time and someone posted about it in Wednesday's blog comments. The question is do you pick up after your animal? Do you think that AV residents don't pick up after their dog or do you think it is the surrounding dog owners that litter AV with their non-resident poop?
I know people get wound up around this topic so let's hear about it. Is there a certain location in the Village that has more attacks than others? If so, watch your step.
I know people get wound up around this topic so let's hear about it. Is there a certain location in the Village that has more attacks than others? If so, watch your step.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Stinky Garbage Cans
Just wondering how everyone's garbage cans are smelling about right now? I received an email about the H Courtyard's garbage cans smelling to high heaven and the sighting of cockroaches. I believe the maintenance guys are supposed to wash out the cans when they take out the garbage. Anyone have insight to the procedure?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Columbia Pike almost 200 Years Old
Check out the story in the Sun Gazette. They are already starting to plan festivities for next year to celebrate the history of the road. Should be a great way to show how the corridor is changing and getting better and better.
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