The same divisive stumbling block that early planners of the hotly contested Alexandria waterfront plan encountered came up again Wednesday in the first meeting for the group charged with finding agreement: Should waterfront redevelopment pay for itself? “I look at the waterfront as benefiting everyone,” David Olinger of the Old Town Civic Association said. “It doesn’t have to pay for every detail. It brings in tourists. It helps the economy.”
Citizens group have pushed for months for a more expensive waterfront plan that features more green space and room for art. The city’s plan, with its revenue-generating hotels, isn’t what residents want, they say.
The work group, charged by the city council with coming up with a document agreeable to all parties before the end of the year, objected to the term “economically viable” in a proposed vision statement for the plan; they settled on “viable” instead.
Councilman Paul Smedberg was confident that once the group learned more about why city planners included the revenue-generating hotels, they would come to some of the same conclusions city officials did.
“I think people just need to get more information on some of the economic assumptions of the plan itself,” he said.
Others came away thinking the city should get more creative in its funding.
“The waterfront is not an island stuck out in the Potomac,” work group member Bert Ely said. “We shouldn’t get too hung up on making sure things balance out right within the waterfront area.”
Philip Matyas, an Alexandria real estate professional who said he represented waterfront neighbors, said the city should install more parking meters to pay for the plan.
“Visitors should be sharing the cost,” he said.
Organizers determined ongoing conflicts with the Old Dominion Boat Club will not be up for discussion. Earlier this month city attorney James Banks announced eminent domain could be used as a last resort to acquire some property claimed by the club near the waterfront.
The work group plans to meet twice in August and more frequently in the fall.
