This is a copy of a letter sent to City Council and the City Manager regarding concerns with the new mixed use development plan by Insight for Broad & Washington Streets. ========================================================================================= Mayor David Tarter City Manager Wyatt Shields City Hall, 300 Park Avenue Falls Church, VA 22046 February 4, 2020   Dear Mayor Tarter and City Manager Shields,  Please find below the comments of several concerned citizens regarding the new mixed-use project proposed for Broad and Washington Streets. Summary:  The latest mixed-use proposal at Broad and Washington does not meet the commercial standard of the 2018 project and should not be approved in itsRead More →

By
On
With 8 Comments

Remember interim’s School Superintendent Schiller’s February 2017 advice to build a single-phase high school for $ 60 million? What if we followed his advice? Let’s say he was off and it would cost $ 70 million. And, let’s not build a school for 1,500 students like he suggested, but a smaller school for 1,350 students. Also, don’t build an expensive 5 story school. Build a cheaper-style 2 story school that we can expand upon. Q: What are the advantages of this approach? A1. We save $ 50 million dollars and borrow $ 50 million less. A2. We can afford to keep the 10 acres ofRead More →

By
On
With 4 Comments

Below is the statement read by Mr. John Leimone to City Council during public comment on Monday, July 24, 2017.  Mr Lemoine has worked as an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank and the International Monetary Fund. I strongly support the VPIS recommendation in the well-argued letter to you (City Council) to postpone any decision on a GMHS referendum until citizens have been thoroughly and honestly briefed on all aspects of this project, which because of the costs involved, poses an existential threat to the City’s future financial stability. Underlying this position are at least 4 major concerns: The Council and City Manager have glossedRead More →

By
On
With 2 Comments

In November, we will probably be asked to approve a referendum for a $120 M (Million) bond issuance to finance construction of a new high school. The debt service will be approximately $7.08 M every year for 30 yearsi. Some people have warned that paying for increasing School system operating costs will be more challenging than the bond debt payment. The counter thinking is that new development and a modest real estate tax increase will pay for the need of our Schools. During the past few weeks, the City has held some meetings and issued some reports that provide enough data to allow anyone toRead More →

By
On
With 13 Comments

The City of Falls Church has released updated Mixed Use Fiscal Impact numbers as of June 2017.  This report profiles the 8 completed mixed-use development (MXD) projects for fiscal impact, community benefits, and related data on building densities, commercial occupancy, and public school pupils. The MXD projects currently generate $3.8 million per year in net revenue to the City. Gross revenue from these projects is $10.6 million per year from all City tax sources. Read more details in the city reports linked below: MXD Fiscal Impact Report, June 2017 MXD fiscal impact, 2017b  Read More →

By
On
With 0 Comments

Arlington, like many local jurisdictions, depend on commercial development to fund the county’s needs.  The increase in commercial vacancies has been problematic in Arlington and the article indicates that high vacancies may continue until 2023.  If this is occurring in a neighboring jurisdiction that is very similar to FCC, what might we learn from this issue? The Arlington Economic Development Chief indicates that converting commercial property to residential brings in less revenue than commercial properties: “he cautioned that the conversions trigger more government services for residents and bring in less revenue than commercial properties.” Washington Business Journal ArticleRead More →

By
On
With 3 Comments