‘Unintended’ results could harm

Marlene A. Condon Albemarle County
Published: June 8, 2008

Albemarle County Super-visor David Slutzky says that “unintended consequences [may] perhaps [kill] off downtown Crozet” because rising taxes for existing businesses could drive them out (“Crozet plan moves ahead,” The Daily Progress, June 5, 2008)

Rents will also be a factor. Although it’s been stated that rents will increase slowly and higher rents are not going to destroy our many fine small businesses, anyone who be-lieves that is naive. Just as people are losing their homes due to low-rate mortgages that increased over time, our small-business owners will eventually be forced out as their rents rise over time to more than they can afford.

I don’t know who thinks we need architect Bill Atwood’s $300,000 condos and two- and three-story buildings so that “Crozet can compete with burgeoning development nearby.” There’s no reason for anyone in those burgeoning developments — which have commercial centers already built into them — to bother to come into downtown Crozet, with its limited roadway capacity.

Mr. Atwood, in a previous Daily Progress report (“In Crozet, a slice of uncertain-ty” May 8) stated that his vision represents “a mixture of all the things that are Crozet.” But he must be living in a parallel universe that I’m sure long-time Crozetians don’t recognize.

Many of us agree wholeheartedly with Pete Maupin, owner of the video store in the heart of downtown Crozet, who said that he “hate[s] to see the old feel of Crozet destroyed.” Those of us who have been here for a long time love Crozet, with its unique buildings that possess real character. We don’t want conformist modern architecture that will make Crozet just another unidentifiable town in anywhere USA. New-ness is not necessarily synonymous with better quality but rather with pretentiousness.

In the May 8 story, Jim Webber of Handcrafters Ltd. of Crozet commented, “Just because the town is growing up around the [downtown] doesn’t mean you have to obliterate it.” But the county does seems to be push-ing Crozet to become more “upscale.” meaning that, eventually, all old buildings will be decried as eyesores. This concern with appearances is incredibly shallow and its consequences for many of us are extremely heartbreaking.