This is the heralded new Reading Garden on Vineyard Lane that Mr. David Hill, E.D. of the Benefits District recently boasted about in the Charles Villager. We understand that after placing the trees there, which were donated by Ace Hardware, the CVCBD just left them in their containers at the spot to die and never be planted. So to all Charles Villages, why not pack a little luncheon meal and head over to the site and look at the improvement offered to the community by the CVCBD? This is what over $750,000. gets you as a resident of Charles Village. Isn't it wonderful?
I think this wonderful garden is worth not a penny more than $500,000!!! Notice how the color of the grass matches the color of the dead leaves. The CVCBD must have hired a landscape architect for this.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable what people can get away with when they have $ :-(
ReplyDeleteCarol
Aiming for the Zen effect, no doubt!
ReplyDeleteI am unable to see the picture, but then, I dont really need to - I live on Vineyard -
ReplyDeleteThere was also a "flower bed " put in - Three or four inches of soil was placed over an old concrete pad/driveway,
and planted with perennials... Which of course are also dead or dying due to no water, and the fact that any
plant would actually need a place to put down roots - Which they cant do into concrete.
As I understand it, there are some budgeting constraints for this, as much of it was grant, or donation money-
And, in fairness, its still early in the process...... And one of the people leading this plan had some sort of family
emergency, or something, if memory serves.... But, it has mostly been a huge disappointment.
Especially coming after the media fanfare and attendance by Mary Pat, the owner of the lot, the Vista folks,
and the young Naval members, and all the hoo-fra.
I just want to say, I don't know if there were other plans, but as a retired landscape architect, I furnished a plan for this site as a volunteer contribution. I only found this blog today because of curiosity about what happened during the year, and its absence on the main Charles Village site. The ideas seemed to have a positive reception but then contact ceased and I don't know what happened. I still hope my efforts did some good and that whatever is impeding the work will be overcome, as the space does have potential to become a neighborhood asset.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information and your generous assistance in this project that would have created a benefit to the communities known as Abell and Waverly. Your actions and work along with the kind work of the Midshipmen who contributed their time and efforts were appreciated by the neighbors adjacent to the site. However, it appears that the governmental agency, the CVCBD dropped the ball leaving only dead trees in their wake as is noted by the above photograph. As usual they did use every opportunity to take credit for the planned Reading Garden.
ReplyDeleteWell I found another article using midshipmen as keyword and it says that event was a first step so that implies more are coming and it will unfold. Maybe there is a funding shortage or other matter not publicized. Try to be patient, as these things can be complicated by unseen factors. The other text says some house foundations were under the site, which may not need to be completely removed, but could require more preparation in the cost. And new walks and edgings called for should really precede planting. That should be the last step hopefully adhering at least roughly to the planting design. Otherwise, putting trees in the ground prematurely could get in the way (even for just placing perimeter fencing).
ReplyDeleteSo I suggest everybody pull together and express concern in a supportive way - ie. that you look forward to ending with a quality result even if that takes more time. Under pressure, people can feel they have to stage "events," and that raises hopes when in the background, the harder work can't move all that fast.
With respect to the above comments reported by Anonymous today, there are issues here that cannot be ignored and need to be stated and viewed herein:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWaGYiQSheI
1. The unplanted trees were left at the site completely unattended until a few days ago (approximately two months later) where they were finally picked up along with the other vegetation/debris that was removed by the work of the Midshipmen.
2. If there were funding problems, then the work should not have been started until the funding issues were resolved. If the work accomplished by the Midshipmen was merely for the publicity of the Benefits District, then there does not appear to benefit anyone but that Authority.
3. Why would you put perimeter fencing around a property that is mostly hidden from public view to the extent that many people illegally apparently dump there?
4. In that there is no water available at the site, how were the young plantings and trees supposed to survive?
5. Inasmuch as Anonymous implies there may be several factors involving this failure, these are easily challenged by the fact that the Benefits District took credit for something they did not accomplish and if it is their intention to actually do this project then the entire project will have to be done all over again to correct the fact that the Benefits District did not accomplish it correctly in the first place.
The first step would be to have a cleanup, but beyond that I can't offer any insight. Did they say it was finished? I'm just hoping it missed a time goal, but that may not mean it's never coming at all ... having seen other projects take longer than expected. On the perimeter fencing: it was not supposed to hide the garden, but would be some type of metal picket to discourage future dumping.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all of you as you pursue needed answers; I haven't wanted to upset anybody. I would include a link to the plan I worked on, but I think maybe that should come from the District, as mine may not have been the one they intend to install.
There are problems with suggesting a cleanup would be the first step. Originally the Benefits District cleaned up the area without payment from the owner but using our surtax monies and when the community objected, they made an arrangement to be paid by the owner for that work. Certainly, the Benefits District should have done the cleanup rather than using volunteer Midshipmen. Also, in the long summer months since and until a possible second step is planned and executed, the area will again need to have a cleanup of weeds, debris, etc. You are kind to be giving them the benefit of the doubt but it's clear that the Benefits District gets credit many times for what it does not do.
DeleteOne important thing to remember about this project is that the CVCBD have taken off the report of it from the main Charles Village site, which one can only conclude that they received the required publicity that they desired and there is no further reason for them to pursue it further. The CVCBD has done nothing, repeat nothing of substance for this community except turn one neighbor against another neighbor. It is an undemocratic governmental entity for a specific purpose which we all know.
ReplyDelete