OLD SCHOOL DEVELOPER
South Virginia Town in Water Feud with Echelon Partner
Front page of Blackstone, VA, weekly Courier Record newspaper. The photo caption reads: “Developer On The Clock — Tenants in the new Blackstone Lofts luxury apartments on Lunenburg Avenue have been hoping that Town Council and developer Dave McCormack of Petersburg can resolve a dispute over $38,000 in unpaid water and sewer tap fees. Officials ‘upped the ante’ this past Monday night, giving McCormack 30 days (until Sept 27) to pay tap fees, or water will be shut off to the 25-unit building.”
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 4, 2012
Blackstone VA Town Council is threatening to turn off water to the tenants of newly developed Blackstone Lofts luxury apartments if the developer does not pay $38,000 in hookup fees by September 27.
The developer is J. David McCormack, who also is a partner with Edwin Gaskin at Echelon Resources, Inc. Echelon has a contract with the Town of Cape Charles to convert the old school at Central Park into an apartment building.
According to Blackstone Town Council minutes, the council voted March 26 to give McCormack 30 days to pay the tap fee.
McCormack told the Wave Monday night that “We were told there were no tap fees — then they initiated the tap fees. We’re negotiating it.”
McCormack noted that unlike in Cape Charles, where the Town owns the old school property, the old tobacco warehouse he converted in Blackstone was “a private deal.”
“We got taken by surprise — we’re still going to pay. That’s the way I am,” McCormack said.
[Read more…]
LETTER: Bring Back the Harbor Parties — Everyone Benefits
September 3, 2012
DEAR EDITOR,
I must agree with George’s opinion column (although I heard it is more fun to disagree with him): the Harbor is the only logical spot for a Cape Charles sunset party — unless Bay Creek is willing to offer one of its lovely waterfront sites. Whining that George is not nice to our generous Northampton Chamber of Commerce by raising this issue is circumventing the reality: the alternatives suck in many ways.
Cape Charles is resonating with justifications for moving the Harbor Party to the streets of Cape Charles:
— Food vendors unhappy with the competition from the Shanty;
— The Shanty perceiving the police line as an impediment to restaurant access; and
— Music in one venue interfering with music in the other.
And yet, the reality is that both food vendors and the Shanty would benefit from the synergy created by positioning the event in the proximity of the restaurant.
Research has repeatedly determined that a physical concentration of competing vendors results in higher foot traffic and greater sales for all, compared to alternative positioning. [Read more…]
SUNDAY 9/2: Labor Day Weekend Picnic in the Park
This year’s Labor Day Weekend Picnic in the Park is Sunday, September 2, from 5-10 p.m. Read feature store here: http://capecharleswave.com/2012/08/picnic-in-the-park-this-years-celebration-includes-music-film/
SEPTEMBER 1-2: Paint Cape Charles Plein Air Event
PAINT CAPE CHARLES, the seventh annual plein air event, will be September 1 and 2.
Artists are invited to participate in this event sponsored by The Stage Door Gallery, 301 Mason Avenue.
On September 2 at 5 p.m., Irene Ritter, artist and sculptor from Nashville, will award over over $1000 in cash and gift certificates to the winning artists.
Registration forms are available in the gallery or at www.stagedoorgallery.com or by contacting Ellen Moore , gallery manager, at 757.331.3669.
WEDNESDAY 9/5: Mothers of Preschoolers Meeting
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) will meet at Cape Charles Baptist Church Wednesday, September 5, from 7-9 p.m. Childcare will not provided at this meeting. If you are a mom with children under the age of 5, come join us for a time of support, discussion, guest speakers, and friendship. No mother should mother alone. If you have any questions call Katie Nelson at 331-1984, Michele Lewis at 607-6054, or Jenn Philpot at 678-7671.
FRIDAY 9/7: ‘Trouble’ the Loggerhead Turtle To Gain Freedom
The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team will release “Trouble,” a loggerhead sea turtle, at the Cape Charles Beach Friday, September 7, at 1 p.m.
The release will take place next to the Gazebo at the corner of Randolph and Bay avenues.
Trouble was rescued off Onancock on July 6 after its right rear flipper had become entangled in crab pot gear. With the help of several boaters, the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team was able to net the turtle and take it to the aquarium for rehabilitation.
Trouble will be fitted with a satellite transmitter so the team can track his or her movements on seaturtle.org.
For a Successful Party, Just Add Water
Local favorites Heather & Nathan close out Saturday night’s “Applaud the Sun” party next to the Cape Charles pier. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
September 2, 2012
Last night’s final Northampton Chamber of Commerce summer party got it right. After experimenting with locales, the Chamber seems to have found a venue intimately suited to their size events.
That site is the grassy area adjoining Cape Charles pier — with high enough elevation to enjoy a wonderful view of the Bay.
Although Chamber advertising described the location as “at the Boardwalk Gazebo,” fortunately it was at neither the boardwalk nor the Gazebo. Because as was painfully evident at the last street party by the Gazebo, from the street you can’t see the water.
Last night, everyone got a water view. A full moon turned out for the party as well, although it struggled to break through the haze.
But no rain was in sight — only fair, after the Chamber’s last party had to be postponed twice due to weather.
This writer earlier urged the Chamber to return to Cape Charles Harbor. Subsequently, a Chamber member confided that they left the Harbor because of competition with the new Shanty Restaurant, which also features a band.
So now, Cape Charles is “Party Central” — choose your locale.
And don’t forget Sunday’s Picnic in the Park. What a great way to close out a great summer!
SHORE THING: Looking for a Place to Party
Last Chamber party of the year will be at the corner of Mason and Bay — better than the gazebo, but still not a harbor party. (Wave photo)
By GEORGE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave
August 30, 2012
Another street party this Saturday night – the final “Celebrate the Sun,” hosted by the Northampton Chamber of Commerce. I hope they get it right this time because, well – frankly, the last party was a bust.
That was the “Gazebo Party,” finally consummated July 28 after two cancellations due to rain. I strolled down to take a few pictures, but not much of a crowd was there. The organizers wanted $5 to cross a police line, so I just took my photos from the other side of the yellow tape. The band played on, but it was a sad little affair at the corner of Randolph and Bay.
Contrast that with the Harbor parties the Chamber put on last year. Folks, the Town Harbor is a destination – Bay Avenue is not. (Beach yes, street no.) At the harbor you see boats docked in the water, you see a dramatic sunset on the bay, you feel part of something special.
Why do you think dockside restaurants are so popular (read: The Shanty). Not because their fish is any fresher than half a mile away in town – it’s all about ambiance.
But for reasons still unclear to me, there can be no more harbor parties. I left voicemails with the town manager and assistant town manager asking why, but got only an email from the assistant clerk: “We can no longer use the harbor because there is not enough room with The Shanty there now.”
Not enough room? Then how did our harbor master, Smitty Dize, pull off the hugely successful Clam Slam festival earlier this month? There must have been a thousand people swarming the harbor, including vendors, musicians, and food stands.
And the Shanty restaurant was packed as well, just as you would expect.
And what about the Tall Ships festival? Plenty of room for that at the harbor — and again, I don’t think the Shanty was complaining. [Read more…]
