HOT Lanes Firm May Walk – One of the two companies that was tapped to built High Occupancy Toll lanes on I-95/395 may walk away from the project if the federal environmental review lasts more than 12 months. The CEO of Melbourne-based Transurban told a newspaper that long delays, including delays caused by Arlington County’s lawsuit challenging the project, has prompted him to think about cutting his losses. [The Australian]
Oil & Vinegar Store Sets Opening Date – Ah Love Oil & Vinegar, the subject of an ARLnow.com poll last month, is set to open its doors on Shirlington on Thursday. [Shirlington Village Blog]
County to Designate ‘Essential’ Historic Properties — Arlington County is scheduled to designate 23 new “essential” historic properties, including garden apartment complexes, old shopping centers and the Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse. The designation will do little by itself to protect buildings from development, however. [Sun Gazette]
Related Posts
- Morning Notes July 11, 2011
- Morning Poll: Oil and Vinegar Store in Shirlington May 23, 2011
- Morning Notes December 13, 2010
- Morning Notes November 16, 2010
And I hope that Virginia would have grounds to sue Transurban all the way back to Australia. Given the absolutely appalling deal cut by state officials, though, I expect we’ll end up footing the bill for the business-class seats it would take to get them there. The HOT lanes are a cluster()@#@ of epic proportions, and everyone involved should be ashamed of themselves.
And what exactly would be your claim/argument to sue? A project that should have been completed in a couple of years that hasn’t even started?
And your claim against Transurban is based on what exactly, iCounselor?
Get me the agreement and I’ll find one, iSecretary.
What’s bad about the HOT lane deals that VODT signed with TransUrban is that they provide a revenue guarantee to them, but not ceiling on what they can charge drivers.
The outcry over the rising fees of the Dulles Toll Rd shows that people expect some accountability for road toll fees, that there is no real market mechanism at work to discipline a monopoly once granted by State officials.
I predict a March 12 closing date for Ah Love. I don’t see the market for it. Of course, that’s just me.
Me neither. But I also remember a friend from NYC many years ago telling me about the popularity of Magnolia Bakery. My response was “who would ever stand in line for cupcakes?”. And here we are.
This is why the Chinese are winning.
The Chinese stand in line for cupcakes too, but only because they have to.
My God……I almost p*ssed myself laughing at that!
You’re welcome.
I think you’re confusing them with our old Soviet Russia nemesis. Our new nemesis will require new stereotypes.
I work with what I’m given.
We also have trucks that bring the cupcakes directly to us.
I’m old enough to be considered a historic property of Arlington. Will that get me a tax break? LOL
“I’m old enough to be considered a historic property of Arlington.”
You’re not the only one!
“Will that get me a tax break? LOL”
We should live so long! LOL!
Yes. See your VA-760.
Good one! Though technically it’s not there, it’s from carrying over the AGI from your federal return.
I was hoping for something more in tune to a senior citizen discount at the movie theater. Maybe a 2.5% sales tax for “historical characters”.
I’m not old enough to care, but when I fill out my 760 there is a part for “historic” citizens of VA. It’s on the first page, I don’t know what if any change it has on tax liability.
Oops, it is on the 760 too. My bad.
If it’s such a terrible deal (and I agree it is), why would we want to sue Transurban for walking away from it? Wouldn’t we be glad for the opportunity to negotiate a better deal with someone else? (Not that that is likely to happen….)
Damages as remedy, not performance. And, well, mostly to satisfy my own sense of impotent outrage over the deal. I know that most big transportation projects involve some bad terms, but this one was really beyond the pale.
The fact that such terms were required shows how risky the plan was. We need more lanes on 395, just not sure that HOT Lanes are the answer.
I will be opening my Salt and Pepper store next month.
I just signed a lease for a space to house my Bread Crumb Emporium.
Please come visit my new store, The Mustardium, which should be opening as soon as the final permits are issued by the county in 2017.
my store “Shake N Bake” will open next month
and I’m opening “Wake and Bake” next store.
And all of these will, of course, be right next door to Ned Flanders’ “Leftorium” I’m guessing?
No, that’s actually a pretty good idea.
Firing cannons, I presume?
And I’m leasing the space right next door to your emporium for my gourmet mayonnaise shop. It’s going to be the next big thing.
Stay away from The Mustardium though!
All joking aside, I think everyone only is betting against this place because it’s in Shrlington. You and I both know that, were this to open on Clarendon blvd, there’s be a line out the door (mostly strollers and dogs of course) for the next 2 years.
Consistently winning business model for the R-B corridor: Commodity product sold as “upscale” + location + prices to match = success.
Hey — I have nothing against Shrlington except I can’t park there or Metro there.
There is FREE parking in Shirlington . . .
And you can take the ART 77 right there from Court House/Clarendon.
Old buildings are not essential because they are old. Not everything old should stay, most are rundown and not worth keeping.
Agreed. I’m still perplexed why the developers of the Halstead had to keep the facade of the Arlington Hardware building.
Just to be clear, they didn’t “have” to keep the Arlington Hardware facade, it’s just that the Form Based Code gives them a density bonus for doing so (up to 2 additional floors for incorporating a designated historic facade I believe). The developer apparently determined that the density bonus made it worth their while to incorporate the facade.
Yeah, wouldn’t it be great if everything looked like Crystal City?
Of course, I didn’t say that but thanks for the witty comment.
But it’s still what we’d have without historic preservation measures.
na na na na
na na na
hey hey hey
goodbye
don’t let the door hit you on the way out transurban
I like that Q-400 in the photo…