Posted on 03/01/2009 9:02:17 AM PST by Dems_R_Losers
To many in Old Town Alexandria, the sex shop that opened recently on King Street is nothing short of scandalous, a historical desecration just blocks from the boyhood home of Robert E. Lee.
But to Michael Zarlenga, it's justice.
Zarlenga spent $350,000 on plans to expand his hunting and fishing store, the Trophy Room. He worked with city officials for almost two years and thought he had their support -- until the architectural review board told him he couldn't alter the historic property.
Furious and out of money, Zarlenga rented the space to its newest occupant, Le Tache.
"I can't say I didn't know it would ruffle feathers," said Zarlenga, 41. "Actually, I was hoping for a fast-food chain because I thought that would be more annoying to the city."
King Street's upscale restaurants and shops are the quintessence of commercial Old Town, near Gadsby's Tavern, where George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams overnighted. A short stroll away is the boyhood home of Lee, the Confederate general.
"I believe it's an inappropriate business to be located in our old and historic district," Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille (D) said of Le Tache. "I get e-mails and calls every day from people who want us to do something to make the business leave."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Just one more crack in the armor of the liberal totalitarian state.
>>Zarlenga spent $350,000 on plans to expand his hunting and fishing store, the Trophy Room.<<
How big is this shop that the plan would cost $350K ?
And now it must be the biggest sex shop in the world.
Good for him.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. — C. S. Lewis
Architects in Alexandria are expensive, especially those who specialize in plans for historic buildings. I spent $10,000 on a simple plan for my home addition which was rejected by the Planning and Zoning Board, and we were not in the historic district. So I can easily see this guy dropping $350k on an expansion plan.
“He worked with city officials for almost two years and thought he had their support — until the architectural review board told him he couldn’t alter the historic property.”
That’s where he probably spent the money, trying to work with city officials.
I used to live there, too. Very glad to be gone. Old Town Alexandria deserves his just revenge. Cheers to Zarlenga!
“He worked with city officials for almost two years and thought he had their support — until the architectural review board told him he couldn’t alter the historic property.”
That’s where he probably spent the money, trying to work with city officials.
He should be able to recover his money on the sale of “Congressional Page” blowup dolls in no time.
>>“He worked with city officials for almost two years and thought he had their support — until the architectural review board told him he couldn’t alter the historic property.”
I wonder what that means - taking them out to dinner?
>>Architects in Alexandria are expensive, especially those who specialize in plans for historic buildings. I spent $10,000 on a simple plan for my home addition which was rejected by the Planning and Zoning Board, and we were not in the historic district. So I can easily see this guy dropping $350k on an expansion plan.<<
That’s scary.
I’ve been in the Trophy Room many times. Nice shop. Very limited pistol selection, and not really competitive. I have bought a few hats and top shelf ammo.
Thanks for the wise words from C.S. Lewis.
I especially liked ...”but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
“Le Tache owner Bo Kenney said sales are booming, even in this economy.”
It would seems the community doth protest too much.
It says he spent that much on plans. He wasn't able to actually perform the renovation.
Yep. If it wasn’t in accordance with “community standards”, it would go out of business for lack of patronage.
It wasn’t the remodeling and expansion that cost so much, that never happened. What cost was the architectural planning and the constant revision to meet the demands of the zoning board and architectural review board, only to be denied at the end of the process.
Architects don’t work for peanuts.
Or, take the police department, please. For instance, as loony as is sounds, it is against the law to sound the horn of your car in Alexandria. Period. I have been stopped and cautioned for sounding my horn at someone who was backing up toward me in traffic, and didn't appear to know I was there. The backer-uper continued unimpeded, but I got a stern warning. Unless you are a day laborer picking up your friends at 5:30 a.m., and are too lazy to get out of your crapwagon pickup truck and knock on their door to let them know you are there, in which case you can sound your horn as often and as loudly as you wish with no risk of violating the "law." I no longer live in that particular neighborhood.
LOL.
Not unless they’re having envelopes of cash for an appetizer.
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