Broadlands Hospital

When I decided to stay here instead of moving back to Austin Texas I said to my self my personal mission is to wipe out all potential ugly and bad neighbor developments no matter where they are around here. You have not seen my passion on other blogs that have nothing to do with us around here but in other parts of the country. You should of seen the SPLASH wars on one of my architectural forums several years ago. And that war far more intense then here brought about beautiful change, but boy was that an battle from many to get something done right and it became eventaully a win win for both sides and an beautiful good neighbor development it ended up to be.

This hospital is not just an broadlands issue the outcome has regional consequences both in development good neighbor versus bad neighbor development and the other health care issues and the possibility it could hurt future healthcare in the southern part of this county.

Lee j

 

As many people as I have seen run the 4 way stop at Claiborne and Wynridge/Ridgeway I think it is only a good idea to have a hospital so close.

 

Originally Posted by Mr Rogers
Please look at the maps on the HOA website. There are three maps dated 1999, 2002, and 2004. That land is CLEARLY noted as "Office" or "Commercial" and NOT "Hospital" or "Mental Health Care Facility".

http://www.broadlandshoa.org/info/maps.html

I am not sure who produced these maps, but I am certain that either directly, or by reference, realtors are using these maps to market homes. I would imagine that they are Van Metre maps, and they are not in a rush (almost four years since the last map) to update them.

You didnt really address the isues that I brought up:
a) Whose maps are they?
b) Why have they not been updated in four years, when they were previously updated every 2-3 years?
c) The space could also be used for an adult movie/bookstore, a massage parlor, a gun shop, etc, etc. probably without special exceptions. There are still community standards to be considered! Special exceptions could also include a Casino (Native American), a large bar restaurant (think Cracked Claw) with Off Track Betting, or a gun range. So what is your point about special exceptions? Special exceptions are just that!

By the way, lest everybody miss Lee's very cogent and lucid point, the introduction of retail/commercial properties has been done in a very covert (for lack of a better word) by Van Metre, our developer. In many other developments in the area, commercial/retail spaces are marked off before any lots are sold! (Dominion Valley, for example). It was clear from the beginning where the Giant was going to be...because they put a sign up. Then the folks that wanted to live near the grocery store could buy an adjacent lot. Those who wished to be further away...well you get the point!

 

i thought that was an oxymoron! there's a first for everything.

is this true? did others buying homes along Broadlands Blvd not know there was going to be expansive commerical development there? We just moved here about 3 years ago so it was pretty clear where commercial builidings were going to be. i have no doubt that most developers would want to hide anything that would keep prospective buyers away.

but i would also assume that those homes closest to commercial development would already be discounted in price because of this proximity.

 

So, the HOA hasn't re-addressed the hospital issue for almost 4 years in their own paper? Not as important as Doggie Pooh, or garbage cans, or sheds that don't match. [pure, unadulterated commentary with no basis in fact]"Watch the wiggly fingers over here. Don't look at my other hand, which is really making things happened" [/pure, unadulterated commentary]

 

7 years ago when we moved here, no signs indicating where commercial growth would occur. Still no signs at the "Hospital Site". Its a matter of open disclosure. You don't hide things, unless there are things to hide...You know what I mean

 

Board sends U.S. 50 hospital proposal to committee


http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2008/jan/09/board-sends-us-50-hospital-proposal-committee/

Perhaps we could be debating over a dead fish here if this inova hospital is approved over in the rt 50 corridor.

I did not know this approval rt 50 could put a large kink in the HCA plans. Perhaps they are so blinded by their mission for this hospital they really are not concerned by the true public interest. Or set back the rt 50 hospital by more years then need be. At least inova bought a decent site and the biggest problem is construction traffic. ANother thing to consider hospitals are far more complex then an office building so the construction traffic could go on far longer then building an office and then there is the eventual expansion construction traffic that could go on off and on longer then we will be alive.

 

T8-
I wouldn't discount Lee's idea. HCA can certainly afford it and since they were turned down last time, there's a little more burden on them to resolve the location issues.

 

What FOR PROFIT company is NOT blinded by their mission??? If you wanted to start a customer based business, wouldn't you want to pick a cash rich environment?

 

a) the maps were supplied by the Developer (Terrabrook) when they were drawn.
b) In the summer of 2004 Van Metre took over as the sole Developer. They stopped updating and spending money on most things that TerraBrook had done as far as updating maps, plans, trails, etc.
c) My point is a question was asked about the zoning/advertising of the property---which is PDOP. I explained the zoning and possible uses. You've added some other possible uses.

Not sure what you mean, but the commercial/retail areas are clearly delineated on the maps. It's hard to put up a sign before you know what is specifically going to go there. Do you mean smaller, specific signs advertising the use of the property on the property itself? Terrabrook did have one in fron of the Sunoco/Broadlands Shopping Center site as far back as 1996.

 

Was that a challenge? I am certain that Cliff would be pleased to have this issued "tried in the press."

 

When Van Metre took over the HOA Board, they made the decision that the HOA Board would not issue an opinion about the hospital. Feel free to direct your sarcasm to them.

 

Oh, it was tried in the press four years ago. I guess you weren't around. Loudoun Hospital completely skunked HCA.

 

Not true. Your own link to the Broadlands maps as far back as 1999 CLEARLY show the commercial development areas. Look again.
When HCA bought the property, they did not, and have not, put up signs.

 

Hey T8 I don't I don't like you anymore I like Cliff better right now.

Seriously if Cliff could get them to do an animated video or fly thru as we call them. It would do several things one it would help the hospital understand their site better and building design and placement and the delicate balancing act they have to be an good neighbor. It would show how fast the vegetation would grow over the years and what it will hide or expose. It would certainly help their architects better understand their design and any potential improvements they could make internally and exterior wise and solve privacy issues with their neighbors. The video is a win win if done and presented properly. Of course there is the issue about the amount of beds and hurting the rt 50 corridor's plan for an hospital later. This is an extremely complex project all around and we the residents deserve to understand it completely. A hospital in a park is what I would of designed and presented it as. Perhaps lower the building heights a bit or tweak the building placement or a hundred potential other ideas that the fly thru could show. Design the widow areas to they would not look down into peoples homes even tho the buildings seem far away the animation could really explore both sides from the adjoining neighbors view to the view fro the hospital property. Perhaps redesign in such a way as this could be the first hospital designed to be in a park good for the workers and patients and good for the neighbors.

OK Cliff you are now thinking win win congratulation's my good buddy again not that you never were not my good buddy

Lee j

 

Lee- you have your facts wrong again. This special exception came after the original HCA application in Broadlands. Inova is trying to play catch up to HCA to hopefully lock in or take away the COPN...I personally think HCA will win their battle in court...

And again, how is the transportation network on Rt 50 better than the intersection of the Greenway and Rt 659, which I may add is very close to the proposed Tri-County connector?

 

And why does this have to look like an hospital and look like an residential designed complex. Perhaps make it look like an large villas or chateaus. certainly would fit into the character of the neighborhood better then an tall sterile ugly monolith. Perhaps lower height buildings like a beautiful campus style. Just because you push the building back it is still tall and even if some of the buildings were spread out but lower in height would be more appealing and less intrusive. Look at clydes that is wonderfullu done and nobody minds it. you can still get that look key look in an large project such as this hospital. My mind is spinning right now in a million different good neighbor design directions for this hospital

Of you still have traffic and county bed issues involving the rt 50 corridor. perhaps some innovative ideas can be thought of for parking and ingress and egress not to overwhelm broadlands blvd at one intersection. I don't know but I am sure with some creative thought this hospital could be an design asset to the community.

Lee j

 

hey that came from the loudoun times not me read the article.

The rt 50 site is designed eventually to have no entrance on rt 50 once all the roads are in place. It is also a superb setting for an hospital with virtually no opposition

Lee j

 

Lee-
You've brought up many points worthy of discussion and exploration. Let's just say I disagree with the presentation sometimes....and the fact that you've already tried, judged, and executed the prisoner before he's made the first phone call.
I hope you will bring up these issues and challenge HCA to do them when the opportunity presents itself. They will likely go through the whole application process again which will involve many meetings and public input sessions.

 

No- I oppose.