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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
In the News...
()
Date: July 08, 2011 10:21AM
Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Safety concerns, 30-minute delays among issues being raised by nearby homeowners
by Kali Schumitz, Staff Writer
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110708/NEWS/707089740/1117/1117/residents-fear-tysons-walmart-will-choke-traffic&template=fairfaxTimes
Residents of the Westwood Village community, a neighborhood of condominiums and townhomes tucked behind the Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner, have only one path in and out of their community.
On most days, that is not a problem, according to Claudia Diamond, president of the Westwood Village Townhome Association. However, when the Sheraton has large events -- as it does several times per month -- it can wreak havoc on Ashgrove Lane, Sheraton Tysons Drive and Westwood Center Drive, the streets Westwood Village residents must use to exit their neighborhood onto Route 7.
With the advent of a new, urban-style Walmart next door to the Sheraton, residents fear those traffic days will become a fact of life for their community.
“There is a lot of concern for safety,” Diamond said. “We just have concerns that they haven’t really thought out a lot of different things.”
For example, what happens when the shopping center traffic conflicts with an event at the Sheraton, she asked.
Developer JBG Rosenfeld Retail is planning a mixed-use development, known as the Tysons West Promenade, across from the future Tysons West Metro Station.
The first phase of the project, which did not require Board of Supervisors approval because it complies with current zoning for the site, is expected to include a 79,900-square-foot Walmart store with a 45,000-square-foot 24 Hour Fitness gym above it. Two additional 4,000 square foot retail spaces are planned, as well as about 30,000 square feet of office space. Most parking will be in a parking garage.
Although the new development will be constructed with limited parking to take advantage of the Metro station -- about 640 spaces in the first phase -- a 2009 traffic analysis found the additional vehicle traffic associated with the new development could clog the intersection of Sheraton Tysons Drive and Westwood Center Drive.
That same analysis showed suggested, at least under the 2009 version of the designs, it could take as long as 30 minutes for drivers to make the left turn out of the single exit from the new retail center onto Sheraton Tysons Drive. As many as 550 cars per hour could be making that turn, according to traffic analyses.
Later on, JBG also plans to build 300 to 400 residential units on the site.
In addition to their concerns about increased traffic, Westwood Village residents are worried about additional parking problems. The community already has a challenging parking situation, so residents already rely on unregulated street parking.
The fear is that, on top of Sheraton guests already seeking parking there, shopping center patrons also will look to park in the community, Diamond said. She doesn’t think many Walmart patrons will be using the Metro to do their shopping.
“I thought they were taking the traffic out” with the new rail line, she said. “This is bringing the traffic in.”
The Westwood Village community has been talking with JBG about their concerns, Diamond said, and the company has seemed receptive.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that they’re going to come up with some solution,” she said.
Safety concerns, 30-minute delays among issues being raised by nearby homeowners
by Kali Schumitz, Staff Writer
http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/article/20110708/NEWS/707089740/1117/1117/residents-fear-tysons-walmart-will-choke-traffic&template=fairfaxTimes
Residents of the Westwood Village community, a neighborhood of condominiums and townhomes tucked behind the Sheraton Premiere Tysons Corner, have only one path in and out of their community.
On most days, that is not a problem, according to Claudia Diamond, president of the Westwood Village Townhome Association. However, when the Sheraton has large events -- as it does several times per month -- it can wreak havoc on Ashgrove Lane, Sheraton Tysons Drive and Westwood Center Drive, the streets Westwood Village residents must use to exit their neighborhood onto Route 7.
With the advent of a new, urban-style Walmart next door to the Sheraton, residents fear those traffic days will become a fact of life for their community.
“There is a lot of concern for safety,” Diamond said. “We just have concerns that they haven’t really thought out a lot of different things.”
For example, what happens when the shopping center traffic conflicts with an event at the Sheraton, she asked.
Developer JBG Rosenfeld Retail is planning a mixed-use development, known as the Tysons West Promenade, across from the future Tysons West Metro Station.
The first phase of the project, which did not require Board of Supervisors approval because it complies with current zoning for the site, is expected to include a 79,900-square-foot Walmart store with a 45,000-square-foot 24 Hour Fitness gym above it. Two additional 4,000 square foot retail spaces are planned, as well as about 30,000 square feet of office space. Most parking will be in a parking garage.
Although the new development will be constructed with limited parking to take advantage of the Metro station -- about 640 spaces in the first phase -- a 2009 traffic analysis found the additional vehicle traffic associated with the new development could clog the intersection of Sheraton Tysons Drive and Westwood Center Drive.
That same analysis showed suggested, at least under the 2009 version of the designs, it could take as long as 30 minutes for drivers to make the left turn out of the single exit from the new retail center onto Sheraton Tysons Drive. As many as 550 cars per hour could be making that turn, according to traffic analyses.
Later on, JBG also plans to build 300 to 400 residential units on the site.
In addition to their concerns about increased traffic, Westwood Village residents are worried about additional parking problems. The community already has a challenging parking situation, so residents already rely on unregulated street parking.
The fear is that, on top of Sheraton guests already seeking parking there, shopping center patrons also will look to park in the community, Diamond said. She doesn’t think many Walmart patrons will be using the Metro to do their shopping.
“I thought they were taking the traffic out” with the new rail line, she said. “This is bringing the traffic in.”
The Westwood Village community has been talking with JBG about their concerns, Diamond said, and the company has seemed receptive.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that they’re going to come up with some solution,” she said.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
too bad
()
Date: July 08, 2011 01:18PM
I worked on this street for a while. Anyone stupid enough to buy a house behind a hotel/office complex with only one exit gets what they deserve.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
TheMeeper
()
Date: July 08, 2011 01:32PM
too bad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked on this street for a while. Anyone
> stupid enough to buy a house behind a hotel/office
> complex with only one exit gets what they deserve.
Yeah, that's a strange little neighborhood tucked away back there. You could live in Tysons for years and never realize all those houses are back there.
I look forward to having a discount retailer in Tysons, although I wish it were Target. As far as traffic, it's already bad enough that you won't notice it getting a bit worse.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked on this street for a while. Anyone
> stupid enough to buy a house behind a hotel/office
> complex with only one exit gets what they deserve.
Yeah, that's a strange little neighborhood tucked away back there. You could live in Tysons for years and never realize all those houses are back there.
I look forward to having a discount retailer in Tysons, although I wish it were Target. As far as traffic, it's already bad enough that you won't notice it getting a bit worse.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
tru
()
Date: July 08, 2011 01:38PM
too bad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked on this street for a while. Anyone
> stupid enough to buy a house behind a hotel/office
> complex with only one exit gets what they deserve.
+1
-------------------------------------------------------
> I worked on this street for a while. Anyone
> stupid enough to buy a house behind a hotel/office
> complex with only one exit gets what they deserve.
+1
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
too bad
()
Date: July 08, 2011 01:52PM
“There is a lot of concern for safety,” Diamond said. “We just have concerns that they haven’t really thought out a lot of different things.”
Given that planning for Dulles Metro begin in 2000, perhaps the homeowners of Westwood Village should have 'thought out' buying there.
Given that planning for Dulles Metro begin in 2000, perhaps the homeowners of Westwood Village should have 'thought out' buying there.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Inquisitive1
()
Date: July 08, 2011 03:11PM
Where would this Walmart be placed exactly?
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
VEIK
()
Date: July 08, 2011 03:20PM
by Sheraton.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
TheMeeper
()
Date: July 08, 2011 03:22PM
Inquisitive1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Where would this Walmart be placed exactly?
Right near the corner of Rt. 7 and Westwood Center Drive. There used to be a car dealership there, and a Hummer dealership.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Where would this Walmart be placed exactly?
Right near the corner of Rt. 7 and Westwood Center Drive. There used to be a car dealership there, and a Hummer dealership.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
:)
()
Date: July 14, 2011 12:53PM
Actually, there were previously three exits. Metro construction eliminated one and the other private road has been blocked off. That is a lovely neighborhood. I sold my condo there a couple years ago. Gee, I guess I'm pretty stupid for buying there... had a 5 min commute to work and netted $350K when I sold it. Hmmmm.....:)
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
snowdenscold
()
Date: July 14, 2011 02:18PM
If they don't want to deal with Route 7 traffic, Why don't they connect Ashgrove Lane through to Irvin, and cut themselves off from access to 7 (so gate between their neighborhood and Sheraton). That way no cut through traffic for the people on Irvin, Old Courthouse, etc. I don't see a good way of keeping two exits open that wouldn't cause major problems from cut-throughs.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
dika-dika
()
Date: July 14, 2011 03:02PM
Walmarts brings out or attracts the Indigenous peoples.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
ah well
()
Date: July 14, 2011 03:24PM
:) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, there were previously three exits.
> Metro construction eliminated one and the other
> private road has been blocked off. That is a
> lovely neighborhood. I sold my condo there a
> couple years ago. Gee, I guess I'm pretty stupid
> for buying there... had a 5 min commute to work
> and netted $350K when I sold it. Hmmmm.....:)
2 yrs ago? You sold at the absolute bottom of the market and feel smart? Q.E.D.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, there were previously three exits.
> Metro construction eliminated one and the other
> private road has been blocked off. That is a
> lovely neighborhood. I sold my condo there a
> couple years ago. Gee, I guess I'm pretty stupid
> for buying there... had a 5 min commute to work
> and netted $350K when I sold it. Hmmmm.....:)
2 yrs ago? You sold at the absolute bottom of the market and feel smart? Q.E.D.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Ut videam
()
Date: July 14, 2011 05:34PM
:) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> and netted $350K when I sold it. Hmmmm.....:)
Translation: Short sale, it went for $350K under the outstanding balance on the mortgage and the bank let him sell it and walk away.
-------------------------------------------------------
> and netted $350K when I sold it. Hmmmm.....:)
Translation: Short sale, it went for $350K under the outstanding balance on the mortgage and the bank let him sell it and walk away.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
you cant arrest me
()
Date: July 14, 2011 06:54PM
dika-dika Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Walmarts brings out or attracts the Indigenous
> peoples.
That would be most of the diplomatic community that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks off the American tit
-------------------------------------------------------
> Walmarts brings out or attracts the Indigenous
> peoples.
That would be most of the diplomatic community that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks off the American tit
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Gordon Blvd
()
Date: July 14, 2011 08:54PM
saying a Walmart would choke traffic in Tysons is kinda like saying a heart attack would be a bad thing for a corpse.......o_0
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2011 11:10PM by Gordon Blvd.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2011 11:10PM by Gordon Blvd.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Merriam Webster
()
Date: July 14, 2011 11:03PM
you cant arrest me Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dika-dika Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Walmarts brings out or attracts the Indigenous
> > peoples.
>
> That would be most of the diplomatic community
> that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks
> off the American tit
Anybody here care to look up the definition of "indigenous"????
I am pretty sure that "dika-dika" meant "indigent".
I have no idea what thought "you can't arrest me" was trying to convey...
-------------------------------------------------------
> dika-dika Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Walmarts brings out or attracts the Indigenous
> > peoples.
>
> That would be most of the diplomatic community
> that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks
> off the American tit
Anybody here care to look up the definition of "indigenous"????
I am pretty sure that "dika-dika" meant "indigent".
I have no idea what thought "you can't arrest me" was trying to convey...
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
may2010
()
Date: July 15, 2011 05:34AM
You live in Tysons Corner and now concerned about traffic,,,really?
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
dika-dika
()
Date: July 15, 2011 05:52AM
Merriam Webster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> you cant arrest me Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dika-dika Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Walmarts brings out or attracts the
> Indigenous
> > > peoples.
> >
> > That would be most of the diplomatic community
> > that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks
> > off the American tit
>
> Anybody here care to look up the definition of
> "indigenous"????
>
> I am pretty sure that "dika-dika" meant
> "indigent".
>
> I have no idea what thought "you can't arrest me"
> was trying to convey...
That will work for me, I was trying to be nicer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
> you cant arrest me Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > dika-dika Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Walmarts brings out or attracts the
> Indigenous
> > > peoples.
> >
> > That would be most of the diplomatic community
> > that occupies McLean and Great Falls and sucks
> > off the American tit
>
> Anybody here care to look up the definition of
> "indigenous"????
>
> I am pretty sure that "dika-dika" meant
> "indigent".
>
> I have no idea what thought "you can't arrest me"
> was trying to convey...
That will work for me, I was trying to be nicer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
:)
()
Date: July 15, 2011 03:31PM
You obviously have no clue what a short sale is. You cannot make a profit on a short sale. Wow... do some research and get back to me.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
:)
()
Date: July 15, 2011 03:46PM
Actually, I do feel quite smart because I made it up on the buy side. I took the $350K and put it towards a home that I could not have otherwise afforded at the peak of the market. The low interest rate was added bonus. Perhaps you can learn something from this correspondance. :)
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Ut videam
()
Date: July 15, 2011 03:54PM
If your bank approves a short sale for $350K less than you owe on the property, you most certainly net $350K. Depending on the type of loan, it could be classified as cancellation of debt income or capital gains. Either way, the IRS could come after you for a piece of it.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
Ah well
()
Date: July 15, 2011 10:49PM
:) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, I do feel quite smart because I made it
> up on the buy side. I took the $350K and put it
> towards a home that I could not have otherwise
> afforded at the peak of the market. The low
> interest rate was added bonus. Perhaps you can
> learn something from this correspondance. :)
Lose money on every transaction but make up for it on volume? Got you an option ARM on that new crib? I hear those are the shit.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, I do feel quite smart because I made it
> up on the buy side. I took the $350K and put it
> towards a home that I could not have otherwise
> afforded at the peak of the market. The low
> interest rate was added bonus. Perhaps you can
> learn something from this correspondance. :)
Lose money on every transaction but make up for it on volume? Got you an option ARM on that new crib? I hear those are the shit.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
snowdenscold
()
Date: July 16, 2011 01:35AM
Ut videam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If your bank approves a short sale for $350K less
> than you owe on the property, you most certainly
> net $350K. Depending on the type of loan, it could
> be classified as cancellation of debt income or
> capital gains. Either way, the IRS could come
> after you for a piece of it.
See, what you say is accurate, that makes 'netting' funny accounting - because you haven't necessarily made any money, you just aren't in debt as much as you could be. It's a counter-intuitive use of the word 'net' in that case.
Example: You put 0 down, and get a 1 million loan... then a couple years go by and the house is now worth $650k. You tell the bank you can't make payments anymore, they agree to a short sale at 650. Whether it stayed at a million and you sell for what you bought it for, or you short it at 650, either way you've gained $0 through your purchase, but 'netted' 350k in the latter example. Weird.
-------------------------------------------------------
> If your bank approves a short sale for $350K less
> than you owe on the property, you most certainly
> net $350K. Depending on the type of loan, it could
> be classified as cancellation of debt income or
> capital gains. Either way, the IRS could come
> after you for a piece of it.
See, what you say is accurate, that makes 'netting' funny accounting - because you haven't necessarily made any money, you just aren't in debt as much as you could be. It's a counter-intuitive use of the word 'net' in that case.
Example: You put 0 down, and get a 1 million loan... then a couple years go by and the house is now worth $650k. You tell the bank you can't make payments anymore, they agree to a short sale at 650. Whether it stayed at a million and you sell for what you bought it for, or you short it at 650, either way you've gained $0 through your purchase, but 'netted' 350k in the latter example. Weird.
Re: Residents fear Tysons Walmart will choke traffic
Posted by:
caught in the net
()
Date: July 17, 2011 12:30PM
snowdenscold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ut videam Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If your bank approves a short sale for $350K
> less
> > than you owe on the property, you most
> certainly
> > net $350K. Depending on the type of loan, it
> could
> > be classified as cancellation of debt income or
> > capital gains. Either way, the IRS could come
> > after you for a piece of it.
>
>
> See, what you say is accurate, that makes
> 'netting' funny accounting - because you haven't
> necessarily made any money, you just aren't in
> debt as much as you could be. It's a
> counter-intuitive use of the word 'net' in that
> case.
>
> Example: You put 0 down, and get a 1 million
> loan... then a couple years go by and the house is
> now worth $650k. You tell the bank you can't make
> payments anymore, they agree to a short sale at
> 650. Whether it stayed at a million and you sell
> for what you bought it for, or you short it at
> 650, either way you've gained $0 through your
> purchase, but 'netted' 350k in the latter example.
> Weird.
Interesting math on this. Those condo's sold new for 200K in 1999, and are now going for around 400K. Prices have recovered over the last two years, so presumably they were selling for less than 400K two years ago.
No matter how you slice it, it's a very odd definition of 'netting'.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ut videam Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If your bank approves a short sale for $350K
> less
> > than you owe on the property, you most
> certainly
> > net $350K. Depending on the type of loan, it
> could
> > be classified as cancellation of debt income or
> > capital gains. Either way, the IRS could come
> > after you for a piece of it.
>
>
> See, what you say is accurate, that makes
> 'netting' funny accounting - because you haven't
> necessarily made any money, you just aren't in
> debt as much as you could be. It's a
> counter-intuitive use of the word 'net' in that
> case.
>
> Example: You put 0 down, and get a 1 million
> loan... then a couple years go by and the house is
> now worth $650k. You tell the bank you can't make
> payments anymore, they agree to a short sale at
> 650. Whether it stayed at a million and you sell
> for what you bought it for, or you short it at
> 650, either way you've gained $0 through your
> purchase, but 'netted' 350k in the latter example.
> Weird.
Interesting math on this. Those condo's sold new for 200K in 1999, and are now going for around 400K. Prices have recovered over the last two years, so presumably they were selling for less than 400K two years ago.
No matter how you slice it, it's a very odd definition of 'netting'.