Letter to the Editor: Macdonald on Arts on the Waterfront
Mayoral candidate Andrew Macdonald says he is not opposed to the idea of a Corcoran Gallery of Art coming to the waterfront, but the idea must be vetted first.
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Dear Editor:
Alexandria has a thriving arts community, and we should support it at every opportunity, in all parts of the City.
Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP) argued that the arts would do more to open up the waterfront to public use then a big hotel, more town homes, condos or offices. Indeed, the CAAWP plan, while not perfect, pointed out how arts and history venues might bring life to parts of the waterfront that currently are private for the most part. They also recommended keeping the Art League on the waterfront.
I include in that broad category of “waterfront for all” organizations like the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, which hosted a lovely waterfront fundraiser on Sunday that will benefit their youth apprenticeship program.
I’m not opposed to the Corcoran Gallery of Art coming to Alexandria, if that makes sense for them, but just because it’s a great art institution does not automatically make it right for Alexandria or its waterfront. What we should want, I think, is to tie good ideas with good planning, in order to make certain that such projects will fund our City’s quality of life in a sustainable fashion.
My mother was a fine artist, and I ran an art gallery along the waterfront for a time. Make no mistake about it: I will support the arts if elected as your next mayor, but not projects that just sound like a good idea and have not been screened by the community first.
Andrew Macdonald
Andrew Macdonald is running as an independent to be mayor of Alexandria.
Gina Baum
9:15 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
One word Hypocrit -- develops his own waterfront plan which includes a focus on museums, because lets face it folks, Andrew Macdonald, is above all an expert planner (sarcasm) far beyond any of the well educated professionals who have dedicated their lives to making Alexandria a better place to live...then at the mere rumor of the Corcoran considering a move with Alexandria being considered a far off possibility, he has a knee JERK reaction to oppose it (I'm sure since he is flip flopping he took down his patch posts against it) whatever...
JT Thomas
9:36 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
Andrew, thanks for calling attention away from the scandal with the Alexandria Democrats. It's gotten so underhanded over there, maybe you should rejoin the party.
Walt L
11:02 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
Wow, Andrew. The idea needs to be vetted? I bet no one else would have ever thought of that. This was a little thin, but way to get free press. Keep these letters coming so voters can be reminded of the issues you care about (waterfront CAAWP waterfront CAAWP waterfront) and what you would bring to the table if elected.
cwer
11:37 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
No doubt the Corcoran will be thrilled to hear that Mr. Macdonald is not opposed to them coming to Alexandria. I’m sure everyone there was on hold awaiting his blessing. After all, he ran an art gallery. He forgot to mention how it compared in size to the Corcoran. Maybe that will be his next effort at free publicity. Oh hang on Macdonald always wants the community to screen things first. 150,000 will now get out their yes/no remote buttons and Macdonald will go with whatever gets the most votes. Wasn’t CAAWP concerned about traffic on the waterfront? I wonder if the Corcoran would draw any. Let’s screen the community to see.
Walt L
12:00 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
cwer, you have a great idea. Mayor Macdonald can set up a "text your vote" system so we can settle everything by referendum. Each vote costs 99 cents, which will become revenue for the city. The more issues, and the greater the participation, the higher the revenue. A Facebook page and Twitter account will be needed to notify citizens throughout the day as new referenda are introduced.
donotpaveparadise
3:34 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
No matter what is proposed for the waterfront, we need to be sure that there is good planning in advance, and that it is appropriate to Alexandria's waterfront. Mr. Macdonald is saying that we need proper planning before we approve something. It would be very smart to find out whether the Corcoran will actually fit on the waterfront. We would have to do in depth studies of whether a densely crowded urban area like Alexandria, which is already besieged by traffic problems, could bear the traffic this kind of museum would bring.
spff spaceman
3:40 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
who are the developers that want to develop the waterfront anyway and who did they give money to?
Kim Moore
4:34 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
All of the discussions about development really interest me. I recall the heated debates 20 years ago when Potomac Yard was a proposed site for the Redskins Stadium. Residents shot that down based on environmental and traffic concerns.
Now, instead of 8 weeks of traffic (not including special events), Potomac Yards gets enormous retail traffic, and the environmental concerns seem to have been resolved enough to allow for THOUSANDS of homes.
Did we get the raw end of that deal? I am not saying that I would have preferred a stadium, but what have learned from that project's 20-20 hindsight?
Jim Ward
11:19 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Potomac Yards gets enormous retail traffic, and THOUSANDS of homes. As a taxpayer, I'm happy for Alexandria. I would welcome the Corcoran, but that ain't gonna happen.
Ruben Duran
2:16 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Arts, arts, arts, many a times it seems that the city gets more caught up on the Arts, then our school needs, traffic/road improvements. Visit Santa Barbara, Ca on a Sunday when they have their "Sidewalk Arts Thing" along the beach Memorial Day to Labor Day. Figure out how to mirror that along the Potomac when you AMUSEMENT PARK it. It would bring a traffic nightmare, but it would also keep King Street open. And trying to put offices on the first floor of the Torpedoe Factory, that should have been done when it was built, before all the hotels opened up. Doing it now is idiotic. Where is the real short-term and long-term planning for this city.
Ruben Duran
4:47 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Further wouldn't it be a smarter move for the Corcoran to relocate to what will become the new Landmark Center with it's new planned housing and office building. I am assuming Sears and Macy's are staying as well. One would think that it would help to revitalize the West End. Ah, but yes, City Hall and several council members only truly care about Old Town and Del Ray. Your actions speak louder than your words.