Mt. Vernon, Va. –– Neighborhood improvement was the topic Saturday at the 24th Mt. Vernon Town Hall Meeting.
The doors at Mt. Vernon High School opened at 7:45 a.m. to exhibitors from businesses from around the region, as well as county agencies. Presentations from county leaders were scheduled to take place inside the school’s auditorium until 1 p.m.
Prior to the meeting, 70 residents previously formed committees and drafted guide plans for the future of the district for land use, public safety, parks and recreation and business development.
On top of Supervisor Gerry Hyland’s priorities list: Education.
“We can’t attract all of the businesses to Fairfax County unless we have a top-rate education system. All of the businesses in Tysons Corner with all those IT companies came here because they want their employees to have the top education,” said Hyland.
The challenge for politicians, he said, is finding a funding source for education. Seventy percent of the county’s public schools $2.3 billion 2011 budget comes from county taxpayers, he added.
He also talked revitalization of the U.S. 1 corridor, and how Metro’s Yellow line could play a role in sprucing up the neighborhood.
“Metro has to come down Route 1 because you have Ft. Belvoir between us and Prince William County. For us it would it would be a natural, because if you had rail coming down Route 1 you would have an opportunity for revitalization sooner rather than later,” said Hyland.
His comments follow discussion that in 2009 aimed at bringing Metro’s Blue line to Woodbridge.
If Metro rail were extended to the Potomac Communities it would benefit many federal and military workers at Ft. Belvoir – soon to be 19,300 stronger – after the military’s BRAC relocation is complete in September.
In addition to Metro, improving U.S. 1 has to be a priority, said officials.
“You can drive Route 1 south and not see any open area until you get beyond Quantico and the Stafford area. I equate what’s going on here to development of Texas, where I’m from, where you have metroplexes,” said Carr.
After BRAC, Ft. Belvoir will consist of it’s main post off U.S. 1, the Ft. Belvoir North Area west of Interstate 95 in Fairfax County, the newly constructed and massive Mark Center building off Seminary Road in Alexandria, and it will house about 1,000 employees at Rivana Station in Charlottesville.
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