1/13/2020 Bad Dreams and Construction Updates, Memory of Failed Developments

Twice in the past week, I have woken up from bad dreams about development in the Center of the Universe.  Just last night, I dreamed that I came back to Ashland and there were woods all around where Henry Clay St. crosses Railroad Avenue.  Someone told me, in my dream, that the Henry Clay Inn had been torn down to build a park.  I woke relieved that such drastic measures hadn't really taken place, but I think I must have some inner angst about the on-going construction and development in and around Ashland.

This is kind of what it looked like in my dream- imagine that this is facing south towards town, and all the greenery on the right is where the train station and Inn used to be.

So, in an effort to calm my psyche, today's column will highlight some changes coming to our town and ways that you can be involved!

1. Railroad Park Committee Seeks Public Input 
The Downtown Ashland Association has created a committee to see if there is interest in developing a privately funded and operated railroad park that wold feature exhibits of railroad equipment.  The last chance to learn more about this proposed project is to attend a public input session at the Ashland Library on Thursday, March 5th, at 7:00 PM.  Please contact Tom Wulf (tom.wulf@yahoo.com) or Maggie Longest (director@ashlandvirginia.com) for more information.

2. Ashland Town Hall Construction
It's hard to miss the changes that are happening right in the middle of town.  The new Town Hall is being constructed and the old Town Hall will eventually be town down to accommodate our Farmer's Market and add park space.  You can learn more about the construction and watch some time lapse video here.

3. Payne Hall Construction at Randolph-Macon
RM-C is rapidly constructing this new building which will house their new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.  This $12.5 million building will host state-of-the-art technology enhanced classrooms and laboratories, and you can watch a time lapse the construction here.

4. Chapman Street Residents to Meet to Discuss Traffic Concerns 
Nora Amos, Director of Planning and Community for the Town of Ashland will meet with residents of Chapman Street on Monday, February 10th to listen to concerns about the potential of added traffic from the Lauradell Subdivision.  The majority of Chapman Street lacks sidewalks and residents are concerned about safety and walk-ability.  Please email me (ashlandnews@gmail.com) for more details on the meeting.

5. Ashland Train Station Platform Upgrade
This is a slow-moving project as Amtrak doesn't expect completion until the fall of this year.  The purpose of this project is to make our station more accessible to handicap travelers, add a shelter to the west side of the tracks, and to add more lighting.  All of these are wonderful additions, but I think we are all a little tired of seeing that orange construction fencing.

Beyond the boundaries of our little hamlet, there are new hotels being built, massive park-like subdivisions rising from bare earth, and commercial activity along Rt. 1 continues to advance.  Does anyone remember the massive planned community that was supposed to be build along Mt. Hermon Road in the early 2000s?  What was it, Ashburn, Ashville, Ash- something?  And then there was a retirement community that was supposed to be built along Yowell and Elmont Rds just outside of the town limits.  Both of those projects were thwarted by failing economy, so lets keep our fingers crossed that all the improvements to Ashland are good ones, and that we can withstand any movements in the financial markets.

On a lighter note, next week's column will be our first Society column with a full report on the Officers' Ball!

Thanks for reading, Ashland; have a great weekend!

xo,
Meriwether

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