The Alexandria City Council is scheduled to takie up Old Town’s waterfront plan this Saturday and if this public hearing is anything like the previous ones, observers should be in for some entertainment.
Most folks in Old Town agree that the waterfront needs to be redeveloped. But they differ as to how, with the line typically falling between businesses and residents. Many Old Town residents want to see more open space and a focus on parks and recreation along the water. Meanwhile, city planners, supported generally by businesses, want to see more commercial development like retail, restaurants and hopefully a hotel.
The two sides have come to agreement upon many points but the nexus of contention — literally in the plan and figuratively in the debate — is centering on the Old Dominion Boat Club property at the base of King Street. City planners had hoped to finally build a plaza and open up the base of King Street — Old Town’s main retail coridor — to the water. It is currently closed-off by a city fence that surrounds the boat club parking lot at the end of the street.
The city planning commission opened up last week’s meeting to public comment on two new ideas proposed for the base of King Street after negotiations to move the boat club’s parking lot failed. But over the pleadings by residents to delay, the commission shipped off the plan to the city council, with the boat club’s waterfront property unfinished in the plan.
After last week’s meeting dragged late into the night and was frequently interrupted by locals shouting jeers or applause (depending on who was talking), we’re dying to see what agitated residents will do with an entire Saturday afternoon.
