Comments on: HISTORIC DISTRICT REVIEW BOARD Back to the Drawing Board for Hotel Cape Charles

By: Amy Townsend

Amy Townsend — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:13:21 +0000

Like Craig, I am a part-time resident and reside in the Wilson Building. If ever there were the perfect reason for granting a variance it is the gorgeous Hotel Cape Charles! I remember how excited I was when the building was purchased for renovation. Then curious and a little impatient as I watched the work progress. But I had no idea how far my hopeful expectations would be exceeded until the day it opened and I took a tour. So beautiful! I can’t tell you how many friends and visitors I’ve pulled into the lobby to admire the HCC. I have to admit – it’s been fun to brag about the new addition to the neighborhood.
Clearly, it’s been successful in attracting the kind of tourists that can help to make our shops and restaurants more successful. I hope our Review Board will do everything in its power to “flex” in support of this gem.

By: Craig Zuidema

Craig Zuidema — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:46:09 +0000

As a part time resident of Cape Charles, and one who lives just three buildings from the hotel, I think the hotel looks incredible! Given that many of the properties on Mason Avenue aren’t even occupied much less as beautiful as the hotel, the review board should cut them some slack. This is just the kind of attitude that drives businesses away. The Betis Group is already leaving Cape Charles, we don’t need more vacant or empty buildings.

By: Dana Lascu

Dana Lascu — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 17:57:33 +0000

I am surprised that readers and some members of the Review Board are not aware that glass is the building material of the new millennium. It is used in skyscrapers and in imposing structures in the desert with no “sandblasting” effects: unlike brick or cement, glass does not corrode –- iron, on the other hand, rusts. Much of the glass used in new construction is also structural. Look at the glass buildings, twisted or not, of architectural greats Frank Gehry, IM Pei, and Steven Holl, and check out the glass balconies at the top of the Willis (Sears) Tower. New buildings and renovations alike sport grand glass wraps and are phenomenal inside and out. Two firms in Central Virginia are capable of remarkable design with echoes in the world architectural community; Gammino’s is one of them.

By: Jonny Stevenson

Jonny Stevenson — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:51:15 +0000

You know, it is a lovely hotel.

I’m glad I don’t have to clean the glass, and I think given a few years, he will have to replace it from the sand blasting it…
You probably don’t want to set a precedent on someone not following plans, but someone should have picked up on it before this. I know a lot of historic towns that would have loved to have this asset. I live in one.

By: Emmy Smith

Emmy Smith — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:48:40 +0000

Suggestion: Do a Google search of this man’s name and see what comes up.

By: Robert Rittenhouse

Robert Rittenhouse — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 22:37:12 +0000

Finally a change that is truly superior in every way — and some complain. Give these guys all of your support instead of holding them back. The Rittenhouse Motor Lodge as been in business here for 60 years and the new Cape Charles Hotel has already helped my business. Send them flowers instead of problems!

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:43:49 +0000

I’m with Dana……..let’s just empty it out, and fill it with spider webs……then it will conform with the rest of the street.

Quick question: If y’all put the businesses out of business, who’s gonna pay all the taxes that are necessary to support all those who won’t work?

Amazing how short sighted these acts are…….

By: Geneva Smith

Geneva Smith — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:17:11 +0000

Did anyone from the Historic Review Board inspect the hotel during renovation? And if it was inspected, why wasn’t a stop work order slapped on the job?

By: Karen Gay

Karen Gay — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:42:10 +0000

I agree with Dana Lascu and Bruce Lindeman. It seems that at times our town goes out of its way to put up roadblocks to new projects with good design (witness a person in town who decided to drop a shed on his property rather than build the garage he had planned because of the unfriendly planning climate). Other times, the town actually gives developers money to take town assets.

I understand that the Historic District Review Board is composed of volunteers who are trying to maintain the visual integrity of our town. Thank you for doing this job … I am sure it seems thankless to you at times. However, I would prefer that the Board give this developer a break. He has spent a lot of money in our town and the Hotel is bringing in visitors who shop at our stores and eat in our restaurants.

By: Joe McSpedden

Joe McSpedden — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:15:46 +0000

Dana Lascu and Bruce Lindeman are spot on with their comments.

Where was the building inspector as the project progressed? This should not have become an issue. Looks like the Historic Board and the Town building inspector need to communicate and get on the same page.

The hotel is an asset to the town. It brings tourists to town who spend money and generate tax revenue, and it is drawing positive reviews for the town nationally.

Too bad that can’t be said about the Old School and the purchase of the bank building.