When you're climbing on the bike – absolutely grinding it out – your legs are just like metronomes. Your mind centers on the pain you're enduring but it also wanders onto other topics….but that's somewhat like a dream: you don't always remember what you're thinking about. Legs tapping out a steady rhythm, shoulders rocking slightly and a steady stream of sweat dripping from the helmet strap…usually onto your legs or the top tube of your bike. Right at your limit. Any faster and you'll pop. Any slower and it just ain't hard work and that's one of the rules of cycling: love the work baby. The first rule of training is that it never gets easier, you just go faster.
A strange thing can happen while you are in that other world of endurance and work: somewhere deep in that meat between your ears the gears are grinding away on a problem and *pop* a solution squirts through to the front of your brain. You sit up and and experience a very short, sharp epiphany…without the exposition necessary for such a result. One moment you're trying to distract your mind from the acid burning in your thighs and the next you're like "holy crap!!!!". Why didn't that occur to me before? It's just that simple.
Natch, I'm not going to spend 2 paragraphs talking about such a thing and not have it happened to me. I'm far too lazy to spend that much mental energy as a throwaway exposition to my real topic. As I've mentioned previously to the assembled mob, Bike Virginia was in Lexington this year. Lexington reminds me a lot of Manassas from my childhood. They have a baker, newspaper, men's clothing store and a coffee roaster: stores where you can buy actual stuff. I mourn the departure of these sorts of businesses from the Manassas area. When I was a kid we had our own bakery. I went to school with the kids from that family. We had our own newspaper. It was printed on Center Street. You could go and watch the presses spin. To me, the loss of those businesses reeks of a loss of self-determination and a collapse of our collective vision and identity. A grey, crappy, post-modern Manassas whose future is determined the same way everyone else's is: the quality of the retail opportunities.
There's only one problem with my baked-in hometown fugue: it occurs to me about 25 miles into the second days ride, halfway up a 4 mile climb that this way of thinking, this assessment of reality is all wrong. Indeed, it's a misconception that dogs the entire community and we're all better off if we forget the damn thing and move on. Our problem isn't that we don't have fancy stores or even more stores. Our problem is that we are still trying to solve urban problems with suburban thinking.
In the face of advancing chain stores and a titanic demographic shift, no.bod.ee. has doped out what Manassas needs to look like. In the absence of that vision, the reapers toll has been high amongst local business and long-time residents have been leaving the City. We're in a decline and we can't seem to get out. To be sure, a livelier economy has been helpful and it is masking some of the weakness here in river city but we still have unresolved problems.
When this article continues, I'll talk a bit about what we've done. The third article will cover possible answers.
Next: The City's response over the past several years….
August 26, 2013 at 8:07 am
Well done, Sir…well done!
One of my favorite sayings is: "Trash your illusions and the World will beat a footpath to your door". Your train of thought to shift to urban thinking is in the right direction. Much of what is discussed/written about/debated in Revitilization efforts is having the "quaint" old town center with more modern around it. The Urban Land Institute review of the Mathis Avenue Sector Plan is reflective of that. Some of the Council discussion as various projects were approved along the "gateways" also reflect the idea of the Old Town being a draw, but not the main feature. Issue is, as you note, there is too much of wanting to remain in the "rich in historical" view. A balance is needed.
I look forward to your additional ponderings!
August 26, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Thought I had already commented but apparently lost in cyberspace (my comment, that is). Excellent piece, well written. Good observations by Ray, as usual.
August 27, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Yo A and Ray. I'm thinking that if somesone has something to say, why not speak up here? Some folks will just sit back and throw stones later, but why not take a position or make a mere suggestion now? Constructive dialogue is superior to passive aggression. My clear sense is that you are offering folks an opportunity to be part of a solution. So why the silence? Ideas? (Or is mere rhetoric later somehow better?)
August 28, 2013 at 6:33 pm
MY vision of Manassas involves an old town area that draws visitors from D.C, Maryland and NOVA every week, all year long. My solution is for Manassas to become the Fine Dining Center of Northern Virginia. Encourage non-franchise restaurants to relocate here. Use the vacant property next to the police station on Fairview as a culinary school. Have our used bookstore amp up the section on cookbooks, have an international foods grocery that sells food from around the globe. Think Williams-Sonoma, Whole Foods, Trader Joes. A French Bakery, Gourmet fresh pastas, wine and anything else that is unique and gastronmique (Fake word). Okra's, Malone's and Carmellos stay. Manassas needs to be something that Gainesville, Woodbridge, and Centreville ain't. The First Lady ate here not because she craved Burger King but because she craved DIFFERENT. People eat three times a day…they tire of eating the same things…if Manassas has food and food centered activities, it could draw folks from the entire area.
August 29, 2013 at 7:18 am
I think the mayor and Council should get off their collective a**es and achieve something above the bare minimum. We have long festering problems and the response has been a yawn from city hall.
August 29, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Intentionality….the key piece missing by the Council. Being intentional in action vs. response to political. Let me toss out some examples:
The Council creates a Strategic Plan which ran through 2005…and then "circkets". Yes, Council has annual retreats, but you never hear of this document formed by a workgroup of citizens and Council. It does not surface until Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Process where Pat Wieler ties the budget increases to the Council's own plan…and the Budget passes without much fight. Now, the Council creates a "Priority Plan" coming out of their retreat – a step in the right direction. However, the original draft was more solid than the final product which, as I have said in other formats, made it tough for Community Partners to compete for funding in FY 2014 (especially Human Services) since the group application was to be tied to the Council Priorities. The Strategic Plan was a much better format.
Manassas Next 2032 aka Comp Plan. I could spend hours typing, but leave it with look how long it took to get that FINALLY approved.
Multiple Studies: we as Taxpayers pay for one study after another. One I find of interest is the 2009 Old Town Market Analysis tied to the existing Economic Development Strategic Plan. It was an update to the 2006 Plan. Good stuff in it, and some projects have come out of it that are noteworthy. But again, the Council gets all the plans, and then what? Some of the items in that report tie in with with comments by BSinVA above which are quite excellent in their points!
Joint CIP: a step in the right direction as THIS IS ONE CITY with a core tax base of homeowners. The nonsense through the years of "seperate but equal" elected Council and Board has now lead to having this long document. At least it is a good example of "intentionality". Unfortunately, in the FY2014 Budget, it broke "intentionality" with eliminating the Housing Planner/Advocate Position which is vital to several of the Council's Priorities and multiple items in the Mansassas Next Comp Plan Matrix.
The core word – intentionality – is where the Council (past and present) need to return to in their focus. Have the plans, and then march forward with them. This creating them, having all the studies, and then not using them is central to the issue.
Joint CIP:
August 29, 2013 at 3:32 pm
whoops…typo on "crickets" and got ahead of myself by typing "Joint CIP" twice…going back to edit something…and then forgeting I had already started that topic 🙂
August 29, 2013 at 6:15 pm
http://fallforthebook.org/2013/06/24/whats-cooking-at-fall-for-the-book-lots/ Eleven food writers and cookbook authors in Manassas on Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 pm at the Hylton Center. Free admission!
August 29, 2013 at 9:34 pm
$70,000 OUT OF CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS TO PAINT THE CIVIL WAR LOGO ON THE WATER TOWER IN OLD TOWN???!!!!????
Finance Agenda for September 4th, Page 5 http://www.manassascity.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5445
Community Development proposes it since Public Works is sandblasting it and repainting ($300K for that). So the fancy 150th Logo would come out of Capital Reserve Funds (Water Fund) to pay for the paint job. Justification is included in an article how other Cities received awards for their distinctive towers.
Talk about a waste of money! Especially since the COUNCIL APPROVED CIP includes other priorities in out years where the money could be better spent. Or is this just another example where Community Development Departments who garnish awards for the City get funding versus valuable programs such as the Housing Planner & Advocate ($150K total for Salary & Benefits) was eliminated because of "conflicting priorities"?
August 29, 2013 at 11:34 pm
Stan-What would you want to see the Council acheive?
August 31, 2013 at 4:04 pm
By the absence of responses, I have to conclude that most folks don't give a hoot about Manassas as a unique location. Maybe that is the bigger problem rather than whether it has an arts and entertainment district, a restaurant focus or any other comprehensive plan. Maybe folks are busy with their own problems and can't see that the future of their own city is affecting their lives. Maybe the first step is educating the citizenry that they ought to give a damn because it does impact their well being.
September 1, 2013 at 1:31 pm
I care. I typed two responses but don't see them displayed. Maybe others are hung up in moderation with me?
September 1, 2013 at 1:34 pm
I don't see anything in moderation….
September 2, 2013 at 8:47 am
It has a link in it. It says "Your comment is awaiting moderation." It's in response to BSinVA saying Manassas should be a fine dining center. On Sept. 26 Fall for the Book (and Write by the Rails) is bringing 12 food writers and cookbook authors to Manassas at the Hylton Center from 6 to 9 pm — free admission event. Joe Yonan, food editor of The Washington Post will be there (wrote "Eat Your Vegetables") as well as Michael Stein, writer for DCBeer.com (yes, there will be tastings) and cake artist Norman Davis. On the morning of the event, three of the authors will be at the Thursday Manassas Farmers Market at the Harris Pavilion — Forrest Pritchard, the farmer who wrote "Gaining Ground" about saving family farms, farmers markets and local food — and Todd and Ellen Kassoff Gray — he's the chef that's overseeing the new Salamander Inn & Resort that just opened up in Middleburg. That whole week is Restaurant Week in Old Town Manassas, as well. So we do care! Write by the Rails has been working since Feb. to bring this event to Manassas. FREE admission, thanks to a grant from the Virginia Writers Club. I'd link to more info, but that's what put me in moderation.
September 2, 2013 at 8:06 pm
After many years of complaining about the direction of the City, I finally put my money where my mouth is, and moved. I now live in an area, where there are plenty of locally run businesses, fast food can be ordered without having to know a foreign language and it's refreshing to see that plenty of Americans still work blue coller jobs. It really is sad looking back to see how a once nice City has slowly rotted away.
September 3, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Maybe we should honor our complainers, the way Buena Vista does, with their welcome sign that proclaims "home to 6002 happy citizens and 3 Old Grouches."
September 4, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Andy you indicated: "the reapers toll has been high amongst local business and long-time residents have been leaving the City. We're in a decline and we can't seem to get out." Ever thought that the reason businesses and long time residents are leaving is they are tired of ever increasing property taxes, especially this year's largest tax increase in history? Want to retain more local retail businesses? How about eliminating retailer's BPOL taxes as BPOL penalizes retailers especially in times of recession. Want to keep chain retailers out of the city and encourage unique local shops? Pass some land use policies that deter them as espoused here: http://www.ilsr.org/impact-chain-stores-community/ In other words look in the mirror for solutions.
September 4, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Gman, I understand that there are those that share your point of view but I don't and neither do most of the folks I talk to. The strategy of being the cheapest place to live hasn't worked so well the past 10 years…at least in my estimation. Perhaps we have different definitions of success.
September 4, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Those of us who were either born here or have lived here for a long time, know that Manassas is not going to ever be the same as it was 40 years ago. I lament many times on how so much has changed in our City and wish for the old days but unfortunately they will not return. We are now becoming part of the Northern Virginia suburbs whereas years ago Fairfax County was the fringe area of the Northern Virginia area. We were considered the country. Many jokes were made about Manassas as being sort of a hick town. My husband and I travel around and not too far away from Manassas as citizenofmanassas points out, you kind of step back in time to what Manassas used to be. We have been in areas where we do not hear any spanish, the cleaning people at the hotels are white and back American women, the Walmart and McDonalds employees are all english speaking and American as apple pie. Manassas will continue become culturally diverse as time goes on. Manassas is a destination for those in the surrounding area that still want to get a sense of place so they come to our festivals and celebrations and then leave. Us old timers have to accept the changes going on or move on. There are still many places not too far away that don't look anything like Manassas demographically. Manassas is on a decline because it is old and worn in many places in the City and either you have to mow them all down and start over or work around them.
September 4, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Ms. Jenkins, your comment about mowing down or working around the older places reminded me of something Liz Via-Gossman said to the Manassas Business Council. Ms. Gossman said that the land value was not high enough to interest developers to come in and redevelop older parts. Funny….my last City Assessment on my 1980 split level located over here in Deer Park area shows the 1/3 acre is just $2000 under the value of the building. Of course, given this City has not done a full Housing Study in ages to determine what is here to look at possible redevelopment/revitilization (a point I made to Council in a long memo), trying to figure out how to stop the decline without knowing the current conditions is a bad way to operate.
September 5, 2013 at 6:47 am
Comment deleted. Check the blog rules.
September 5, 2013 at 7:40 am
"A major concern in Manassas is an intangible one –
the loss of a sense of community that comes from
raipid growth. A sense of pride, of roots, of belonging
does not come easily when one is surrounded by new
buildings of no particular merit, chain stores and traffic jams."
Douglas Harvey
( 1986 epilogue to Catherine Simmons' book
Manassas,Virginia -1873-1973)
September 5, 2013 at 9:19 am
Steve, great quote!
Reminds me of what Charles Marohn who established the nonprofit "Strong Towns" said about his hometown in Brainerd, MN. When he gives a presentation, he puts up a picture of his hometown Main Street in 1894 showing how thriving it was and pedestrian friendly. He then shows a current picture of the same area now with a mall surrounded by the parking lot.
He then makes the point "We built places that rocked back when we had to build them to be financially sound." His point being suburbs became the focus of funding….not looking at business & industry first, then housing as a tax basis.
September 5, 2013 at 11:22 am
FYI: Standard&&Poor recently affirmed us as AA/Stable
Based, in part,on:
-"Strong finances,characterized by strong reserves;
-Numerous formal,conservative,and well adhered to fiscal policies;
-Low debt with a manageable debt plan."
September 5, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Just read "Staunton's small-town charm leads to big-time development" in the current issue of Virginia Business magazine, touting its downtown, industrial park and new development site near I81. Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro is ranked the number 1 "micropolitan economy" (population under 50,000) in the Commonwealth and 13th in the nation.
September 7, 2013 at 6:33 am
Cindy, my husband and I were in Staunton last week for the day, and were very impressed with Staunton. We plan to go back for an overnighter and look around and find out more about the area. I am sure they have their "older areas" also but overall it was very well layed out and very neat and clean looking area.