Comments on: Big Mason Avenue Project Raises Parking Concerns

By: Wayne Creed

Wayne Creed — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:22:44 +0000

Another Epic Fail on the part of the NBBs (Natali-Bannon-Bennett) on Town Council. But it’s not too late, as no deal has been signed, sealed or delivered. The town should immediately go to Philly and make a counter offer on the property and send the developer and his demands packing. We’re already $11 million in debt, what’s another $3/4 million to secure that critical piece of property. It’s only money, right? They’ll print some more tomorrow. Then the town could finally level the poor old Be-Lo (a little bit sad to think about), and save parking and lease a bit for commercial shops (no apartments or condos. See Blue Crab deal.), or just turn it into a park, extending the Strawberry Street corridor. Maybe this is the best place for the Waterman’s Memorial, or as Tony Sacco has been saying for years, a true veterans memorial. Anyone that thinks this is going to produce economic Nirvana probably has fallen for the doltish Tall Ships charade. PT Barnum, we love you!

If they go forward with this deal, what is the contingency for when the project fails? As it will, due to the current modus operandi of the developer/entrepreneur class (like the cotton fields at the old little league baseball field, you make more by letting it rot on the vine. Also, see Hotel Blue fail). As Professor Giese outlined, these things are basically doomed from the start. Are the taxpaying citizens, especially downtown and around the park, ready to be on the hook for when these projects go south, and some entity like the USDA or even a County/Town partnership (it’s okay to tremble now) steps in to convert so-called lux condos into subsidized housing (for backward thinking towns like this, this space is considered fertile economic soil). I’m glad Professor Giese has deferred the quiz, we need more time. If we took it now, we would certainly fail.

By: David Kabler

David Kabler — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 15:24:46 +0000

This project is a perfect example of what is needed to revitalize our Town, and to fulfill the tenant of our Comprehensive Plan, that is to encourage infill development in and around our towns and villages. Go forth and prosper, Mr. Hand!

By: Thomas D. Giese

Thomas D. Giese — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 17:11:18 +0000

Thank you Mr. Hand for your willingness to take a chance and risk your money on wonderful Cape Charles. Hope some narrow minded politicians encourage positive development rather than put as many hoops a possible for you to jump through. Who owns this property now — do we use it with or without permission? Could the owner put a chain across the entrance at some future date? What do people mean by “take parking space away? Do the citizens and visitors own the property, do they pay a parking fee, or are we just trespassing? I would like a contest: who can come up with the best reason [Be-Lo] should not be developed. Any positive change to the building will ruin the beautiful portal to the city is my entry to this contest.

Addendum: We all have backgrounds and life experiences that we bring to bear on issues ranging from our current discussion to the Ukraine invasion. As a retired business professor at the Univ. of Richmond, I can’t help thinking about Econ. 101; the influence of supply and demand on Price. The “price” in this situation is how much must a developer pay to the town and other entities (time, money, fees, permits, board approvals, reviews, approvals, concessions, variances, etc.) to “buy” a development project. If there are 10 or even 2 or 3 who wish to develop this property, the “price” could reflect this demand. At this point in our city’s renewal, to my knowledge, there are not many people willing to invest in this eyesore building. If we were St. Michael, Md., we could demand a much higher price because a lot of people want to invest there. If that property was located in its main street, people would be outbidding each other. I am sure in the future we will be charging St. Michael prices, both for our houses and development, but not yet! Lower the price and encourage sales. There will be no quiz on Friday.

By: Dana Lascu

Dana Lascu — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:49:25 +0000

Very interesting plan – so exciting to get rid of the eyesore and to have a real shopping district in Cape Charles! We then can advertise on Highway 13 “Cape Charles – Historic Downtown and Shopping District” instead of the free public beach and draw more travelers going to and from the Outer Banks beaches.

By: Anne Hallerman

Anne Hallerman — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:17:56 +0000

Only the Wave could put a negative spin on someone wanting to clean up the eyesore that is the Be-Lo store. I have yet to see a parking crisis in Cape Charles, and I can’t imagine that this will create one. Could you people try really, really hard to consider the positive aspects of change just once?

In case anyone else missed it, the above story is a news report of last week’s special Town Council meeting, where parking was a prominent topic of discussion. –EDITOR

By: Kearn Schemm

Kearn Schemm — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:11:03 +0000

Wow, in the near future we will have 17 one-bedroom apartments at the park, with no parking for the public and another 28 apartments on Mason Avenue, with no parking for the public. Who will rent or buy these apartments? Has anyone done a study to see if there is a market for that many new apartments in this little town? We see houses that stay on the market for months and years with no takers. I support redevelopment and applaud Mr. Hand for his willingness to invest in our town, but can’t it be done so that we all benefit? I love pedestrian malls, but does Cape Charles need to buy property in order to make one? Why should the town be forced to rent property for parking at the Palace? Perhaps Hand should negotiate with the railroad for parking; they certainly don’t need all the property.

By: Deborah Bender

Deborah Bender — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 12:31:10 +0000

So here we are again — Chris Bannon and Joan Natali are making concessions for a developer against looking out for the people that rely on those parking spaces. Town residents, visitors, and merchants have used that parking for years without thinking about who it belongs to. Frank Wendell recognized that and called repeatedly for the town to secure at least some of the property for town parking.

And what nonsense would it be for the town to lease railroad property. Then the town has to pay taxes on it just we like did all those years for the seven Bay Creek lots coming into town. All mayoral candidate Frank Wendell is doing is looking out for the best interest of the town. When someone wants something from you, that is when you negotiate for what you want.

I would like to know how they can push this through without a public hearing?

By: Antonio Sacco

Antonio Sacco — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 06:15:00 +0000

The Hand proposal is the best idea to hit Cape Charles in a long time, with stores and condos. Good thinking Patrick, this should signal to other developers that Cape Charles is open for business. To the Town Council: don’t blow this one; give Mr. Hand the go-ahead on his project that will be the stimulus for further growth that is so badly needed. And to Patrick Hand, good luck — I hope I live long enough to see the development when it is completed. Excellent idea.