The following note was sent to the Cape Charles Mirror. This issue has been allowed to fester, and the writer is echoing frustrations that other business owners are feeling:
I FEEL YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUILDING BESIDE COLDWELL BANKER AND GO AROUND THE BACK. 206 MASON. HOW CAN THE TOWN ALLOW A PROPERTY TO LOOK THAT WAY AND NOT MAKE THE OWNER CLEAN IT UP. IF ALL OWNERS LEFT THEIR PROPERTY IN THAT CONDITION AND ALL THE GRASS GROWING WITH WEEDS, IT WOULD BE SAD FOR THE TOWN. IF THEY CHARGE PEOPLE WHEN THE TOWN HAS TO CUT THEIR LOTS, WHY HASN’T THE TOWN CUT THIS LOT AND CHARGED THE OWNERS FOR CUTTING IT LIKE THEY DO EVERYONE ELSE. THE OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS SHOULD BE COMPLAINING EVERY DAY UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING.
And by the way, what about this property across from the Town Library. Wasn’t the owner supposed be making a small hotel or something at this location?
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There are several other properties in town that should be added to the list of SHAME! The Mirror should post pictures of them all.
The “shame” is the Town’s negligent attitude. Where is the Code Official or the Town Manager? This is their job and no other modern, progressive locality would accept it.
I agree. Disgraceful! This should be taken to Town Council.
It’s interesting that there was this whole “destination” talk this year at the Palace Theater. Having someone come to talk about how to get people to visit Cape Charles was a great idea but these are the issues, buildings, that need to be dealt with first.
Hmmm, chase off and insult the vacationers(“Come-Here’s) who would support these businesses, do nothing to foster a positive business environment(Bassackwards parking and the associated ticketing frenzy), tax new businesses and slam them with hook up fees that 1.5 bedroom condo developers don’t get, be in the habit of giving away valuable city owned land for sweetheart deals AND allow ‘certain’ owners the right to do whatever-even if it means a sidewalk full of stuff and some good ol’ boys chillin’ while impeding the flow of traffic and then write about it?
Cognitive dissonance.
The town has been taking steps to clean up the “yogurt store”. I cannot fault them for the time it has taken as the process is long. However, I would like to see the town government issue a weekly or bi-weekly update on the things the staff is currently addressing. The “yogurt” building for one, Peach St/Washington Ave improvements and late fees due to the town, closing of parking at the Hand properties downtown and the availability of parking behind that property, a listing of the various properties that the town has had to mow or condemn, ordinances regarding the parking of RV’s and boats on town streets, the fees the town is receiving from the food vendors on Bay Avenue, any communication between staff and VDOT regarding anything about our streets, parking and right of ways, overgrown trees and shrubs blocking site lines at corners, children driving golf carts, why the sudden increase in ticketing by town police (not unwelcome I might add), and more. I attend Town Council meetings as often as I can but they are rarely informative. How many of us have complained about the “yogurt”building among our friends and family. Suppose instead each of us called Town Hall to get an explanation. While that would be an ineffective use of staff time it might result in a central location for informative news for all of us. Keep in mind that often it is not that the town is not doing anything but rather that we do not know that they are……